Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Ibs Medication

Question:
I have heard that there will be a new medication for IBS coming out soon. What will be the difference between this new med and the others that I have tried liked Bentyl and Levsin.  Those meds have helped somewhat but not reliably in all situations. And when I take them all the time, I can get some side effects like dry mouth and fatigue to the point where I start nodding off at work. Anyone have the latest poop on this new med (sorry for the pun)?

Answer:
Lotronex is the Glaxo Wellcome brand name for alosetron. It is currently available and received FDA approval for the treatment of IBS symptoms in female patients who have diarrhea as their predominant symptom.  It is an entirely new class of medication that takes a new approach to an old problem. Lotronex acts by blocking certain chemical receptors in the gut that appears to be partly responsible for many of the symptoms suffered by IBS patients. Since it acts mainly on these gut receptors, patients taking Lotronex generally do not report the various adverse effects of the anti-spasmodic class of medications such as dry mouth and eyes, blurred vision, palpitations, and heartburn.  Lotronex does not appear to have any significant drug interactions. It appears to have an excellent safety profile.  Individuals who have been diagnosed with IBS and who are troubled with loose stools, diarrhea and urgency should seek professional medical advice as to whether Lotronex would be appropriate in their situation. Lotronex is fairly new and patients should not be surprised if some physicians are not aware of the medication as yet. Keep in mind that the therapeutic benefits of Lotronex continue to amplify over the first four weeks of therapy.  Symptoms are likely to improve after the first week of Lotronex therapy, but many patients will continue to improve over the next several weeks.