Trulance (plecanatide) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat some types of constipation. The drug comes as a tablet that you swallow. It’s usually taken once per day.

Trulance is used in adults to treat:

The active ingredient in Trulance is plecanatide. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Trulance belongs to a group of drugs called guanylate cyclase-C agonists.

This article describes the dosages of Trulance, as well as its strength and administration (how it’s taken). To learn more about Trulance, see this in-depth article.

The information provided below discusses common dosage information for Trulance.

What is Trulance’s form?

Trulance comes as a tablet that you swallow.

What strength does Trulance come in?

Trulance is only available in one strength: 3 milligrams (mg).

What are the usual dosages of Trulance?

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.

Dosage for chronic idiopathic constipation

The dosage for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) is 3 mg taken by mouth once per day. This is also the maximum dosage of Trulance recommended for CIC.

Dosage for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

The dosage for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) is 3 mg taken by mouth once per day. This is also the maximum dosage of Trulance recommended for IBS-C.

Is Trulance used long term?

Trulance may be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Trulance’s dosage.

How long does it take for Trulance to work?

How long it takes Trulance to work varies depending on the person.

In studies of the medication for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), some people saw their constipation symptoms decrease as soon as 1 week after starting Trulance treatment. Studies of Trulance for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) did not specify how soon symptoms started to ease with the medication.

If you have questions about how quickly Trulance may start working for you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Trulance available over the counter?

No. Trulance is not a bulk fiber or traditional laxative, both of which are available over the counter (OTC). It’s only available as a prescription medication.

If you have CIC or IBS-C and want to try Trulance, talk with your doctor. They can discuss the benefits and risks of taking this drug. They’ll also let you know if Trulance or an OTC medication would be a good treatment option.

Are there dosage options for Trulance that are determined by weight?

No, the manufacturer of Trulance makes no dosage adjustment recommendations based on a person’s weight. The dosage of Trulance for adults is 3 milligrams (mg) taken once daily. This is also the maximum recommended dosage of Trulance.

In studies of the drug, doses higher than 3 mg did not provide additional benefits. But higher doses did cause more side effects. (For information on Trulance’s side effects, see this article.)

If you forget to take your regular dose of Trulance, skip the missed dose. Don’t try to make up for a missed dose by taking a double dose of Trulance. This can increase your risk of serious side effects.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Trulance on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for other tips to help you stay on track with your regularly scheduled medications.

Trulance comes as a tablet that you’ll swallow by mouth, and you can take it with or without food. You’ll take your dose once daily. There is no best time to take the drug. But taking it around the same time each day can help keep a steady level of the drug in your body.

If you have trouble swallowing pills, try crushing a Trulance tablet and adding it to applesauce or water. You can visit the Trulance website for instructions on how to do this. You can also check out this article for other tips that may help you take the tablets.

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Trulance, see this article.

Accessible drug containers and labels

If you find it hard to read the prescription label on your medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

  • have large print or use braille
  • feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

Trulance is available in two different types of packaging: foil-wrapped child-resistant blister packs and child-resistant bottles. If you have trouble opening child-resistant packaging, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to supply Trulance in an easy-open container. They can also offer tips to help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.

If you do get Trulance in an easy-open container, be sure to keep it out of reach of children. Trulance has a boxed warning for the risk of serious dehydration in children. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about storing medications safely.

Do not take more Trulance than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to serious side effects.

What to do in case you take too much Trulance

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Trulance. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

The sections above describe the usual dosage of Trulance provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends this drug for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Trulance without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Trulance exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • Will my dosage of Trulance be different if I have liver or kidney problems?
  • Can I take a higher dose of Trulance if the drug isn’t working for me?
  • Does my dosage of Trulance need to change if I’m taking other drugs along with it?

To learn more about Trulance, see these articles:

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.