Trulance (plecanatide) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for certain types of constipation. Trulance has no known interactions with alcohol, drugs, or supplements. However, the drug has a health-related interaction with bowel obstruction.

Trulance is prescribed for the following types of constipation in adults:

An interaction occurs when one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected.

To learn more about Trulance’s interactions, keep reading. For additional information about Trulance, including details about its uses, see this article.

In clinical trials, the manufacturer of Trulance did not find any drug interactions. However, it’s possible that new interactions may be recognized in the future. For example, a suspected interaction could be reported by people who’ve taken Trulance since it became available.

Before you start treatment with Trulance, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Trulance interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Trulance and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Trulance due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Trulance include:

Being younger than age 6 years

Doctors typically won’t prescribe Trulance for children younger than age 6 years. This is because Trulance may increase the risk of serious dehydration in children.

In fact, Trulance has a boxed warning about this risk. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see “Boxed warning” at the beginning of this article.

Having bowel obstruction

Doctors typically won’t prescribe Trulance for people with a bowel obstruction. This is because bowel obstruction is a serious condition that may require emergency treatment. Trulance will not ease constipation related to bowel obstruction.

If you have a bowel obstruction, your doctor will recommend treatments other than Trulance for your condition.

Note: Before you start treatment with Trulance, it’s important to tell your doctor if these contraindications apply to you or your child. They can determine whether to prescribe Trulance.

There aren’t any known interactions between Trulance and alcohol. However, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during Trulance treatment.

This is because drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some of Trulance’s side effects. Examples include diarrhea, dizziness, and nausea.

Alcohol can also cause constipation, which Trulance is prescribed to treat. So consuming alcohol while taking Trulance can make it hard to tell whether the drug is working for your condition.

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

Trulance may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Trulance.

Trulance and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Trulance and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Trulance. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Trulance treatment.

Trulance and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Trulance. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Trulance.

Trulance and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Trulance. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Trulance, talk with your doctor.

Trulance and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Trulance and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Trulance and lab tests

Trulance isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

TRULANCE AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Trulance. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Trulance. The effects of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Trulance treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Trulance. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Trulance may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Trulance include:

  • Bowel obstruction: Doctors typically won’t prescribe Trulance to people with a bowel obstruction. For details, see the “When to avoid Trulance” section above.
  • Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Trulance or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Trulance. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
  • Breastfeeding: It may be safe to take Trulance while breastfeeding. The drug isn’t known to pass into breast milk or cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. However, it’s best to talk with your doctor before taking Trulance while breastfeeding. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
  • Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Trulance is safe to take while pregnant. Animal studies did not note any congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Trulance. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Trulance and possible interactions.

Can you take laxatives with Trulance?

Yes, if your doctor recommends it. There aren’t any reports of Trulance interacting with laxatives.

As with Trulance, laxatives are taken to ease constipation. However, Trulance and laxatives can cause similar side effects.* Examples include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. So you may have an increased risk of these side effects if you take laxatives during Trulance treatment.

If you’re interested in taking a laxative with Trulance, be sure to check with your doctor first.

* For information about Trulance’s side effects, see this article.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Trulance. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

  • Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
  • Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
  • Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Trulance label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Trulance doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Trulance by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Trulance. These resources might help:

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.