Zelnorm
Drug name
Zelnorm (Tegaserod)
Drug Uses
Zelnorm is helps in treating women with IBS on a temporary basis. The common side effects experienced by them are constipation. It also helps in treating idiopathic and chronic constipation in women and men who haven’t yet attained 65 years of age.
How Taken
The usual dosage of this medicine is 6 mg. you need to take this drug two times in a day and continue up to 4-12 weeks. You can take this with/without food. Elderly people need not take lower dosages as compared to their younger persons.
Drug Class and Mechanism
You can take this medicine orally for treating constipation as well as IBS (constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome) in women. IBS is defined as a chronic gastrointestinal problem that is characterized by repetitive abnormal pain or altered bowel function. This altered or discomfort bowel function can be anything like diarrhea or constipation. Nearly twenty percent American adults suffer from IBS. The movement of food via the intestine is controlled by the contractions of your intestinal muscles, specifically those of your colon. People suffering from constipation, experience fewer contractions as compared to people who aren’t suffering from constipation problem. Serotonin is a viable factor that plays an important role in controlling the contractions in the intestine. The nerves present in your intestine manufacture serotonin a chemical. The nerves of the intestine release this chemical followed by traveling as well as binding to the receptors on the nearby nerves' surface. In other words you can term this as neurotransmitter a chemical messenger or rather a chemical, which helps in communicating with each other. When this neurotransmitter binds to the receptors on the nerves, which control contractions of your intestinal muscles, serotonin may either prevent or promote contractions based on the kind of receptors it binds to. Binding to certain kinds of receptors leads to contractions thereby binding to other kinds of receptors blocks contractions.
The serotonin 5-HT4 receptor is defined as a receptor, which prevents contractions at the time when serotonin gets bind to it. This medicated drug blocks the 5-HT4 receptor thereby limiting serotonin from getting bind to it. This leads to an increase in contractions. This increase in the contraction speed up the process of digesting food as well as reversing the constipation. In addition to this, this medication lowers the sensitivity of the pain-sensing nerves of your intestines thereby lowering the perception of pain.
Missed Dose
In case you miss a dosage of this medication, prefer skipping the missed dosage followed by returning to your normal schedule. Avoid taking two dosages simultaneously.
Storage
Ensure storing this medicine at room temperature say 59 to 86 degrees or 15 to 30 degrees C.
Warnings Precautions
When used in combination with tegaserod certain drugs that enhance contractions of intestine will perhaps lead to more diarrhea. You should not take this drug if you have a history of allergical reaction to it or any constituent of this drug. This medicine may take 4 weeks to show its results. In case you feel that your stomach pains in comparison to your regular IBS symptoms have increased in course of using this drug then immediately stop taking it and consult a doctor. Discuss with your doctor the risks as well as benefits of taking this medicated drug during pregnancy. It is not yet known whether this medicine is present in breast milk or not hence avoid breast-feeding if you are taking this medicated drug.
Possible Side Effects
Most patients’ don’t experience any side effects after taking this medicated drug. However some may experience the following side effects:
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
The most common of all these is diarrhea. However on rare occasions, the diarrhea may turn acute, thereby resulting in dehydration and increasing the need for intravenous fluids. People taking tegaserod may rarely suffer from Ischemic colitis. The symptoms that one may experience with ischemic colitis are as follows:
- Acute abdominal pain
- Bloody diarrhea
Don’t take tegaserod and consult your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms.
More Information
Consult your doctor at the earliest if you find that your symptoms haven’t improved or have rather worsened. Avoid sharing this medicine with others. Avoid taking this medicine for any other purpose other than that directed by your doctor. Don’t keep it near children. If you intend to take this medicine for a prolonged period of time, then ensuring obtaining refills prior to running out of supply.