Ibsrela (tenapanor) is used to treat adults with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). This medication belongs to the drug class called sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) inhibitors. Ibsrela (tenapanor) is a tablet that's taken by mouth twice per day. There aren't many side effects, but the most common is diarrhea. Other side effects include bloating, gas, and dizziness.
Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults
Ibsrela (tenapanor) is a sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) inhibitor.
It works by preventing sodium from getting absorbed into your body from your gut. This causes more water to go into your intestines to soften stool and keeps your stool moving along in your gut so you can go to the bathroom.
Ibsrela (tenapanor) also works on the nerves in your gut to help to relieve stomach pain.
Source:Â DailyMed
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Recommended for people with IBS-C who've already tried other therapies
Can help lessen episodes of stomach pain and constipation
Symptoms can start to improve within a week
Need to take right before a meal twice daily
Can cause diarrhea and dehydration
Not safe for children
Take Ibsrela (tenapanor) 5 to 10 minutes before breakfast and dinner.
Let your prescriber know right away if you have diarrhea while you're taking Ibsrela (tenapanor). Studies showed that diarrhea tends to go away within a week. Depending on how bad your diarrhea is, your prescriber might recommend temporarily stopping the medication until the diarrhea goes away. Drink plenty of fluids with electrolytes to prevent dehydration from diarrhea.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs or symptoms of severe dehydration, such as confusion, fast heart rate, dizziness, weakness, fainting, or exhaustion.
If you forget to take your dose of Ibsrela (tenapanor), skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regular time. Don't take two doses at once to make up for the missed dose. Doing so can raise your risk of side effects like diarrhea and dehydration.
Keep Ibsrela (tenapanor) in the original bottle tightly closed with the desiccant (drying agent) inside. It's important to protect the tablets from moisture because it can damage the medication.
Keep Ibsrela (tenapanor) out of reach of children, especially those under 6 years old. Children who accidentally take Ibsrela (tenapanor) might have severe diarrhea and dehydration, which can lead to serious problems. Contact 911 or the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) right away if a child has accidentally taken Ibsrela (tenapanor).
Let your healthcare team know if you're pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It's not completely known how safe Ibsrela (tenapanor) is for an unborn or breastfed baby. But available data suggests that it might be safe because most of the medication doesn't get absorbed into the body. Discuss with your prescriber about the risks and benefits of taking Ibsrela (tenapanor).
Ibsrela (tenapanor) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Children under 6 years old
Children can't take Ibsrela (tenapanor). It's not known how well or how safe the medication is for them. Additionally, they're at higher risk for severe dehydration after they take Ibsrela (tenapanor). Discuss available safe treatment options with the specialist if your child has IBS-C.
Diarrhea is typically the most common side effect of Ibsrela (tenapanor). During studies, people reported having mild-to-moderate diarrhea that often started at the beginning of treatment and lasted a week or less. Tell your prescriber if you have diarrhea because it can raise your risk of getting dehydrated, which can be a medical emergency. Make sure to stay hydrated while you're taking this medication. Contact your prescriber right away if you have severe diarrhea.
The typical dose is 50 mg by mouth two times daily, right before breakfast and right before dinner.
Children younger than 6 years old
Known or suspected physical blockage in the gut or digestive system that interrupts normal passage
Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults
Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults
Functional constipation (FC) in children between 6 and 17 years old
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American Gastroenterological Association. (2022). New AGA guidelines: A targeted approach to IBS-C and IBS-D treatment.
Ardelyx, Inc. (2022). Isbrela- tenapanor hydrochloride tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Bashir A., et al. (2024). Laxatives. StatPearls.
Chey, W. D., et al. (2021). Efficacy of tenapanor in treating patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: A 26-week, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial (T3MPO-2). The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Lembo, A. J., et al. (2023). Long-term safety of tenapanor in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in the T3MPO-3 study. Neurogastroenterology & Motility.
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