Motegrity (prucalopride) is used to treat long-term constipation from an unknown cause in adults. It belongs to the drug class called serotonin-4 receptor agonists, which work by stimulating your gut to move. It's taken by mouth once a day and might have interactions with many medications. Motegrity (prucalopride) might be prescribed off-label for gastroparesis when other medications are not working well. The most common side effects are headache, stomach pain, and nausea.
Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults
Motegrity (prucalopride) is a serotonin-4 receptor agonist. It works on serotonin receptors (or proteins) in your colon to start natural muscle contractions. This helps push food through your digestive tract, making it easier for stool to pass.
Source: 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):
Works differently than other medications used to treat CIC
Stimulates your gut within 12 hours
Helps to normalize the number of complete bowel movements per week
Only taken once a day by mouth
Can cause unusual changes in mood or behavior
Unknown if it's safe or works well in children
Might interact with many medications
Not a first-choice medication for CIC
Take Motegrity (prucalopride) by mouth with or without food once daily.
If you have kidney problems, Motegrity (prucalopride) can build up in your body and can cause more side effects. Your prescriber might prescribe you a lower dose.
Diarrhea and headache are common side effects of Motegrity (prucalopride). These typically occur within the first week of treatment and will go away within a few days of continued use.
Changes in behavior and mood are serious side effects of Motegrity (prucalopride). It's important to let your prescriber know if you have any symptoms of depression or thoughts of self harm.
Remember to follow up with your gastroenterologist regularly. Based on your bowel habits, you and your prescriber should discuss whether you still need to take Motegrity (prucalopride).
If you were taking laxatives on a regular basis, ask your gastroenterologist if you should continue taking them when you start Motegrity (prucalopride).
To get the best results from Motegrity (prucalopride), try to prevent constipation by drinking lots of water and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables for fiber. For more tips on how to prevent constipation, talk to your gastroenterologist.
There isn't enough information to know if Motegrity (prucalopride) is safe to take during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Contact your prescriber if you become pregnant while taking this medication. There's a registry that monitors the health of you and your baby.
Store Motegrity (prucalopride) in the original container. This will help protect the tablets from moisture.
Motegrity (prucalopride) 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.
Motegrity (prucalopride) can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Watch for new or worsening depression and suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. Let your prescriber know right away if you notice any unusual changes in mood or behavior while taking this medication, you'll likely need to stop taking it.
The typical dose is 2 mg by mouth once daily.
Your dose might be lowered if you have severe kidney problems.
Intestinal tear or blockage due to:
Problems in the gut wall
Severe inflammatory conditions of the gut such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and toxic megacolon/megarectum
Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults
Long-term constipation due to unclear cause (idiopathic)
Constipation due to opioids
Constipation due to irritiable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women 18 years or older
Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults
Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults
Functional constipation (FC) in children
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Bassotti, G., et al. (2021). Chronic idiopathic constipation in adults: A review on current guidelines and emerging treatment options. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology.
Camilleri, M., et al. (2022). ACG Clinical Guideline: Gastroparesis. The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Chang, L., et al. (2023). American Gastroenterological Association-American College of Gastroenterology Clinical Practice Guideline: Pharmacological management of chronic idiopathic constipation. Gastroenterology.
de Cates, A. N., et al. (2022). The effect of the 5-HT4 agonist, prucalopride, on a functional magnetic resonance imaging faces task in the healthy human brain. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Intestinal obstruction and ileus.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Toxic megacolon.
Organization of Teratology Information Specialists. (n.d.). MotherToBaby pregnancy studies.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. (2022). Motegrity- prucalopride tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
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