Safer alternatives to Zelnorm.(health)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Those bare-belly TV and print ads for tegaserod maleate (Zelnorm) are apparently effective, at least according to Novartis, the drug's manufacturer. The company says an increasing number of women are talking with their doctors and getting prescriptions for the only drug approved for short-term symptomatic relief of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. But people experiencing abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation should know that they may find relief simply from dietary changes, exercise, fiber supplements, or laxatives. That's especially important now that new risks with Zelnorm have surfaced.

Safety alert. In April, Novartis and the Food and Drug Administration issued new warnings linking Zelnorm with severe diarrhea and with intestinal problems that led to hospitalization, surgery, or death. Patients taking Zelnorm who experience fainting, rectal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, or new or worse abdominal pain should stop the drug immediately and see their doctor at once, according to the FDA.

Slim advantage. Zelnorm's effectiveness was not impressive in the studies on ...