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alosetron vs eluxadoline

Side-by-side comparison of alosetron and eluxadoline Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Examples: alosetron, anticholinergics, opioids Table 3: Established and Other Potentially Clinically Relevant Interactions Affecting Drugs Co-Administered with VIBERZI OATP1B1 and BCRP Substrate Clinical Impact: VIBERZI may increase the exposure of co-administered OATP1B1 and BCRP substrates.

Recommendation: Your healthcare provider should monitor you for increased side effects when these two drugs are used at the same time.

Drug Class
alosetron 5-HT3 Antagonist (IBS-D)
eluxadoline Mu-Opioid Receptor Agonist (IBS-D)
Type
alosetron Prescription
eluxadoline Prescription
Summary
alosetron

Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It helps to reduce diarrhea and stomach pain.

eluxadoline

Viberzi is a medicine used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults. It helps to reduce diarrhea associated with IBS-D.

What It Treats
alosetron

Alosetron is used to treat severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. It is for women whose IBS symptoms have lasted for 6 months or longer. You should have already ruled out other possible causes of your symptoms. This medicine is only for you if other treatments have not worked well enough.

eluxadoline

Viberzi is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, also known as IBS-D, in adults. IBS-D can cause stomach pain, bloating, and frequent bowel movements. This medicine can help reduce diarrhea and other symptoms of IBS-D.

How It Works
alosetron

Alosetron blocks a substance called serotonin in your gut. Serotonin can speed up bowel movements. By blocking serotonin, alosetron slows down your bowel and reduces diarrhea.

eluxadoline

Viberzi works by acting on opioid receptors in your gut. It slows down bowel movements. This helps to reduce diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Common Side Effects
alosetron
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal discomfort and pain
  • Nausea
  • Gastrointestinal discomfort and pain
eluxadoline
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
FAERS Reports
alosetron
  • Medicine not working 11
  • Diarrhea 10
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 8
  • Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 7
  • Stomach pain 6
eluxadoline
  • Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 355
  • Stomach pain 348
  • Diarrhea 340
  • Constipation 281
  • Inflammation of the pancreas 276
Serious Warnings
alosetron

Alosetron can cause serious gut problems, like ischemic colitis (reduced blood flow to the bowel) and severe constipation. These problems can lead to hospitalization, surgery, or even death. Stop taking alosetron right away if you get constipated or have symptoms of ischemic colitis, like bloody diarrhea or bad stomach pain. Call your doctor immediately.

eluxadoline

Viberzi can cause serious side effects, including pancreatitis and sphincter of Oddi spasm. These conditions can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. If you have new or worsening abdominal pain, stop taking Viberzi and get medical help right away. Do not take Viberzi if you do not have a gallbladder.

Pregnancy
alosetron

It is not known if alosetron can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if alosetron passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take alosetron.

eluxadoline

It is not known if Viberzi can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Viberzi passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Viberzi.

How to Read This alosetron vs eluxadoline Comparison

alosetron is classified in the 5-HT3 Antagonist (IBS-D) drug class, while eluxadoline sits within the Mu-Opioid Receptor Agonist (IBS-D) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, alosetron has 42 submissions while eluxadoline has 1,600. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to eluxadoline can interfere with how your body breaks down alosetron, leading to higher amounts of alosetron in your bloodstream.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between alosetron and eluxadoline — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.