Why is this medication prescribed?
Prucalopride is used to treat chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC; difficult or infrequent passage of stools that lasts for 3 months or longer and is not caused by a disease or a medication). Prucalopride is in a class of medications called serotonin receptor agonists. It works by increasing the movement of waste through the bowel.
How should this medicine be used?
Prucalopride comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food once a day. Take prucalopride at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take prucalopride exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking prucalopride,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to prucalopride, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in prucalopride tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have a hole or blockage in your stomach or intestines or an inflammatory condition of the intestinal tract such as Crohn's disease (a condition in which the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever), ulcerative colitis (condition that causes swelling and sores in the lining of the large intestine), or toxic megacolon or megarectum (life-threatening widening of the intestine or rectum). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take prucalopride.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression, suicidal thoughts or actions (thinking about harming or killing oneself or planning or trying to do so), or other mood problems, or kidney disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking prucalopride, call your doctor.
- you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways during treatment with prucalopride. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following new symptoms or a worsening of these symptoms: depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; or changes in mood or behavior. Be sure that your family or caregiver know these symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Prucalopride may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- headache
- stomach pain
- nausea
- diarrhea
- dizziness
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, stop taking prucalopride and call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- rash
- itching
- hives
- swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
Prucalopride may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org
Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.
In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of overdose may include the following:
- headache
- nausea
- diarrhea
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.
Brand names
- Motegrity®