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Quick facts
- How it is given
- oral
- Type
- human prescription drug
- RxNorm ID
- 2107345
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
Prucalopride tablets are indicated for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults. Prucalopride tablets are a serotonin-4 (5-HT 4 ) receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults. ( 1 )
About this medicine
Prucalopride tablets for oral use contain prucalopride succinate, a dihydrobenzofurancarboxamide that is a serotonin type 4 (5-HT4) receptor agonist. The IUPAC name is: 4-Amino-5-chloro- N -[1-(3-methoxypropyl)piperidin-4-yl]-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-7-carboxamide monobutanedioate. The molecular formula is C 18 H 26 ClN 3 O 3 .C 4 H 6 O 4 and the molecular weight is 485.96. The structural formula is: Prucalopride succinate is a white to an off-white powder. It is soluble in dimethylsulfoxide, water, N,N -dimethylformamide, N,N -dimethylacetamide and sparingly soluble in methanol. It is freely soluble in acidic aqueous media. However, the solubility decreases with increasing pH. It is freely soluble in water (16% w/v) but less soluble in basic solution. Each 1 mg film-coated tablet of prucalopride contains 1 mg of prucalopride (equivalent to 1.32 mg prucalopride succinate), and the following inactive ingredients: hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. The coating for the 1 mg tablet contains hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, titanium dioxide, and triethyl citrate. Each 2 mg film-coated tablet of prucalopride contains 2 mg of prucalopride (equivalent to 2.64 mg prucalopride succinate), and the following inactive ingredients: hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. The coating for the 2 mg tablet contains hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, titanium dioxide, and triethyl citrate.
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Prucalopride, a selective serotonin type 4 (5-HT 4 ) receptor agonist, is a gastrointestinal (GI) prokinetic agent that stimulates colonic peristalsis (high-amplitude propagating contractions [HAPCs]), which increases bowel motility. Prucalopride was devoid of effects mediated via 5-HT 2A , 5-HT 2B , 5-HT 3 , motilin or CCK-A receptors in vitro at concentrations exceeding 5-HT 4 receptor affinity by 150-fold or greater. In isolated GI tissues from various animal species, prucalopride facilitated acetylcholine release to enhance the amplitude of contractions and stimulate peristalsis. In rats and dogs, prucalopride stimulated gastrointestinal motility with contractions starting from the proximal colon to the anal sphincter.
Who should not take it
Prucalopride tablets are contraindicated in patients with: A history of hypersensitivity to prucalopride tablets. Reactions including dyspnea, rash, pruritus, urticaria, and facial edema have been observed [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )]. Intestinal perforation or obstruction due to structural or functional disorder of the gut wall, obstructive ileus, severe inflammatory conditions of the intestinal tract such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and toxic megacolon/megarectum. Hypersensitivity to prucalopride tablets. ( 4 ) Intestinal perforation or obstruction due to structural or functional disorder of the gut wall, obstructive ileus, severe inflammatory conditions of the intestinal tract such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and toxic megacolon/megarectum. ( 4 )
Warnings and cautions
Suicidal Ideation and Behavior: Monitor patients for suicidal ideation and behavior as well as self-injurious ideation and new-onset or worsening of depression. Instruct patients to discontinue prucalopride tablets immediately and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or they experience emerging suicidal thoughts or behaviors. ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Suicidal Ideation and Behavior In clinical trials, suicides, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation have been reported. Postmarketing cases of suicidal ideation and behavior as well as self-injurious ideation and new onset or worsening of depression have been reported within the first few weeks of starting prucalopride tablets [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 , 6.2 )]. A causal association between treatment with prucalopride tablets and an increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior has not been established. Monitor all patients treated with prucalopride tablets for new onset or worsening of depression or the emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Counsel patients, their caregivers, and family members of patients to be aware of any unusual changes in mood or behavior and alert the healthcare provider. Instruct patients to discontinue prucalopride tablets immediately and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any of these symptoms.
Reported side effects
Most common adverse reactions (≥2%) are headache, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal distension, dizziness, vomiting, flatulence, and fatigue. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Apotex Corp. at 1-800-706-5575 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The data described below represent 2,530 patients (1,251 received prucalopride tablets 2 mg once daily and 1,279 received placebo) with CIC from 6 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of 12 weeks to 24 weeks in duration. In these trials overall, patients were primarily female (76%) and white (76%). The mean age was 47 years (range 17 to 95 years) [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )]. Common Adverse Reactions Table 2 below summarizes the incidence (%) of common adverse reactions occurring in at least 2% of patients with CIC receiving either 2 mg of prucalopride tablets once daily or placebo and at an incidence greater than in the placebo group from the six double-blind placebo-controlled trials described above. Table 2: Common Adverse Reactions* in Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trials of CIC of at least 12 Weeks Duration Adverse Reaction Prucalopride 2 mg Once Daily N=1,251 † % Placebo N=1,279 % Headache 19 9 Abdominal pain ‡ 16 11 Nausea 14 7 Diarrhea 13 5 Abdominal distension 5 4 Dizziness 4 2 Vomiting 3 2 Flatulence 3 2 Fatigue 2 1 * Reported in ≥2% of patients receiving prucalopride tablets and a rate higher than patients receiving placebo. † Includes 93 patients who started on prucalopride tablets 1 mg and increased to prucalopride tablets 2 mg. ǂ Includes abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, abdominal discomfort, and epigastric discomfort. […]
Use in specific groups
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data from case reports with prucalopride use in pregnant women are insufficient to identify any drug-associated risks of miscarriage, major birth defects, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, no adverse developmental effects were observed with prucalopride administration during the period of organogenesis to pregnant rats and rabbits at doses up to approximately 390 times and 780 times, respectively, the recommended human dose of 2 mg/day (see Data). The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In oral embryofetal development studies in rats and rabbits, prucalopride was administered to pregnant animals at doses of 5, 20, and 80 mg/kg/day throughout the period of organogenesis. No adverse embryofetal developmental effects were observed in either rats or rabbits up to the highest oral dose of 80 mg/kg/day (about 390 times and 780 times the recommended human dose of 2 mg/day, respectively, based on body surface area). In an oral pre- and post-natal development study in rats, prucalopride was administered at doses of 5, 20, and 80 mg/kg/day. At the 80-mg/kg dose (about 390 times the recommended human dose of 2 mg/day, based on body surface area), a slight decrease in overall survival rate of pups after 7 days was observed, which could be due to maternal toxicity observed at this dose. 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Prucalopride is present in breast milk (see Data) . There are no data on the effects of prucalopride on the breastfed child or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for prucalopride and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from prucalopride or from the underlying maternal condition. […]
If too much is taken
An overdose may result in appearance of symptoms from an exaggeration of the known pharmacodynamic effects of prucalopride and includes headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Specific treatment is not available for prucalopride tablets overdose. Should an overdose occur, treat symptomatically and institute supportive measures, as required. Extensive fluid loss from diarrhea or vomiting may require correction of electrolyte disturbances.
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This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 4 December 2025. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.