Patients suffering with constipation may be able to find relief.

Although the experimental drug linaclotide can relieve only some cases of chronic constipation, for those who do find relief it can be a life changing event.

Up to one in five people suffers from chronic constipation, according to the authors of the study, which means they have fewer than three bowel movements per week, often with pain, excessive straining, a feeling of blockage, or very hard stools. Doctors usually recommend adding fluid, dietary fiber and exercise before turning to laxatives.

“Chronic constipation can dramatically negatively affect one’s quality of life,” said Dr. David Schwartz, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study.

“If these results hold up in future longer-term trials, linaclotide potentially offers an effective and safe option for patients with chronic constipation, especially those individuals that do not respond to laxatives,” Schwartz told Reuters Health.