<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001611311</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0001437402</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>ARDELYX INC</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-36485</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>400 Fifth Avenue</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:street2> Suite 210</ns2:street2>
                <ns2:city>Waltham</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>MA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>02451</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>510-745-1700</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>DAVID P ROSENBAUM TODSUBJECT TO STA RULES</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>20000</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>117600.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>235428000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>08/16/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>08/16/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of Stock Options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>20000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>08/16/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <remarks>The securities to be sold were and will be received upon the exercise of stock options over the next three months. The dates of acquisition and payment were and will be the dates of exercise/sale.&#13;
</remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>08/16/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>05/17/2024</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ David Paul Rosenbaum</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
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144
0001611311
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001437402
ARDELYX INC
001-36485
400 Fifth Avenue
Suite 210
Waltham
MA
02451
510-745-1700
DAVID P ROSENBAUM TODSUBJECT TO STA RULES
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
20000
117600.00
235428000
08/16/2024
NASDAQ
Common
08/16/2024
Exercise of Stock Options
Issuer
N
20000
08/16/2024
Cash
Y
The securities to be sold were and will be received upon the exercise of stock options over the next three months. The dates of acquisition and payment were and will be the dates of exercise/sale.
08/16/2024
05/17/2024
/s/ David Paul Rosenbaum