Lotronex Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Lotronex Tablet contains alosetron hydrochloride, a selective serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. It is a prescription tablet used only for some women with severe, long-lasting irritable bowel syndrome whose main symptom is diarrhea. It is not a cure, and it does not help everyone who takes it. It carries important warnings around constipation and bowel-related complications.

What is Lotronex Tablet

Lotronex is a prescription tablet used only for some women with severe, long-lasting irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) whose main symptom is diarrhea. It is not a cure, and it does not help everyone who takes it.

Lotronex Tablet uses

• Treats severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women who have had symptoms for 6 months or longer
• Used only in women who have not gotten enough relief from other IBS treatments
• Not shown to work in men or in people under 18 years old

Benefits of Lotronex Tablet

• Helps reduce diarrhea.
• May reduce bowel urgency.
• Helps improve bowel control.
• May relieve abdominal discomfort.
• Helps manage severe IBS-D symptoms.

How Lotronex Tablet works

Lotronex blocks a chemical called serotonin from acting on certain receptors in the gut. This calms down overactive nerve and muscle signals in the intestines, which reduces pain and slows the movement of stool through the bowel.

Lotronex Tablet dosage

Take exactly as your doctor prescribes it. It can be taken with or without food. Do not start taking it if you are already constipated.

Treatment usually starts at a lower dose taken twice a day for the first few weeks before any dose change is considered. If it does not control symptoms after a few weeks at the starting dose, your doctor may raise the dose if you have not had constipation or other side effects. If a higher dose still does not help after several weeks, you should stop taking it and talk to your doctor.

If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the regular time — do not take two doses together.

Stop taking it right away and call your doctor if you become constipated, get new or worsening stomach pain, or see blood in your stool or bloody diarrhea. Do not start taking it again after stopping unless your doctor tells you to.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet (0.5 mg)
• Tablet (1 mg)

Side effects of Lotronex Tablet

Common

• Constipation
• Nausea
• Stomach (abdominal) discomfort and pain
• Gastrointestinal discomfort and pain
• Abdominal distention
• Hemorrhoids

Serious

• Serious complications of constipation, including bowel blockage, impaction, or severe swelling of the colon, which may require hospital stay, blood transfusion, surgery, or in rare cases can be fatal
• Ischemic colitis (reduced blood flow to the bowel), with signs like rectal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, or new or worsening stomach pain
• Serious allergic reaction, with symptoms like hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can rarely cause serious and sometimes fatal bowel problems, including severe constipation and ischemic colitis (reduced blood flow to the bowel), which can lead to hospital stay, blood transfusion, surgery, or death.
• Do not start this medicine if you are already constipated.
• Do not take this medicine together with fluvoxamine.
• People who are older, weak from illness, or taking other medicines that cause constipation may have a higher chance of serious constipation complications.
• If you develop ischemic colitis, you should not take this medicine again.
• Only doctors enrolled in a special prescribing program are allowed to prescribe this medicine, because of its serious risks.
• There isn't enough information to know if this medicine is safe during pregnancy. It should only be used if your doctor decides it's clearly needed.
• It isn't known if this medicine passes into breast milk, so it should be used with caution while breastfeeding.
• Kidney problems do not appear to affect how this medicine is removed from the body.
• This medicine should not be used if you have severe liver disease, and should be used carefully if you have mild or moderate liver problems, since liver disease can cause the medicine to build up in the body.
• It is not known whether alcohol affects this medicine.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C)
• Protect from light and moisture
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so; properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed

When to see a doctor

• Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you become constipated.
• Get medical help right away if you have new or worsening stomach pain.
• Get medical help right away if you see bright or dark red blood in your stools.
• Get medical help right away if you have bloody diarrhea.
• Get emergency help if you show signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• If constipation does not go away after stopping the medicine, contact your doctor again.
• Seek emergency medical help or contact a poison control center if too much of this medicine is taken.

Alternatives

• Eluxadoline
• Loperamide
• Rifaximin