Prucalopride Tablet

Prucalopride is a prescription tablet for adults with chronic constipation that hasn't improved with regular laxatives. Instead of softening stool, it helps your colon move on its own. One tablet, once a day, prescription required.

Prescription required · 🇺🇸 FDA-approved (brand: Motegrity®)

At a glance

Why It's Different From Regular Laxatives

Most laxatives fix the symptom. Prucalopride works closer to the cause.

• Not a stool softener

• Not an osmotic (doesn't just pull water into your gut)

• Is a motility booster — it nudges your colon's own muscles to contract and move things along

That's why doctors usually try it only after regular laxatives haven't worked well enough.

Who Prucalopride Is For

Prucalopride is generally prescribed for adults who:

• Have been diagnosed with chronic idiopathic constipation

• Have not had adequate relief from standard laxatives or dietary/lifestyle measures

• Do not have any of the contraindications listed below

It is not appropriate for constipation caused by bowel obstruction, certain inflammatory bowel conditions, or as a general-purpose or short-term remedy.

Important Safety Information

Boxed Warning — Psychiatric Effects

Clinical trials reported cases of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and completed suicide in patients taking prucalopride, although a direct causal link has not been established. Patients and caregivers should:

• Monitor for new or worsening depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts

• Contact a healthcare provider immediately if these occur

• Never start or stop the medication without medical guidance

Do Not Take Prucalopride If You:

• Have a known hypersensitivity to prucalopride or its ingredients

• Have intestinal perforation or obstruction

• Have severe inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, toxic megacolon)

Talk to Your Doctor Before Use If You:

• Have kidney or liver impairment

• Are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding

• Are on dialysis (limited data on use in end-stage renal disease)

• Take other medications, to check for interactions

Common Side Effects

• Headache

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

• Dizziness

Seek emergency care for signs of an allergic reaction (rash, facial swelling, difficulty breathing) or any sudden change in mood or suicidal thoughts. This is not a complete list of side effects — ask your pharmacist or doctor for the full Patient Information leaflet.

How Prucalopride Is Taken

• Taken by mouth, once daily, at the same time each day

• Can be taken with or without food

• Swallow the tablet whole with water

• If a dose is missed, do not double up — take the next dose at the regular time, and confirm with your pharmacist if unsure

• Improvement in bowel movements is often noticed within 24–48 hours, but full assessment of chronic symptom relief typically takes several weeks under your prescriber's supervision

Storage

Store prucalopride tablets in their original container, tightly closed, to protect against moisture. Keep at room temperature, away from direct heat, humidity, and light — a bathroom cabinet is generally not ideal. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not transfer tablets to unlabeled pillboxes for extended periods. Do not use past the expiration date; ask your pharmacist about safe disposal options for unused or expired medication.

Prescription Requirement & Regulatory Compliance

Prucalopride is a federally regulated, prescription-only medication and cannot legally be sold or dispensed without a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. This requirement exists because appropriate dosing depends on individual factors — including kidney function — and because ongoing use requires medical monitoring for the psychiatric risks noted in the boxed warning above. Any source offering prucalopride without a prescription should be treated as unauthorized and potentially unsafe. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist to obtain a prescription legitimately.

Prucalopride holds FDA approval (marketed as Motegrity®, first approved in 2018), and its labeling is periodically reviewed and updated by regulatory authorities.

FAQ

Is this just a stronger laxative?

No. Most laxatives soften stool or pull water into the bowel to ease passage. Prucalopride works differently — it stimulates the colon's own muscle contractions to encourage natural movement. That's why doctors typically try it only after standard laxatives haven't given enough relief.

How fast does it work?

Some people notice a bowel movement within 24 to 48 hours of starting treatment. However, the full benefit for chronic constipation symptoms is usually evaluated over several weeks, since your prescriber needs time to see how your body responds before judging long-term effectiveness.

Can I stay on it long-term?

Possibly, but it shouldn't be assumed. Long-term use should be reviewed periodically by your prescriber, who will weigh whether you're still getting meaningful benefit against any ongoing risks. Never continue, stop, or restart treatment without checking in with your doctor first.

What strength do you carry?

We currently stock Prucalopride 1 mg tablets. This strength is specifically intended for adults with severe kidney impairment (CrCl under 30 mL/min), or for patients whose prescriber has otherwise directed this dose based on individual tolerability and clinical response.

Do I need a prescription?

Yes, always — no exceptions. Prucalopride is a federally regulated, prescription-only medication because safe dosing depends on factors like kidney function, and ongoing use requires medical monitoring. We verify a valid prescription from a licensed provider before any order ships.

Medical Disclaimer: -

This page is for general information, not medical advice. Only take prucalopride with a valid prescription and exactly as your doctor directs. Don't change your dose on your own. Get emergency help right away for severe allergic reactions or sudden mood/suicidal changes.

Sources: DailyMed · MedlinePlus · FDA Label