Trulance (plecanatide) is used to treat adults with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (long-term constipation of an unknown cause). It belongs to a group of medications called guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonists. The usual dosage is 1 tablet by mouth once a day. A possible side effect of the medication is diarrhea. This medication isn't available as a generic, but you can get it as the brand name Trulance.
Trulance (plecanatide) is a guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist. It turns on GC-C, a protein that works in the intestines. This helps raise the amount of fluid in your intestines and speed up the movement of food through your gut. These actions soften stool, relieve belly pain, and help you have regular bowel movements.
| Common Brands | Trulance |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | GC-C agonist |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
IBS-C:
CIC:
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
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):
Trulance (plecanatide) 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.
Children younger than 6 years of age can’t take Trulance (plecanatide). Based on animal studies, young children can be at risk for life-threatening dehydration with Trulance (plecanatide) treatment. Also avoid Trulance (plecanatide) in people between 6 to 18 years of age to be safe.
Keep Trulance (plecanatide) out of reach from children to prevent them from accidentally taking the medication. If you think or know that a child has accidentally taken Trulance (plecanatide), contact 911 or the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) right away.
Although rare, Trulance (plecanatide) can cause severe diarrhea. This can lead to life-threatening dehydration. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids while you're taking this medication.
Stop taking Trulance (plecanatide) and get medical help right away if you develop severe diarrhea, dizziness, or exhaustion. You’ll need to see a healthcare professional so they can help prevent (or treat) severe dehydration.
Dose pack| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 tablets of 3mg | 1 dose pack | $605.11 | $605.11 |
The typical dose is 3 mg by mouth once a day.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Trulance (plecanatide) will not be safe for you to take.
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People didn't report any changes in body weight while they were taking Trulance during clinical studies. Talk to your prescriber if you notice concerning weight gain or weight loss so they can help you figure out what might be causing this change in weight.
In clinical studies, some people with long-term constipation had a bowel movement within the first day of taking Trulance. Some people saw an overall improvement in the number of episodes of constipation after about a week of starting the medication. Whether you have long-term constipation or IBS-C, your symptoms should generally get better over the next several weeks as you continue to take Trulance every day.
A study showed that about 20% of people with CIC who took Trulance had improvement in their gut condition after 12 weeks. They had at least 3 complete, natural bowel movements per week and at least 1 more per week than they usually do. By comparison, about 13% of people who took a placebo had similar results after 12 weeks. Another study showed that up to 41% of people with IBS-C who took Trulance had less stomach pain for at least 6 weeks. Follow up with your care team to learn more about how Trulance might benefit your condition.
It isn't clear how long Trulance lasts in your system. Not much of Trulance gets absorbed into your body after you take the medication. Once swallowed, the medication gets broken down in your gut. It's important to take Trulance at the same time every day so it can work as best as it can for you.
No, don't take Trulance more than once a day. Otherwise, it can cause serious side effects, like severe diarrhea. This can potentially cause you to lose too much fluids from your body, leading to dehydration. Follow your prescriber's directions carefully when you're taking Trulance.
It's possible for some side effects of Trulance, such as diarrhea, to get better with time. Most cases of diarrhea happen within 4 weeks of starting Trulance. Talk to your prescriber if you have any side effects that are very bothersome or that don't seem to be getting better as you continue to take this medication.
No. Trulance isn't a laxative, which means it's also not a stool softener. Examples of laxatives include stool softeners like docusate (Colace) and stimulant laxatives like bisacodyl. Laxatives are often used to provide quick relief from occasional constipation. And they're typically taken on an as-needed basis. But Trulance is a type of medication called a guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist. It's taken once every day to manage long-term constipation and symptoms related to IBS-C. Ask a healthcare professional to learn more about differences between laxatives and Trulance.
Trulance and Linzess (linaclotide) are both treatment options for IBS-C as well as for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Both medications are taken once a day and work in similar ways. In fact, studies show that Trulance and Linzess (linaclotide) work just as well as one another for IBS-C or CIC. Linzess (linaclotide) is also FDA approved to treat functional constipation in children. Talk with your prescriber to compare between the two medications and discuss which is right for you.
