Zelnorm's been pulled--now what?

If you’ve been taking Zelnorm, you may be wondering what to do now that the drug has been taken off the market in the United States. Drugmaker Novartis recently pulled the medication after the FDA expressed concern that it increased the chances of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. But even the FDA said that the risks were “quite small.” (Thirteen cases of heart attacks and stroke in 11,600 patients.)

Of course the truth is that no one wants to take a medication that may be dangerous. But Zelnorm was one of the only drugs approved to treat constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and it was an effective remedy for many women. So what are your options now that Zelnorm is unavailable?

First, talk to your doctor about other treatments. Some patients have found relief using the med Amitiza. Still others have turned to probiotic treatments and other forms of natural constipation relief. In our newsletters recently we’ve reported on natural remedies for constipation such as gingersnaps, bran, and applesauce.

And, if none of those work you may not be entirely out of luck. The FDA says that it may continue to allow doctors to prescribe Zelnorm if a patient’s disease does not respond to other treatments, or if the benefits outweigh the heart risks.