Prucalopride and Depression: What Users Say

• MBa...
• August 10, 2019

Prucalopride for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I started out with a whole pill and immediately experienced nausea and a pounding headache. The next day I took a half a pill, felt great but had little stool. That evening, took the second half of the pill, and depression started to settle in on me. By the 4th day, just taking half a pill, depression was heavy on me. I’ve decided to stop taking the medication after the 5th day of half a pill and go to a nutrition store to find something similar and try that also add more fiber to my diet. I’ve tried Linzess, severe weight gain. I’ve also tried Amitiza, nauseated all the time."

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2021

Prucalopride for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have suffered for years with chronic constipation. I have a diagnosis of gastroparesis and achalasia. Was hoping this would be the miracle medication, but instead, it turned out to be a nightmare. After 5 days, I still did not have a bowel movement. However, I woke up on day 4 crying, which is not normal for me. Day 5, I woke up crying and felt life was no longer worth living. Serious depression occurred with this medication. WARNING! If you take this medication, make sure you monitor your mental health. After stopping Motegrity, I returned to my constipated but happy life."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2022

Prucalopride for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "This drug works well - no urgency, feels very ‘normal’. But gives the most horrible crushing depression. If you have a history of depression, use with extreme caution as this causes extreme suicidal ideation. You should let a close friend/family member know if you plan to take this drug so they can keep an unbiased eye on you."

• Mkm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 23, 2023

Prucalopride for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "My previous GI put me on this 3 yrs ago, and it was very effective - so effective that I had to start out at a lower dose by cutting it in half. After a while, it seems like it was the worst depression that I had at the time. So I started taking it at night, which reduced that side effect, but it started to seem a little less effective, maybe coincidental. Eventually, I moved it back to daytime to see if it would be more effective, and my mood was fine with it - it didn't seem to have any effect on my mood anymore, fortunately, but within a year, it seemed like it stopped working. Just from personal experience, I suggest that anyone who feels this works really well but is finding mood problems with it try to treat their depression more effectively in other ways to see if they can tolerate this med. As I said, eventually, it stopped working. I feel for everyone on here. This is a very uncomfortable and frustrating condition. Hoping all of you find your solution."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I thought when this came out this was going to be my hope. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. After two weeks, I had to take citrate of magnesia to empty out. This medication is horrible and causes awful, painful gas and depressed mood. My gastroenterologists refused to give me Zelnorm because I have controlled palpitations. No heart disease, she said it would work. So my last option is colon removal because I can’t live like this anymore, using Dulcolax and bowel preps every three days."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 6, 2022

Prucalopride for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "In 2020, I was hospitalized for an intestinal blockage. At that time, they did not want to do surgery because it was a functional issue, so the protocol was NPO for several days. After I left the hospital, they put me on Motegrity 2 mg once a day. I’ve taken it for two years, and I’ve gained over 25 pounds. It does work in the beginning for motility, but then after a year it stopped really working. I don’t know why I bothered staying on it for as long as I did because the only thing that wound up happening is getting a tremendous amount of weight and becoming depressed from it."

• Dot...
• February 5, 2021

Prucalopride for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been on Motegrity for over a year, and it worked great for a while, lately, I have had problems with feeling jittery, anxious, and depressed. Feeling jittery and anxious is the worst. I have gastroparesis and am also on Famotidine, Promethazine, Lansoprazole, and Motilium, so it may be a combination or the Motegrity."

• Ati...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2020

Prucalopride for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Worked for 3 days and then back to constipation. Also seemed to not mix well with my anti-seizure drugs. My previous seizure drug had caused a particular type of seizure and depression. I haven't had those problems since I switched off that drug, but experienced both in the past week, so I am going to discontinue use."

• Ver...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2023

"I was put on prucalopride to treat moderate gastroparesis. I initially started on 1 mg and within a few weeks I became severely depressed, crying all the time and had suicidal ideation. I dropped the dose to 0.5 mg after reading the information sheet. My gastroparesis got worse, so I was told to go back up to 1 mg, and again within about 2-3 weeks I had severe depression and suicidal thoughts. I reduced the dose back to 0.5 mg, and within a few days the fog had lifted. I have the same reaction to tramadol, which also works in a similar way on serotonin receptors. Never again. Stay away from this drug if you have a history of mental health conditions, and if you're going to try, get someone to watch you closely."

• Nut...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2022

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have tried a variety of medications. Lubiprostone (Amitiza) works the best, but it still wasn't enough. I also still use Miralax almost daily and a stool softener once or twice a week. Adding prucalopride to these has helped to give me regular, predictable bowel movements. I take 1/2 pill (1 mg) once a day or every other day. So I'm pleased with how it helps with constipation. But I am minimizing the dose because it affects me like an SSRI antidepressant, which I've been on before and really dislike. Like SSRIs, prucalopride increases serotonin, which is helpful in stimulating bowel contractions, but unfortunately also affects the brain. I feel spacey, emotionally vulnerable, anxious, and sometimes depressed. Prucalopride is not covered by my insurance, but I was able to obtain it affordably through an overseas pharmacy."

• Dow...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2021

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I was given samples of Motegrity because I have pelvic floor dysfunction, IBS-C, gastritis, and a bit of gastric emptying delay. I wanted this to work so badly! The first day produced a perfect BM, but I have migraines and thought one was coming on all day. The next day, BM again, but I started having anxiety over dying! What? Depression hit the third day. I’m done! Going to just take senna. Nothing else works."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Did not work. After about a week, I felt so hopeless and sad, and that's not me at all. I stopped it immediately and will never use it again. Definitely didn't work at all for constipation."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Did not work. After about a week, I felt so hopeless and sad, and that's not me at all. I stopped it immediately and will never use it again. Definitely didn't work at all for constipation."