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

Quick overview

Zelnorm Tablet contains the active ingredient tegaserod, a serotoninergic neuroenteric modulator that acts as a serotonin type-4 receptor agonist. It is a prescription medicine used to help women under 65 years of age who have irritable bowel syndrome with constipation as their main symptom. Zelnorm works by acting on serotonin receptors in the gut to help stool move through the bowels more easily, and it is intended as a short-term treatment.

What is Zelnorm Tablet

Zelnorm is a prescription tablet containing tegaserod. It is used to help women under 65 who have irritable bowel syndrome with constipation as their main symptom.

Zelnorm Tablet uses

• Treatment of adult women less than 65 years of age with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)
• Short-term treatment of women with IBS whose main bowel problem is constipation

Benefits of Zelnorm Tablet

• Speeds up movement of stool through the bowels
• Can reduce abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating, and constipation in women who respond to it
• May start working in as early as 1 week

How Zelnorm Tablet works

Zelnorm acts on serotonin receptors in the gut. This stimulates normal muscle movement and fluid release in the intestines, which helps stool move through the bowels more easily and can ease pain and bloating.

Zelnorm Tablet dosage

Take Zelnorm with a full glass of water on an empty stomach, about 30 minutes before a meal. It is usually taken twice a day, following your doctor's instructions. It may take up to 2 weeks before symptoms improve; talk to your doctor if there is no improvement after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment. Zelnorm does not cure IBS; symptoms may return within 1 to 2 weeks after stopping the medicine. If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the regular time — do not double up. Zelnorm is not recommended for use in men or in women 65 years of age and older.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet (2 mg)
• Tablet (6 mg)

Side effects of Zelnorm Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Stomach (abdominal) pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Gas (flatulence)
• Indigestion
• Dizziness
• Back pain or joint pain
• Migraine

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• New or worsening stomach pain
• Blood in stools or rectal bleeding
• Ongoing or severe diarrhea with cramps
• Feeling like you might pass out, lightheadedness, or fainting
• Signs of a heart attack: chest pain spreading to arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting
• Signs of a stroke or mini-stroke: sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache or confusion, trouble with vision, speech, or balance
• New or worsening depression, unusual mood or behavior changes, or thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Warnings and precautions

• Zelnorm can raise the risk of serious heart problems like heart attack, stroke, and death from these events, especially in people with certain risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being 55 or older, or obesity.
• Zelnorm can reduce blood flow to the intestines, causing inflammation and injury known as ischemic colitis, which can require hospitalization.
• Diarrhea from Zelnorm can sometimes be severe, leading to dangerous fluid loss, low blood pressure, and fainting.
• Zelnorm may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, especially in the first few months of treatment.
• Do not take Zelnorm if you have a history of heart attack, stroke, TIA, or angina, a history of ischemic colitis, severe kidney or moderate-to-severe liver problems, a history of bowel blockage, symptomatic gallbladder disease, or an allergy to tegaserod.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, since it is not known if Zelnorm will harm an unborn baby.
• You should not breastfeed while taking Zelnorm, because it is not known if the drug passes into breast milk and there is potential for serious effects in a nursing baby.
• Zelnorm should not be used by people with severe kidney problems or end-stage kidney disease.
• Zelnorm should not be used by people with moderate or severe liver problems.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Protect from moisture
• Keep out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away for signs of a heart attack, stroke, mini-stroke, or angina, such as chest pain spreading to the arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache or confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or balance.
• Stop taking Zelnorm and get medical help if you have symptoms of ischemic colitis, such as bleeding from the rectum, bloody diarrhea, or new or worsening stomach pain.
• Stop taking Zelnorm and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe diarrhea, especially with lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• Stop taking Zelnorm right away and tell your healthcare provider if you have new or worsening depression, unusual mood or behavior changes, or thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
• Get emergency help if you think you have taken too much Zelnorm, as overdose can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Alternatives

• Linaclotide
• Plecanatide
• Tenapanor