Comprehensive medication guide to Prucalopride including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$150 copay depending on plan tier; typically Tier 3–4 on commercial formularies with prior authorization required; most Medicare Part D plans do not cover Motegrity.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$509–$735 retail for 30 tablets of brand-name Motegrity without insurance; generic prucalopride available for as low as $26–$40 per 30 tablets with GoodRx or SingleCare discount coupons.
Medfinder Findability Score
72/100
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Prucalopride (brand name Motegrity) is a prescription medication FDA-approved in December 2018 for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin-4 (5-HT4) receptor agonists and works by stimulating colonic muscle contractions to promote regular bowel movements.
Prucalopride was originally sold only under the brand name Motegrity by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. In January 2025, the FDA approved the first generic version of prucalopride by ANI Pharmaceuticals, making it significantly more affordable for patients. Generic prucalopride is now available at many pharmacies at a fraction of the brand price.
Prucalopride is not a controlled substance and is available in 1 mg and 2 mg tablet strengths. The standard adult dose is 2 mg once daily, with or without food. It is also known internationally as Resolor (EU/Canada brand name).
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Prucalopride is a selective, high-affinity agonist of serotonin-4 (5-HT4) receptors located on enteric neurons in the gut wall. When prucalopride binds to these receptors, it activates nerve signals that trigger propulsive muscle contractions (peristalsis) in the colon, accelerating the transit of stool through the large intestine.
Unlike secretagogues such as linaclotide or lubiprostone — which work by drawing fluid into the bowel — prucalopride is a prokinetic agent that directly stimulates the gut's own movement system. It targets the root cause of slow-transit constipation: impaired colonic motility. Prucalopride has over 150-fold higher selectivity for 5-HT4 receptors than for other receptor types, giving it a favorable cardiovascular safety profile compared to older 5-HT4 agonists like cisapride and tegaserod.
After oral administration, prucalopride is rapidly absorbed with peak plasma concentrations within 2–3 hours. It has a half-life of 24–30 hours and achieves steady state within 3–4 days of once-daily dosing. It is primarily eliminated unchanged through the kidneys (approximately 60% via urine).
1 mg — tablet
White round film-coated tablet; for elderly patients (≥65) or severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min)
2 mg — tablet
Pink round film-coated tablet; standard adult dose — 2 mg once daily with or without food
Prucalopride is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list, but patients frequently report difficulty finding it at pharmacies. Availability has historically been inconsistent due to low-volume stocking practices at many pharmacies, insurance step therapy barriers, and the high cost of the brand-name version deterring stocking.
The January 2025 launch of generic prucalopride by ANI Pharmaceuticals has improved the access landscape. With generic prucalopride now available for $26–$40/month with discount coupons, more pharmacies are stocking it and more patients are filling their prescriptions. Availability is rated a 72 out of 100 — generally available but with some localized variability.
If you're having trouble finding prucalopride at your pharmacy, medfinder can call pharmacies near you and find which ones have it in stock. Enter your medication, dose, and location and we'll text you the results.
Prucalopride is not a controlled substance and has no DEA scheduling requirements, meaning any licensed prescriber in the United States can prescribe it. No special certification or DEA number beyond a standard prescribing license is required.
Prucalopride is most commonly prescribed by:
Prucalopride can be prescribed and refilled via telehealth platforms without any additional restrictions. Platforms like Teladoc, MDLive, and specialty GI telehealth services can evaluate patients with chronic constipation and prescribe prucalopride where clinically appropriate.
No. Prucalopride (Motegrity) is not a controlled substance and has no DEA scheduling. It can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider — including primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — without special DEA registration.
Because prucalopride is not controlled, it can be called in, faxed, e-prescribed, or issued via telehealth without restriction. It can also be refilled without the special limitations that apply to Schedule II–IV medications. Patients can receive 90-day supplies and mail-order fills without additional paperwork.
The most commonly reported side effects of prucalopride (occurring in ≥2% of patients in clinical trials) include:
Most GI side effects (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain) occur predominantly at the start of therapy and usually resolve within a few days of continued treatment.
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Linaclotide (Linzess)
Guanylate cyclase-C agonist; FDA-approved for CIC and IBS-C; often preferred by insurers; taken once daily on empty stomach; strongly recommended by guidelines
Lubiprostone (Amitiza)
Chloride channel activator; FDA-approved for CIC, IBS-C, and OIC; generic available; taken twice daily with food; conditionally recommended by guidelines
Plecanatide (Trulance)
Guanylate cyclase-C agonist; FDA-approved for CIC and IBS-C; taken once daily with or without food; strongly recommended by guidelines
Tenapanor (Ibsrela)
NHE3 inhibitor; FDA-approved for IBS-C only (not CIC); taken twice daily before meals
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Ketoconazole (and other CYP3A4 inhibitors)
moderateMay increase prucalopride plasma concentrations by inhibiting metabolic pathway; monitor for increased side effects
Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
moderateP-glycoprotein interactions may affect drug transport; monitor in transplant patients
Erythromycin and macrolide antibiotics
moderateCYP3A4 inhibition may increase prucalopride exposure; inform all prescribers of concurrent use
Verapamil (Calan, Verelan)
minorMay reduce effectiveness of prucalopride through effects on gut motility and P-gp transport
Opioid medications
moderateOpioids slow gut motility and counteract prucalopride's intended prokinetic effect; not a pharmacokinetic interaction but clinically significant
Anticholinergic medications
minorReduce gut motility and may diminish prucalopride effectiveness; includes oxybutynin, diphenhydramine, some antidepressants
Prucalopride is one of the most effective prescription options for chronic idiopathic constipation in adults, with a unique prokinetic mechanism that sets it apart from secretagogues. The January 2025 generic launch was a major milestone — reducing the monthly cost from $600+ to $26–$40 with discount coupons and significantly improving access for patients without comprehensive insurance.
Despite not being on the FDA's official shortage list, availability variability at pharmacies remains a real challenge for many patients. Insurance step therapy requirements are another common barrier. The key takeaways: prescribe generically, use GoodRx if insurance doesn't cover it, and search across multiple pharmacies if one is out of stock.
If you're struggling to find prucalopride in stock near you, medfinder can search pharmacies in your area and text you which ones have your medication ready to fill — saving time and frustration.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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