Trulance vs. Linzess

Trulance (plecanatide) and Linzess (linaclotide) are brand-name prescription medications. They’re approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat two types of constipation in adults:

• irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
• chronic idiopathic constipation, which is a type of long-lasting constipation that occurs without a known cause

This article explains the main similarities and differences between Trulance and Linzess. If you’re considering taking one of these drugs, talk with your doctor. Reviewing this information with them can help you decide if Trulance or Linzess may be a better option for you.

Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Trulance and Linzess articles.

Key differences between Trulance and Linzess

These are a couple of the main differences between Trulance and Linzess:

• Form: Trulance comes as an oral tablet, and Linzess comes as an oral capsule.
• How to take: Trulance may be taken with or without food, while Linzess is typically taken on an empty stomach.

For more dosage information about the two drugs, see “Dosages, forms, and administration” below.

Below are answers to some common questions about Trulance and Linzess.

How do Trulance and Linzess compare with Amitiza?

Below are a few ways Trulance and Linzess compare with Amitiza.

To learn more about how Trulance and Linzess compare with Amitiza, talk with your doctor.

Are there reviews of people who have used Trulance and Linzess?

Yes, the manufacturers of Trulance and Linzess have provided patient stories about using these medications. You can view these patient stories by visiting this site for Trulance and this site for Linzess.

Keep in mind that the effects of Trulance and Linzess will vary from person to person. The way another person’s condition responds to these medications could be different from your condition. To learn more about what to expect with Trulance and Linzess treatment, talk with your doctor.

How much Trulance or Linzess costs depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy. You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Trulance and Linzess.

Both Trulance and Linzess are brand-name drugs. Neither medication is available in generic form. Brand-name medications are often more expensive than generics.

Both Trulance and Linzess both treat certain types of constipation. These drugs can cause some of the same side effects, as well as some different ones. Some of the side effects reported for these drugs are mentioned below.

Mild side effects

The following table lists some of the more commonly reported mild side effects of Trulance and Linzess. The table may also include mild side effects that are less common but that you might have concerns about in some cases.

* An allergic reaction is possible after using these medications. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of Trulance or Linzess. Allergic reaction has been reported since the two drugs became available as prescriptions.

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

Serious side effects

The following table lists the reported serious side effects of Trulance and Linzess.

* An allergic reaction is possible after using these medications. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of Trulance or Linzess. Allergic reaction has been reported since the two drugs became available as prescriptions.

If you have serious side effects while using Trulance or Linzess, call your doctor immediately. If the side effects feel life threatening or you believe you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.

Note: For more information about side effects of the two drugs, see our side effect articles about Trulance and Linzess. You can also refer to the Trulance prescribing information and Linzess prescribing information.

Here’s information about the generic status for Trulance and Linzess, as well as details on their active ingredients.

Both Trulance and Linzess have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following in adults:

• irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), which is a type of IBS that causes constipation as its main symptom
• chronic idiopathic constipation, which is a type of long-lasting constipation that occurs without a known cause

Note: For more information about the drugs’ uses, see our articles about Trulance and Linzess.

Here’s a quick look at the dosage and administration for Trulance and Linzess for the conditions both drugs treat.

Dosage for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

Below are the dosages of Trulance and Linzess for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).

Dosage for chronic idiopathic constipation

Below are the dosages of Trulance and Linzess for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

Note: For more information about dosage, see our dosage articles about Trulance and Linzess.

Keep reading to learn more about the effectiveness of Trulance and Linzess.

Review of clinical trials. Here’s a brief look at whether Trulance or Linzess was found to be more effective for treating irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

Separate clinical trials of Trulance and Linzess were compared in a larger review of trials. The results of this review found both drugs to be similarly effective for treating IBS-C and CIC.

Keep in mind that reviews of trial results may not apply to your individual health situation. To learn whether Trulance or Linzess may be right for you, talk with your doctor.

Prescribing information. For information about how effective these drugs were in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Trulance and Linzess. Keep in mind that trial results may not apply to your individual health situation.

Treatment guidelines. Another way to see whether a drug is considered effective is to look at treatment guidelines. When an organization includes certain drugs in treatment guidelines, this means that research has shown the drug to be safe and effective.

American College of Gastroenterology guidelines recommend drugs called guanylate cyclase-C agonists, such as Trulance and Linzess, as treatment options for people with IBS-C.

Trulance and Linzess may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The two drugs share some of the same precautions, but they also have different ones. Some of these precautions are mentioned below.

Boxed warning: Risk of serious dehydration in certain children

Trulance and Linzess have a boxed warning for the risk of serious dehydration in certain children. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Animal studies of Trulance and Linzess found an increased risk of serious dehydration (due to diarrhea) in young animals given these drugs. However, animal studies do not always predict what happens to humans. It’s not known for certain whether Trulance and Linzess increase the risk of dehydration in children.

Due to the possible risk, Trulance is not meant to be prescribed for children younger than age 6 years. And Linzess is not meant to be prescribed for children younger than age 2 years. Keep in mind that Trulance and Linzess are approved for use only in adults. For this reason, doctors typically will not prescribe either drug for people younger than age 18 years.

To learn more about this boxed warning, talk with your doctor.

Precautions

In addition to boxed warnings, Trulance and Linzess have other precautions.

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Trulance or Linzess.

Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Trulance and Linzess articles. You can also see our article about Linzess interactions.

Switching between Trulance and Linzess is possible.

If you’d like to know more about switching between Trulance and Linzess, talk with your doctor. They can give you additional details and help determine the best course of action for your personal situation. Even if two drugs treat the same condition or are in the same drug class, your body can still respond differently. It’s important that you do not stop, start, or switch any of your drug treatments without your doctor’s recommendation.

Some key points to remember when comparing Trulance and Linzess include:

• Trulance and Linzess come in different forms. Trulance comes as an oral tablet, while Linzess comes as an oral capsule.
• Trulance can be taken with or without food. Linzess is meant to be taken on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes prior to the first meal of the day.

If you’d like to learn more about Trulance or Linzess, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about similarities and differences between the drugs. They can also help determine if one drug or the other might work well for you.

Note: For more information about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), see our IBS hub.

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.