Key takeaways

  • Trulance can cause side effects ranging from mild diarrhea and nausea to severe diarrhea.
  • As diarrhea is the most common side effect of Trulance, it’s important to stay hydrated during treatment. Severe diarrhea may require medical treatment to help prevent serious complications like kidney failure.
  • Trulance has a boxed warning for the risk of severe dehydration in children and is not approved for use in children under 6 years old.

Trulance is a prescription medication used to treat the following conditions in adults:

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Trulance can cause.

Trulance has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Precautions for Trulance” section.

More common side effects of Trulance

The most commonly reported side effect of Trulance is mild diarrhea. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Mild side effects of Trulance

Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Trulance include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And don’t stop taking Trulance unless your doctor recommends it.

Trulance may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Serious side effects of Trulance

Serious side effects of Trulance are rare, but they can include:

To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Trulance, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Trulance and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Trulance can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect wasn’t reported in studies. But allergic reactions have happened since Trulance was approved for use.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Trulance, they’ll decide if you should continue using it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Trulance, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Frequently asked questions about Trulance’s side effects

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Trulance’s side effects.

Are there reviews of Trulance?

Before trying something new, it’s common to look for reviews about others’ experiences. The manufacturer provides testimonials from people who’ve tried Trulance.

It’s important to keep in mind that the effect of the drug, as well as the side effects it may cause, can vary among people. Your experience with Trulance may differ from other people’s. If you have questions about what to expect from Trulance or whether it’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

Does Trulance cause weight gain or weight loss?

Trulance hasn’t been reported to cause weight gain or weight loss, and studies of Trulance didn’t show these side effects.

However, if you experience bloating as a side effect of Trulance, it could make it seem that you’ve gained some weight. This may also happen due to constipation, which can sometimes cause bloating. Taking Trulance to relieve your constipation may ease associated bloating. This may make it seem that you’ve lost some weight.

Talk with your doctor if you have weight changes that bother you while you’re taking Trulance.

Do the side effects of Trulance go away on their own?

It depends. In most cases, side effects of Trulance go away on their own as your body gets used to the medication. Or they may get better on their own if you stop taking Trulance. But in some cases, certain side effects, such as severe diarrhea, may need treatment.

If you have side effects that do not go away during Trulance treatment, talk with your doctor.

Is Trulance safer than Linzess?

Trulance (plecanatide) and Linzess (linaclotide) are both used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. The most common side effect of both drugs is diarrhea.

While both medications are generally considered safe and effective, your response to each drug can vary. In addition, some people may tolerate one drug better than the other. This may depend on your condition, medical history, and other medications you take.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about how Trulance and Linzess compare.

Side effects explained

Learn more about some of the side effects Trulance may cause.

Diarrhea

You may have diarrhea while taking Trulance. This is usually mild, but can sometimes be severe.

In studies, mild diarrhea was the most common side effect seen with Trulance. Most cases occurred within 4 weeks of starting the drug. Severe diarrhea was rare, and most cases occurred within 3 days of starting treatment.

Diarrhea may cause symptoms such as:

Both mild and severe diarrhea can cause your body to lose large amounts of fluid and electrolytes (minerals such as potassium and sodium). This can lead to dehydration. If dehydration isn’t treated, it can quickly lead to serious problems such as kidney failure or seizure.

Symptoms of dehydration include:

Note: Trulance has a boxed warning for dehydration in children. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see the “Precautions for Trulance” section.

What might help

If you have diarrhea with Trulance, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid getting dehydrated. Fluids you can try include water, sports drinks such as Gatorade, or rehydration drinks such as Pedialyte. These help to replace electrolytes as well as fluids that you lose with diarrhea.

If you have diarrhea that’s severe or lasts longer than a few days, you should call your doctor. They may recommend stopping Trulance until your diarrhea gets better. They may also recommend taking medication such as Imodium (loperamide) to treat diarrhea.

If your diarrhea is severe or you have symptoms of dehydration, your doctor may advise you to go to the hospital. You may need treatment with medications to stop the diarrhea. And you may also need an IV infusion of fluids.

Bloating or tenderness in your belly

You may have bloating or tenderness in your belly while taking Trulance. But in studies, these side effects were rare.

Bloating or tenderness may be related to diarrhea, which is a common side effect of Trulance. It may also be related to gas, which is rare. Bloating and tenderness can also be symptoms of the types of constipation that Trulance is used to treat.

Keep in mind that if you have severe bloating, swelling, and pain in your belly, this could be a symptom of a bowel obstruction. In this case, you’d also likely be unable to pass stool. You may also have nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

What might help

If you have bloating or tenderness in your belly that’s new, worse than usual, or bothers you while taking Trulance, talk with your doctor. They may want to investigate the cause of your symptoms. If these side effects are especially bothersome, your doctor may recommend switching to a different treatment.

If you have symptoms of a bowel obstruction, stop taking Trulance and see your doctor immediately.

Increased liver enzyme level

Some people may have an increased liver enzyme level while taking Trulance, but this is rare. This side effect is detected through liver function tests that doctors use to check the health of your liver.

If you have increased levels of liver enzymes, this can sometimes suggest there’s a problem with your liver. However, liver problems weren’t reported in Trulance studies, nor have they been reported since the drug came on the market.

It’s not known why some people had increased liver enzymes while taking Trulance. Unlike many drugs, Trulance isn’t broken down by your liver and doesn’t enter your bloodstream. It’s broken down in your intestine, where it works to treat your condition.

What might help

If you have unusual results in liver function tests while taking Trulance, be sure your doctor knows you’re taking this drug. They can discuss the best approach for treating this side effect.

Precautions for Trulance

Consider the following important information before starting Trulance.

Boxed warning: Risk of severe dehydration in children

Trulance has a boxed warning for the risk of severe dehydration in children. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

Trulance may increase the risk of severe dehydration in children. In animal studies, this drug caused severe dehydration that led to death in some young animals. But animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in people. Trulance hasn’t been studied in children, and it’s not approved for use in children under the age of 18 years. So it’s not known if it’s safe or effective in this age group.

Due to the risk of severe dehydration, Trulance must not be used in children under 6 years old. And due to this risk, doctors usually will not prescribe Trulance for older children either.

Other precautions

Before taking Trulance, discuss your health history with your doctor. Trulance may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • blockage in your stomach, intestine, or bowel
  • allergic reaction to Trulance or any of its ingredients
  • alcohol consumption
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

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.