Constipation Drug Pulled From Market

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The withdrawal of Zelnorm follows Thursday's withdrawal of the Parkinson's drug Permax, which was taken off the market, because it was linked to an increased risk of heart valve problems.

Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa, a gastroenterologist at New York University Medical Center, said, "This is very big and disturbing news, because Zelnorm was really the only effective and approved drug available for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation.

"IBS is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal condition and is second only to the common cold as a cause of absence from work," he added. "People, mostly women, really suffer from this condition, and Zelnorm offered real relief to many. I think patients are going to be very reluctant to give up the Zelnorm, but strokes and heart attacks are much more deadly than IBS, so it is appropriate to pull the drug."

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More information

For more information on IBS, visit the U.S. National Digestive Disease Clearinghouse.

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