New Drug Offers Constipation Relief – Without Risk of Heart Problems

Dr. Michael Camilleri and fellow researchers at the Mayo Clinic tested a new drug called prucalopride on 620 volunteers who had severe constipation problems. Forty-six percent ot patients responded favorably, reporting bowel movements of once per week or more. Prucalopride is similar to Zelnorm, the constipation drug that has been associated with heart problems. After nine years of testing prucalopride, Dr. Camilleri states that this medicine appears to be safer, with common side effects being headaches and abdominal pain. The Belgium-based pharamaceutical company Movetis hopes to market the drug in 2010. Reuters, May 28, 2008 
2008-06-15 17:59:49