Tegaserod Maleate Side Effects

Zelnorm (tegaserod maleate), marketed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals, is a prescription medication used for short-term treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in women. The drug made it onto the market in July of 2004 when the United States Food and Drug Administration approved it for sale. The drug is intended for use for only several weeks or months. Zelnorm is primarily used in women and has not been tested thoroughly in men.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is also called spastic colon. It is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects more women than men. About one in five of every American suffers from IBS. Generally, patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome experience a range of intestinal problems including, but not limited to, bloating, pain, cramping, constipation, and diarrhea. Usually, a bowel movement will reduce or eliminate the symptoms for a period of time. However, relief is temporary and the patient must rely on changes in diet, stress reduction, and even medications, such as Zelnorm.

Zelnorm, as with any other drug, prescription or otherwise, does have side effects. The side effects range from mild to severe and do not affect every patient. Additionally, every patient that experiences a side effect may not experience them all. The more mild side effects include headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, flatulence, and migraine. It is also suggested that patients that may be predisposed to diarrhea, kidney failure, liver disease, gallbladder disease, bowel obstructions, or abdominal adhesions not take Zelnorm because the drug may worsen these symptoms.

Zelnorm has become controversial in recent months because of the more serious side effects that it causes in many patients. These more serious side effects include rectal bleeding or bloody diarrhea, new or worsening abdominal pain, heart attack, stroke, angina pectoris, Intestinal Ischemia, Colonic Ischemia and Ischemic Colitis.

Serious Side Effects

The most serious, and potentially fatal, side effects are of course angina, heart attack, stroke, Intestinal Ischemia, Colonic Ischemia and Ischemic Colitis.

Angina is a very serious side effect of Zelnorm. Angina is a chest pain that occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough blood. Typically, the pain resembles pressure or squeezing in the chest area that also can spread to shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, and back. Often, angina is mistaken for indigestion. Usually, angina is the most common type of heart disease and as it progresses, the heart muscle is fed less and less blood and oxygen.

A heart attack is also a very serious side effect of Zelnorm. A heart attack occurs when blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked, usually by a clot. Without treatment, the heart muscle will die. Without immediate treatment, the consequences could be fatal.

Stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is a very serious side effect of Zelnorm. A stoke will occur when the blood supply to the brain, or any part of the brain, is blocked. When this blockage occurs, the patient suffers a sudden loss of neuronal function. A stroke causes brain cells to be seriously damaged or even die. If the patient does not receive medical treatment immediately, serious brain damage or death may occur.

Zelnorm may be an effective medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome however it is not without risk. For most people, the drug will alleviate the symptoms of IBS but may also cause more serious side effects such as angina, heart attack, stroke, Intestinal Ischemia, Colonic Ischemia or Ischemic Colitis.