Prucalopride Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Prucalopride Tablet is a prescription-only medicine used to treat chronic idiopathic constipation (long-term constipation with no known cause) in adults when standard laxatives do not give enough relief. It belongs to a class of medicines called selective serotonin (5-HT4) receptor agonists and is sold under brand names such as Motegrity. It works by stimulating natural movement in the gut and is taken by mouth once daily.

What is Prucalopride Tablet

Prucalopride is a prescription-only tablet used to treat long-term constipation with no known cause. It belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin (5-HT4) receptor agonists, and is sold under brand names such as Motegrity.

Prucalopride Tablet uses

• Chronic idiopathic constipation (long-term constipation with no known cause) in adults when standard laxatives do not give enough relief
• Treats chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults
• Helps increase the frequency of spontaneous bowel movements
• Improves gastrointestinal motility
• Helps manage persistent difficulty passing stools

Benefits of Prucalopride Tablet

• Often produces a bowel movement within 2 to 3 hours of the first dose
• Can take 4 to 5 days, or up to 6-8 weeks, to reach full benefit for bloating and discomfort
• Helps adults with long-term constipation who do not respond to fiber, osmotic, or stimulant laxatives
• Stimulates natural intestinal movement
• May increase the frequency of complete spontaneous bowel movements

How Prucalopride Tablet works

Prucalopride stimulates certain receptors in the gut wall, which triggers muscle contractions in the colon. This helps restore normal bowel function and moves stool along more quickly.

Prucalopride Tablet dosage

Take this medicine by mouth with a full glass of water, at the same time every day. You can take it with or without food; if it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Swallow the tablet whole with plenty of water; do not break, chew, or crush it. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and do not double up. Keep taking it unless your doctor tells you to stop. Talk to your doctor if you do not notice improvement after about four weeks of treatment.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Prucalopride Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea or loose stools
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Bloating, gas, or indigestion
• Dizziness and fatigue/tiredness
• Decreased appetite
• Stomach sounds that seem unusual
• Stomach distension
• Passing gas

Serious

• Depression, anxiety, agitation, reckless behavior, or thoughts of suicide
• Sudden mood or mental health changes
• Severe diarrhea (which may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills)
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Confusion, difficulty speaking, or slow speech
• Double vision
• Inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles, or inability to speak
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• Sweating
• Troubled breathing
• Signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, rash, itching, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Frequent urination of small amounts of urine during the day
• Severe, throbbing headache

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine should not be used by people with a bowel blockage, a tear or hole in the stomach or intestinal wall, severe inflammatory bowel conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or toxic megacolon, or by patients on dialysis. It is not recommended for anyone under 18.
• This medicine can rarely cause depression, anxiety, agitation, reckless behavior, or suicidal thoughts. Get medical help right away if you notice sudden mood changes or worsening mental health.
• If you get severe diarrhea while taking this medicine, it can make birth control pills less effective, which could lead to an unplanned pregnancy. Women who could become pregnant should use a backup method of contraception if this happens.
• This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy unless your doctor decides it is necessary. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
• This medicine is not recommended while breastfeeding unless your doctor decides it is necessary. If prescribed, watch your baby for diarrhea.
• This medicine is removed from the body mainly through the kidneys, so it should be used carefully if you have kidney disease, since side effects may be increased. People with severe kidney disease may need a lower dose.
• This medicine should be used carefully if you have severe liver problems, as side effects may be increased.
• It is not known how this medicine interacts with alcohol. Ask your doctor before drinking alcohol while taking it.
• This medicine can cause dizziness and tiredness, especially on the first day of treatment. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.

Storage

• Keep out of the reach of children and pets
• Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F)
• Keep the medicine in its original container, away from heat, moisture, and direct light
• Keep from freezing
• Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed
• Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use
• Take medications to a medication take-back program if possible, or follow label/package instructions for safe disposal

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or if your mood or depression suddenly worsens.
• Seek medical attention if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion, trouble speaking, double vision, inability to move your arms, legs, or face, or pain in the arms, jaw, back, or neck.
• Get medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, itching, rash, redness of the skin, or swelling of the face and chest tightness.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact a poison control center or go to an emergency room right away.

Alternatives

• Amitiza
• Trulance
• Linzess
• Motegrity