Amitiza Approved for Female IBS Patients

The drug lubiprostone (Amitiza) has been approved by the FDA for women with IBS-related constipation (IBS-C), which makes it the first approved drug for IBS-C. The two clinical trials included 1,154 patients, of whom only 8% were men. The trials showed that the drug was not effective for men; however women reported moderate to significant improvements. Some side effects of lubiprostone include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The drug is not to be given to men or children, or to patients with severe diarrhea, and it has not been approved for patients with certain health conditions. MedPage Today, April 30, 2008
2008-05-02 11:28:29