Tegaserod: easing the pain and strain of IBS for women

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder that can cause patients considerable physical suffering. The disorder is characterised by symptoms of abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating and altered bowel function (i.e. constipation, diarrhoea or alternation between the two). Current data suggest that IBS may affect up to 20% of the population, and seems to be more prevalent in women than in men, although this may simply reflect a greater willingness among women to seek medical advice. Study results presented at Digestive Disease Week [Atlanta, US; May 2001] show that tegaserod ['Zelmac'; 'Zelnorm'], which acts as a selective partial agonist of serotonin₄ receptors located throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, rapidly relieves multiple symptoms of constipation-predominant IBS.