Zelnorm

Zelnorm®

IBS and Constipation Drug Zelnorm Pulled from the Market

Zelnorm, a drug used to treat irritable bowel syndrome in women and chronic constipation in people under age 65, has been recalled from the market by its manufacturer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the drug recall after it received reports that Zelnorm is linked to an increased risk of serious heart problems (1).

The FDA says, Zelnorm is being taken off the market because a new safety analysis has found a higher chance of heart attack, stroke, and worsening heart chest pain that can become a heart attack in patients treated with Zelnorm (2).

The percentage of patients taking Zelnorm that had serious and life-threatening side effects was 10 times higher than the percentage of patients taking a placebo (3).

If you or someone you care about is taking Zelnorm, the FDA recommends:

1. Patients being treated with Zelnorm should contact their physicians to discuss alternative treatments for their conditions.
2. Patients who are taking Zelnorm should seek emergency medical care right away if they experience severe chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, sudden onset of weakness or difficulty walking or talking, or other symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.
3. Physicians who prescribe Zelnorm should work with their patients and transition them to other therapies as appropriate to their symptoms and needs (2).

Free Consultation
If you or someone you care about has taken Zelnorm and suffered heart problems, our law firm wants to help. Call our Zelnorm lawyers today for a free and confidential case evaluation�you can call us and discuss your potential case free of charge and there is no obligation.

Remember, never stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

Zelnorm is a registered trademark of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and is used here only to identify the product in question.

Sources:

1. FDA Announces Discontinued Marketing of GI Drug, Zelnorm, for Safety Reasons, published on 3/30/07 via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site (http://web.archive.org/web/20070708095310/http://www.fda.gov/). Accessed 3/30/07.
2. FDA Public Health Advisory, Tegaserod maleate (marketed as Zelnorm) published on 3/30/07 via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site (http://web.archive.org/web/20070708095310/http://www.fda.gov/). Accessed 4/3/07.
3. Novartis Stops Zelnorm Marketing, Sales on Heart Risk, by Eva von Schaper. Published 4/2/07 via Bloomberg.com (http://web.archive.org/web/20070708095310/http://www.bloomberg.com/). Accessed 4/2/07.

This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, or Bloomberg.com.

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