Motegrity side effects: What you should know

Motegrity can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Motegrity in clinical trials:

• abdominal pain
• nausea
• bloating
• diarrhea*
• headache*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Motegrity use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Motegrity’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Motegrity include:

• abdominal pain
• nausea
• bloating
• fatigue
• vomiting
• dizziness*
• headache*
• gas*
• diarrhea*
• mild allergic reaction*

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Motegrity and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Although rare, Motegrity may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Motegrity’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Motegrity, 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.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Symptoms can include:
  • hopelessness
  • loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
  • changes in your mood or behavior
• Severe allergic reaction.*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Motegrity may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Can Motegrity cause weight gain?

No, you shouldn’t experience weight gain from taking Motegrity. Weight gain wasn’t reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

However, it’s possible for Motegrity to cause bloating. And bloating may lead to an increase in your weight.

If you notice weight gain during your treatment with Motegrity, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing your weight gain to occur. In addition, they can recommend the best ways to maintain a weight that is healthy for you.

Is hair loss a side effect of Motegrity?

No, you shouldn’t experience hair loss from taking Motegrity. Hair loss wasn’t reported in Motegrity’s clinical trials.

However, if you notice hair loss along with constipation, talk with your doctor. These symptoms may be a sign of hypothyroidism. This can occur when your thyroid isn’t working as well as it should. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism may include feeling tired or cold, weight gain, or depression.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Motegrity may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Motegrity.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a possible side effect of Motegrity. It was one of the most common side effects reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

What you can do

If you develop diarrhea that’s severe or bothersome, talk with your doctor. They will likely recommend increasing your fluid intake. This is because having diarrhea can cause you to become dehydrated. If your diarrhea is severe, your doctor may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Dizziness

It’s possible to feel dizzy during treatment with Motegrity. Dizziness was one of the most common side effects reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

What you can do

If you feel dizzy while taking Motegrity, talk with your doctor. In some cases, dizziness may also be due to dehydration. Vomiting or diarrhea, other side effects of the drug, can cause dehydration.

Your doctor can help determine what may be causing your dizziness. If this side effect doesn’t improve, they may recommend a different treatment option for your chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

Gas

Motegrity can cause gas. In fact, gas was a common side effect reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

What you can do

If you experience gas from taking Motegrity, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help determine the best ways to manage this side effect. For example, they may recommend taking an over-the-counter medication, such as simethicone (Gas-X).

Headache

Headache is a possible side effect of Motegrity. It was one of the most common side effects reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

What you can do

If you experience headaches that are severe or bothersome during treatment with Motegrity, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to recommend ways to manage your headaches. For example, they may recommend taking an over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

In some cases, headaches can also be due to dehydration. Motegrity can also cause vomiting and diarrhea, which may lead to dehydration. Your doctor can help determine what may be causing your headache and the best way to treat it.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Motegrity can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

• skin rash
• itching
• flushing
• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Motegrity. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Motegrity. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Mood problems, such as depression or a history of suicidal thoughts. Although rare, it’s possible for Motegrity to cause mood changes, such as depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you have a history of mood problems, be sure to tell your doctor before taking Motegrity. They can help determine whether this medication may be a safe treatment option for you.

Intestinal tear, blockage, or perforation. Your doctor likely won’t recommend Motegrity if you have a tear or a blockage in your intestines. In this case, your doctor can recommend the best treatment option for your intestinal blockage or tear.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Motegrity or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Motegrity. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Kidney problems. If you have kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease, tell your doctor before taking Motegrity. Kidney problems may increase your risk of side effects from Motegrity. So, in certain people with kidney problems, a doctor may recommend taking a lower dose of Motegrity. Your doctor likely won’t recommend Motegrity if you are on dialysis. Talk with your doctor to see whether Motegrity is safe for you.

Inflammatory conditions of your intestines, such as Crohn’s disease. Tell your doctor if you have any inflammatory intestinal conditions, such as Crohn’s disease. In this case, your doctor will likely recommend a different treatment option for your chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

Alcohol with Motegrity

There aren’t any known interactions between Motegrity and alcohol.

However, both Motegrity and alcohol can cause nausea, vomiting, and headache. So, drinking alcohol while taking Motegrity may increase your risk of these side effects.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Motegrity, talk with your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Motegrity

It’s not known whether Motegrity may be safe to take during pregnancy. At this time, there haven’t been any studies done in pregnant humans to determine whether the drug may be safe. However, in animal studies, no congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) were reported.

There is a pregnancy registry for women who have taken Motegrity during pregnancy. A pregnancy registry is a collection of data that helps determine whether a drug may be safe to take during pregnancy. If you do take Motegrity during pregnancy, talk with your doctor about joining the registry. Your doctor can sign you up for the pregnancy registry if you’d like to join. For more information, visit the pregnancy registry webpage.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Motegrity. They can help determine whether Motegrity is a safe treatment option for you.

In addition, it’s not known if Motegrity may be safe to take while breastfeeding. Motegrity is present in breast milk, but it’s not known what effects the drug may cause.

If you are planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before taking Motegrity. They can help determine whether Motegrity is a safe treatment option for you.

In most cases, side effects from Motegrity are mild. But it is possible for serious side effects to occur from Motegrity, as well.

If you’d like to learn more about Motegrity, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

• More information about Motegrity. For details about other aspects of Motegrity, refer to this article.
• Drug comparison. To learn how Motegrity compares with Amitiza, read this article.
• A look at constipation. For details about constipation, see our list of constipation articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.