plecanatide
Brand names: Trulance
Trulance is a medicine that helps adults with certain bowel problems. It helps your bowels move more regularly.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$17.84/unit
Generic Available
No
SALIX
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Trulance treats chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).
Common side effects
Diarrhea
Key warnings
Trulance can cause serious dehydration in children under 6.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take one 3 mg Trulance tablet daily. You can take it with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with water. If you have trouble swallowing, you can crush the tablet and mix it with applesauce or water.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time.
Storage
Store Trulance at room temperature (68 to 77°F) in a dry place, protected from moisture, and in its original bottle.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,420 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 1,831 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2016–2025.
Total Reports
1,831
Death-Related Reports
72
Hospitalization Reports
254
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIARRHOEA | 363 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 159 |
| 3 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 153 |
| 4 | CONSTIPATION | 152 |
| 5 | FATIGUE | 106 |
| 6 | ABDOMINAL DISTENSION | 100 |
| 7 | ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER | 100 |
| 8 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 96 |
| 9 | HEADACHE | 96 |
| 10 | PAIN | 95 |
| 11 | DIZZINESS | 87 |
| 12 | PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 70 |
| 13 | DYSPNOEA | 68 |
| 14 | MUSCLE SPASMS | 68 |
| 15 | MALAISE | 67 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Common Questions
What is the dose of Trulance?
Can I take Trulance with food?
What should I do if I get severe diarrhea?
Can I give Trulance to my child?
How should I store Trulance?
What if I have trouble swallowing the tablet?
Can I mix Trulance with other foods or liquids?
What if part of the crushed tablet is left in the cup?
Is Trulance safe to take during pregnancy?
Can I take Trulance while breastfeeding?
What are the common side effects of plecanatide?
What drug class is plecanatide?
Is plecanatide safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist
Other drugs grouped near plecanatide — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alosetron
Lotronex
Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
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aprepitant
Emend
Aprepitant (Emend) is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting.
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bisacodyl
Dulcolax
Bisacodyl is a medicine that helps you have a bowel movement.
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bismuth subsalicylate
Pepto-Bismol
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is a medicine that can treat diarrhea and upset stomach.
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cimetidine
Tagamet
Cimetidine (Tagamet) reduces stomach acid.
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Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for plecanatide
The FDA label for plecanatide (sold under brand names such as Trulance) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist class. Trulance treats chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,420 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: April 4, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages