New drug treatment of idiopathic chronic constipation

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved trulance (plecanatide) to treat idiopathic chronic constipation (CIC) in adults. With this approval helps doctors and patients have more treatments for CIC.

This drug has local effects in the upper gastrointestinal tract to stimulate secretion of intestinal fluid and support intestinal function.

According to the US National Institutes of Health, an estimated 42 million people affected by chronic constipation and chronic constipation are a diagnosis for people with persistent constipation, unexplained (not responding to standard treatment).

Trulance is taken once a day, has local effects in the upper gastrointestinal tract to stimulate secretion of intestinal fluid and support intestinal function. Do not use the drug for children under 6 years old (due to the risk of severe dehydration). Caution should be used for subjects aged 6-18 years (because the safety and effectiveness of the drug has not been established in this subject). Should not be used for patients with mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction (known or suspected).

The most common and serious side effect of trulance is diarrhea (patients may have severe diarrhea). If severe diarrhea occurs, the patient should stop taking the medication and contact the treating doctor.