prucalopride succinate at a glance
Medicine class
Selective serotonin 5-HT4 receptor agonist and gastrointestinal prokinetic
Licensed use
Chronic constipation in adults when laxatives have not worked well enough
Food
The tablet may be taken with or without food
Age group
Licensed for adults; not recommended below 18 years
What is prucalopride succinate used for?
The selected product is licensed for:
Symptomatic treatment of chronic constipation in adults when laxatives fail to provide adequate relief.
How does prucalopride succinate work?
Prucalopride selectively activates serotonin 5-HT4 receptors in the gut. This promotes coordinated, propulsive contractions of the colon, helping bowel contents move towards defaecation.
prucalopride succinate preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1 mg, 2 mg
How to take prucalopride succinate
Take the film-coated tablet by mouth as prescribed. It may be taken with or without food; swallow it with water. Do not take more than prescribed.
Follow the dispensing label and leaflet supplied with your product.
Speak to the prescriber if treatment is not helping or if troublesome diarrhoea develops.
prucalopride succinate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Reduced appetite
- Dizziness
- Vomiting or indigestion
- Wind or increased bowel sounds
- Tiredness
Get urgent medical advice
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, including throat or tongue swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse
- Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, marked swelling, or inability to pass stool or wind
prucalopride succinate in pregnancy
Prucalopride is not recommended during pregnancy because human experience is limited. Anyone who is pregnant, planning pregnancy or who becomes pregnant during treatment should contact their prescriber to review treatment; product information advises effective contraception during use.
prucalopride succinate while breastfeeding
Prucalopride passes into breast milk. It may be used cautiously while breastfeeding a full-term, healthy infant when clinically appropriate, although alternatives are preferred. Monitor the infant for diarrhoea, vomiting, unusual drowsiness or irritability, poor feeding and inadequate weight gain. Specialist advice is appropriate for premature or unwell infants.
prucalopride succinate interactions
Prucalopride has relatively low potential for pharmacokinetic interactions, but relevant medicines and circumstances include:
Oral contraceptive pills
There is no clinically important direct interaction, but severe diarrhoea may reduce contraceptive absorption; follow the pill leaflet's additional-contraception advice.
Erythromycin
Prucalopride increased erythromycin concentrations in a study; the mechanism and clinical significance are uncertain.
Potent P-glycoprotein inhibitors, including ketoconazole, verapamil, ciclosporin and quinidine
These may modestly increase exposure to prucalopride; the documented ketoconazole effect was considered too small to be clinically relevant.
Common questions about prucalopride succinate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is prucalopride succinate a stimulant laxative?
No. It is a selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist and prokinetic that promotes coordinated bowel motility.
Can prucalopride succinate be taken with food?
Yes. Food does not materially affect absorption, so the tablet may be taken with or without food.
Does prucalopride succinate commonly cause diarrhoea?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.