Tegaserod, a 5-HT4 receptor partial agonist, relieves symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients with abdominal pain, bloating and constipation

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of tegaserod, a novel 5-HT4 rec eptor partial agonist, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 1 2-week treatment, multicentre study. Methods: Eight hundred and eighty-one patients with irritable bowel syndrom e, characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and constipation, received teg aserod, 2 mg b.d. or 6 mg b.d., or placebo for 12 weeks. Results: Tegaserod, 2 mg b.d. and 6 mg b.d., showed a statistically signifi cant relief of overall irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, measured by a wee kly, self-administered questionnaire. At end-point, treatment differences f rom placebo were 12.7% and 11.8% for 2 mg b.d. and 6 mg b.d., respectively. The effect of tegaserod was noted as early as week 1, and was sustained ov er the 12-week treatment period. Individual irritable bowel syndrome sympto ms assessed daily also showed a statistically significant improvement of ab dominal discomfort/pain, number of bowel movements and stool consistency, a nd a favourable trend for reducing days with significant bloating. Adverse events were similar in all groups, with transient diarrhoea being the only adverse event seen more frequently with tegaserod than placebo. Conclusions: Based upon the results of this study, tegaserod offers rapid a nd sustained relief of the abdominal pain and constipation associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Tegaserod is also well tolerated.