linaclotide vs plecanatide
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
- Diarrhea 4,502
- The medicine is not working 4,365
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 3,216
- Constipation 1,862
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,373
- Diarrhea 363
- Feeling sick to your stomach 159
- The medicine is not working 153
- Having trouble pooping 152
- Feeling tired 106
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 15,318 submissions while plecanatide has 933. 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 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 linaclotide and plecanatide — 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.