linaclotide vs plecanatide
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of linaclotide and plecanatide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Linzess
Trulance
Linzess is a medicine that helps treat certain bowel problems. It works by helping your bowels move more regularly.
Trulance is a medicine that helps adults with certain bowel problems. It helps your bowels move more regularly.
Linzess is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults and children ages 7 and older. It also treats chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults. Linzess can also treat functional constipation (FC) in children ages 6 and older.
Trulance treats chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). CIC means you have ongoing constipation with no known cause. IBS-C means you have stomach pain and constipation.
Linzess is a guanylate cyclase-C agonist. It works by increasing fluid in your intestines. This helps to soften stool and make bowel movements easier.
Trulance is a guanylate cyclase-C agonist. It works by increasing fluid in your intestines. This helps to soften stool and make bowel movements easier.
- • Diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Gas
- • Bloating
- • Viral gastroenteritis
- • Diarrhea
- Diarrhoea 4,502
- Constipation 1,862
- Nausea 1,373
- Fatigue 1,111
- Abdominal Distension 1,100
- Diarrhoea 363
- Nausea 159
- Constipation 152
- Fatigue 106
- Abdominal Distension 100
Linzess can cause serious dehydration in children under 2 years old. Do not give Linzess to children under 2 years old. It is also not for people with a known or suspected blockage in their intestines.
Trulance can cause serious dehydration in children under 6. You should not give Trulance to children under 6 years old. Avoid using Trulance in patients 6 years to less than 18 years of age.
It is not expected that Linzess will harm your unborn baby. Linaclotide was not found in breast milk, so it is not expected to harm a breastfeeding baby.
It is not expected that Trulance will harm your unborn baby. Trulance is also not expected to pass into breast milk and harm your baby.
How to Read This linaclotide vs plecanatide Comparison
linaclotide is classified in the Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist drug class, while plecanatide sits within the Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, linaclotide has 9,948 submissions while plecanatide has 880. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for linaclotide or plecanatide.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.