Plecanatide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation User Reviews (Page 2)

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2019

"Due to surgeries, radiation, and chemo damage, I'm unable to 'go' on my own unless I take prune juice and sit in the bathroom for hours. It was awful and disruptive to having a normal life. When I started Trulance, it was a miracle drug for me. I started going every morning with no side effects. I felt as if I got my life back. I've been on it for two months, and it just stopped working. Nothing. I have to call my G.I. doc and hope she has some answers. I was willing to take this drug forever, even though my co-pay was $132 a month. It's close to $500 a month without insurance. Hoping for some positive answers from the doctor."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2019

"Basically, hit and miss with variable results and variable adverse events. I am taking it for hard stool and occasional low (but sometimes severe) abdominal pain/distention. I am taking one pill daily on an empty stomach with H2O each morning. I have uncovered a pattern now where if I have not had a BM the day before, the next day will be explosive. Following 4 hours of diarrhea, I get migraine symptoms (courtesy of dehydration... who knows), chills, and back pain. I wonder if anyone has had good luck with halving the dose or taking only a couple of times a week. I would think that the manufacturer has now had enough adverse events reporting that the FDA would require a labeling change. I'm surprised there is no titration recommended based on 'results'. My advice before your doctor pursues a lengthy prior authorization procedure only to have you waste (pardon the pun) money on a drug you don't use is to get samples first to see if you even tolerate the drug."

• IBO...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2019

"I have had countless EGDs (an upper GI endoscopy), CTs, MRIs, small bowel studies, gastric emptying studies, food allergy and intolerance studies, and nothing ever helped or was found to be abnormal. I've tried Linzess, Amitiza, IB Guard, FD Guard, and now Trulance. I've also been to about 8 different GI doctors in multiple cities and even reached out to the Mayo Clinic. I've been told I can't be helped and dismissed by several doctors. Linzess caused explosive diarrhea and severe dehydration to where I was admitted, and Amitiza did absolutely nothing. I was prescribed Trulance, which cost over $75 with insurance, and after taking two pills, experienced nonstop horrible cramping and pure liquid stool. I was so dehydrated I passed out at work because nothing would stay in my system. I am now stuck on a low FODMAP, gluten-free, soy-free, minimal sugar, and soft foods just to try and maintain a semi-normal life. I have to take Compazine to not vomit after every meal and Hyoscyamine to make the cramps tolerable."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2019

"I am on my second package of this RX, and it seems to work pretty well. I drink a Senna tea that I buy on Amazon. I drink the tea before I go to bed and take the Trulance in the morning. Have not had much diarrhea, and between this and the tea, I have been almost normal for a month now. No cramping, no gas, no pain. What has happened now is I have horrible congestion and severe tiredness. Don't want to stop taking it, but I need to see if the Trulance is causing the problem while solving the other."

• Jam...
• August 11, 2017

"I was on Linzess, using it only from time to time as it caused severe bloating and diarrhea. I was skipping doses and was constipated then. It always required a decision: should I take a pill today or not? For the last 2 months, I have been using Trulance, and it is perfect. I take it in the morning and forget about it. It just works! Smooth and nice. I already forgot what diarrhea is! I feel like my life has changed."

• Lin...
• December 12, 2019

"I see good and bad comments. I’m going to share mine. I received samples for Trulance. I started taking this as my last resort to a total colectomy. The first few days, within one hour, I had bowel movements, wow! Day 5, nothing. Doubled over in pain. Dizziness, fatigue, depression, severe migraines, nausea. This went on for two more days, had to stop when my face swelled up. This was an awful drug for me. Take with caution. Took days to get out of my system."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2020

"I started taking Trulance after dinner, and within the hour, it worked. I was so excited! I've tried so many meds in the past 20 years, and none helped like this pill. I didn't have any pain, and BM was not explosive like Linzess."

• Joy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2017

"I heard about this medication from another resident at my mom's nursing home who had recently started taking Trulance, after using another medication that gave her severe diarrhea. My mom has been on Trulance for 3 weeks now, and the results have been excellent. For the first time in over two years, she is having regular bowel movements without any ill side effects."

• luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2020

"I have been constipated my whole life. Several months ago, I started experiencing bowel blockages that ended up causing projectile vomiting, heartburn, and nausea. For years, colonics was on my list of things to do. At my last appointment, my bowels were so blocked, I drank a bottle of magnesium citrate! Wow! Wow! Wow! If your system needs cleaning out, this is exactly what does. As far as the Trulance, for the 2 days I've taken it, my belly looks 8 months pregnant from horrible bloating, gas, and ridiculous diarrhea! For safety purposes, on the 1st night, I wore an overnight adult diaper, only to wake up in a huge feces mess in my bed!!! I feel horrible! Made a call to my gastro's office today."

• Vic...
• July 3, 2017

"I have always been constipated (lucky if I go once a week) for as long as I remember for different reasons. I finally addressed it with my doctor. I was referred to a gastroenterologist who prescribed Trulance. They gave me some samples while my insurance approved the prescription. I did have a bout with diarrhea after a couple of weeks, but it quickly subsided. After a month of being on the medicine, I'm actually going 2x a day. I'm still not sure how I feel about spending more time in the bathroom, but I'm not bloated anymore. I do experience more gas, but better than feeling like you are about to give birth."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 12, 2020

"I’ve been taking Trulance for about a year. I’ve had chronic constipation for the last 10 years. I’ve had multiple back surgeries, but they did not completely help the nerve pain, so I take anti-inflammatories and amitriptyline to help me sleep at night. The longest I’ve gone without a BM was 6 days. I’ve been taking Trulance for about a year after my insurance wouldn’t cover Linzess. I don’t take it every day because I wouldn’t be able to leave my house. It takes a few hours for it to work and then 4 hours of explosive diarrhea. I have been very depressed lately, and I think it is because of this medication. It’s causing stress in my life. Plus, like some people said, I am tired all the time. I thought it was from the pain meds, but now I’m thinking it’s Trulance. I only take 1 anti-inflammatory twice a day for pain, and I’ve been on it for years, so I don’t think that is causing the tiredness."

• bee...
• September 24, 2019

"After reading horrible things like mouth sores, hives, total loss of bowel control, and more - I am the next recipient of a month's worth of Trulance samples. I popped a pill with my dinner, thinking it would be a couple of hours before activation. Wrong! A one-hour activation period. It cleaned my gut like a mobile vacuum cleaner, but not without some side effects: I started burning in my mouth, throat, and all the way down to my rectum. Every muscle I had developed through exercise ached, and my legs could barely move. I felt like it had also burned off any extra fat I had on my arms, legs, and around my collarbone. My face is flushed, and I feel hot in my mouth. It's been a six-hour ordeal, and I feel like I'm coming out of it. There was quite a vile odor and a bad taste in my mouth."

• For...
• October 16, 2020

"I’m 45 years old, and I was in total stress after this COVID-19. I worked in a hospital and had no time to sit on the toilet all day after eating. I went to the doctor and they gave me Trulance. It is working good, but I just take 1/2 because it is very strong for me (3 mg) but so far I’m feeling good. I don’t have that feeling that I have to sit on the toilet for like an hour, and I take this in the morning before starting my day. It’s working good so far."

• Kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2017

"Just switched to Trulance 3 weeks ago. First 3 days and nothing changed, and then it magically started working. I was on Linzess for the past 14 months, but I was continuing to have such unbearable diarrhea and abdominal pain. This drug isn't perfect, but pain has subsided considerably and diarrhea is almost nonexistent. Keeping the faith that it continues to do well."

