Effect of Lubiprostone on Methanogenesis and Bowel Function in Chronic Constipation.

Inclusion Criteria: * Constipation as defined by Rome III criteria13. Patients must have symptoms \> 3 days/month for the past three months and report at least two of the following symptoms ≥ 25% of the time: straining, lumpy or hard stool, sensation of incomplete evacuation, sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage, use of manual maneuvers, \< 3 bowel movements/week. Also,they should have insufficient criteria for IBS, and only rarely loose stools without the use of laxatives. * ≥ 3 ppm methane value at baseline1, 2(before sugar load). Exclusion Criteria: * Patients taking drugs that are known to be constipating will be excluded or asked to discontinue medications for at least 2 weeks and reassessed. For example, we will recommend that patients taking calcium channel antagonists contact their respective primary care physicians to explore alternative medications for hypertension such as beta blockers or ACE-inhibitors. If the calcium channel antagonists are able to be discontinued, patients will be re-screened at least two weeks after the medications are discontinued. If patients no longer meet inclusion criteria, they will be excluded from the study. Patients who remain constipated will be eligible for enrollment. * Patients with co-morbid illnesses such as severe cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, or those with previous gastrointestinal surgery except cholecystectomy and appendectomy * Patients with neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, strokes, spinal cord injuries, and those who have problems with cognizance, i.e. a mini-mental score of \<15 and/or are legally blind will be excluded. * Women who are pregnant or are likely to conceive during the course of the study will be excluded. Urinary pregnancy tests will be performed on all women of child-bearing potential prior to enrollment and before any x-ray of the abdomen. * Patients with Hirschsprung' s disease, or active local anorectal problems such as anal fissures, bleeding hemorrhoids, Crohn's, colitis, or colon cancer. * Patients with alternating constipation and diarrhea and those who fulfill the Rome-III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. * Recent antibiotic use (last 6 weeks). * Patients using laxatives, PEG or Tegaserod and unwilling to discontinue these medications at least 2 weeks prior to the study.