[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Drugs for irritable bowel syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/drugs-for-irritable-bowel-syndrome/) › Eluxadoline

# Eluxadoline

## Drugs for irritable bowel syndrome?

Drugs for irritable bowel syndrome

A gut-acting opioid-receptor drug for IBS with diarrhoea in adults. It can cause pancreatitis, mainly in people without a gallbladder.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Drugs for irritable bowel syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/drugs-for-irritable-bowel-syndrome/)

**Target**
Mu and kappa opioid receptors (agonist), delta opioid receptor (antagonist) in the gut

**Used for**
Irritable bowel syndrome

**Key effects**
Constipation · Nausea · Abdominal pain

**Monitor**
Upper abdominal pain · Bowel habit and constipation

**ATC**
A07DA06

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

Eluxadoline is a mixed opioid-receptor drug: a mu and kappa agonist and a delta antagonist. Acting locally in the gut it reduces motility, abdominal pain and diarrhoea in IBS-D, with less constipation than a pure mu agonist. Mu stimulation can also contract the sphincter of Oddi, which explains spasm and pancreatitis.

- Eluxadoline stimulates gut mu and kappa receptors, blocks delta
- Bowel activity and visceral pain fall
- Fewer loose stools; risk of sphincter of Oddi spasm

## Indications

- Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea in adults [Irritable bowel syndrome →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Constipation
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Drowsiness, more with liver disease

### Serious (rare, important)

- Pancreatitis: upper abdominal pain that may spread to the back or shoulder
- Sphincter of Oddi spasm
- Severe constipation
- Allergic reactions: swollen face or throat, trouble breathing
- Some potential for misuse (opioid-receptor drug)

## Contraindications

- No gallbladder (higher risk of sphincter of Oddi spasm and pancreatitis)
- Known or suspected biliary duct obstruction or sphincter of Oddi disease
- History of pancreatitis or structural pancreatic disease
- Heavy alcohol use
- Intestinal obstruction, severe constipation, severe liver disease

## Key interactions

**Alcohol**
Raises the risk of pancreatitis

**Loperamide and other constipating drugs (opioids, anticholinergics)**
More constipation; loperamide only occasionally and stopped if constipation appears

**Sedatives**
More drowsiness

## What is monitored

- Upper abdominal pain (pancreatitis)
- Bowel habit and constipation
- Alcohol intake

## Administration and safety

- Oral tablet, taken with food.
- It can be habit-forming: it is taken only as prescribed, never in larger amounts or for longer.
- Stopped at once for severe constipation or symptoms of pancreatitis.

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Human data are limited; use in pregnancy is discussed with the prescriber and needs a clear benefit.

## Nursing care

- Ask about gallbladder removal, gallstones, pancreatitis, liver disease and alcohol use before starting.
- Teach to stop and seek care for upper abdominal pain spreading to the back, or severe constipation.
- Warn about drowsiness before driving.
- Advise avoiding heavy or binge drinking.

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Taken by mouth; acts mainly in the gut

**Elimination**
Drug and metabolites are excreted in faeces

## Memory aid

«No gallbladder, no eluxadoline»: the sphincter of Oddi spasms and the pancreas pays.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What is eluxadoline's receptor profile?

Mu and kappa opioid agonist, delta opioid antagonist.

## Why is it avoided after cholecystectomy?

Patients without a gallbladder have a higher risk of sphincter of Oddi spasm and pancreatitis.

## Which habit raises its pancreatitis risk?

Heavy alcohol use.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/eluxadoline/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 2

- [Alosetron](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/alosetron/)
- [Loperamide](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/loperamide/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Irritable bowel syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/)

[← Back to the class: Drugs for irritable bowel syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/drugs-for-irritable-bowel-syndrome/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Eluxadoline: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a615054.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=A07DA06) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/eluxadoline/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/eluxadoline/