• Suz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2019

"My doctor gave me a free sample of Trulance. My problem is chronic constipation, I go to the bathroom daily but strain to go sometimes. Took my first dose before going to bed. Within an hour, I was having stomach cramps followed by liquid diarrhea. I was awake the entire night with more of the same. I'm really shocked that my doctor gave me no insight into the possibility that people can have this kind of reaction. My constipation is mild, so I'm not sure why she thought this would help. Horrible. Just wondering when it will be safe to eat again or leave the house. When will my stomach return to normal? I will certainly ask more questions before I try any other drug cures."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2018

"Those of you saying it caused stomach pain, bloating, and didn't produce a BM should probably make sure that 1. You don't have a blockage and 2. Be tested for pelvic floor dysfunction or possible anal stenosis."

• Wil...
• August 28, 2017

"I was taking Linzess for the better part of three years, it did the job but had major AEs. I experienced bloating, weight gain, and the biggest problem for me was stomach pains. My GI doc switched me over to Trulance about 30 days ago, and as of now, I'm not having any AEs. I hope it continues to work this well."

• BBW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2019

"I’m a female in my late 30s that has experienced severe constipation since pregnancy 6 years ago. This drug has caused nothing but dehydration, bloating, congestion, and weight gain. I will not continue use of this drug."

• Ken...
• June 1, 2017

"Trulance is working great so far. Doctor says to continue it for 90 days. My BM is better and consistent. I hope I don't have to take it for life, but so far it works just great without evil side effects of Linzess."

• Yai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2021

"Works well. However, my prescription Part D coverage insurer doesn't cover it. $500.00/mo. is a bit steep. That's $6000.00/yr. just so you can have a bowel motion. The pharmaceutical companies are only interested in the dollars."

• Hay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2018

"I love Trulance! I’m surprised people are saying it made them gain weight, as it is not a listed side effect, and I actually managed to lose 2 lbs while taking it. I’ve suffered from severe bloating and moderate constipation for almost two years. I was sick of the constant cycle of laxative on Friday night - flat stomach Saturday - constipation building Sunday through Friday - repeat. I was tired of planning my life around my laxative and my bloat. There were and are many times when I take a laxative and it would do nothing but make me bloat up to two sizes bigger than I am. Trulance has been gentle. No cramping, only mild bloat, and no water retention. My only negative comments revolve around the day-long diarrhea and the stomach distension that comes from going off it cold turkey. (I ran out and am waiting for my prescription)"

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2018

"I was so excited to take this. I took one on my way home from the doctor, as I hadn't gone in 2 weeks! So I went out to eat, and an hour after I took it, I ran to the bathroom-explosive diarrhea for 3-4 hours to the point I couldn’t make it to the bathroom. So the next time, I decided to take it at night, and an hour after, my stomach gurgled loudly for 2 hours, then back to explosive diarrhea for 3-4 hours, the kind you don’t even know is coming! Wish it would work for me, but I would rather be constipated at this point!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2023

"I've been on the drug for a month. I feel great. It has saved my life of misery. I just started my second month. I pray I continue to do so well. I've only had a few bouts of diarrhea in the beginning as my body was cleansing itself of old stool which always made me sick inside. I am so much better, I hope it continues."

• Eur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2018

"I take 3 mg at bedtime for my gastroparesis. I wake up each morning with a comfortable, normal BM. At week two, I experienced some bloating, but it subsided within a week. I have never had anything work this well. My choices have always been severe, painful constipation or highly medicated, cramp-inducing diarrhea. Trulance has changed my life after years of too much time spent and thought spent on my bowel management."

• Rel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 14, 2023

"Update on my review below. Been taking this for about a year now, and it's a mixed bag of the sacrifice of time to take it vs. the relief. I have been taking 1/2 a pill now every day. I would say you get an hour before you need to go. Working from home, I would say it's a good 4 trips to the toilet in those first 2 hours, and if I need to actually do something and have a life during the day, I will finish the process with a Fleet Liquid Glycerin suppository to clear out the rest, and then I'm good for the rest of the day. My new marketplace plan has this costing me $25 for 90 pills, and I almost fainted at the pharmacy because it was $150 for 30 pills on my old plan. Trulance basically liquefies whatever is in your intestines and gets it out with no straining. It's perfect for anyone who has pelvic floor issues and can't do the pushing to poop. If you have the time to deal with it, this drug is a life-changer."