Tegaserod (Oral)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 5, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Zelnorm

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Gastrointestinal Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Serotonin Receptor Agonist, 5-HT4

Uses for tegaserod

Tegaserod is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in women less than 65 years of age. Tegaserod increases the movement of stools (bowel movement) through the bowels. It also decreases pain and discomfort in the stomach area, bloating, and constipation. However, tegaserod does not cure irritable bowel syndrome. If you stop using tegaserod, your symptoms may return in 1 to 2 weeks.

Tegaserod is also used to treat women younger than 55 years of age who have chronic constipation with an unknown cause.

Tegaserod was withdrawn from the U.S. market on March 30, 2007, due to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and worsening chest pain that can become a heart attack in patients treated with tegaserod compared to placebo (sugar pills). On July 27, 2007, tegaserod was made available under a restricted access program called treatment IND, however, as of April 2, 2008, tegaserod is no longer available under a treatment IND, and is only available for use in emergency situations. For further information and to see if you qualify for treatment with tegaserod for emergency use, you should consult your doctor. Your doctor will then contact FDA's Division for Drug Information about the emergency IND process at druginfo@fda.hhs.gov.

Tegaserod is available only with your doctor's prescription and for use in emergency situations.

Before using tegaserod

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For tegaserod, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to tegaserod or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of tegaserod in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Tegaserod is not for use in women 65 years of age or older.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since in...