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Irritable bowel syndrome and Zelnorm

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic bowel disorder which is characterized by a number of different symptoms which all reduce the quality of life. Although it does not lead to other, more serious conditions, in itself, it can be quite a big medical issue which reduces the quality of life of the patients suffering from it. The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome differ from individual to individual, but they most commonly include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, bloating and other symptoms. There are other conditions that might be mistaken for IBS, and the most fail-safe way of diagnosing IBS is the absence of any physiological abnormalities. The precise cause of IBS is still unknown, although the most widely-accepted theory is that it is caused by a disorder in the interaction between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. Some of the reasons for the onset of IBS include infections, stressful events or an onset that has no medical indicators of any kind.

As there is still no cure for this condition, management of IBS is conducted by psychological interventions, dietary adjustments, as well as by medications that relieve some or all of the symptoms of IBS. One of these medications is Zelnorm, the first medication that was approved by FDA for this purpose. Zelnorm can also be used in treating chronic constipation in patients under the age of 55.

Controversy surrounding Zelnorm

In 2007, Zelnorm was removed from the market, due to some studies that showed an increase in the risk of strokes and heart attacks. However, it is still sold online and it is still prescribed to patients, due to its efficacy. It is deemed safe as a study based on the database of the US health insurance companies showed that Zelnorm causes no increase in the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Zelnorm treatment

Before you can start using Zelnorm, you need to have a talk with your doctor who will decide if you should be taking Zelnorm and if your Zelnorm treatment will be risk-free. Certain people are not supposed to take Zelnorm and these include people over the age of 55, smokers, overweight people, diabetic people, people with a history of heart attacks or strokes, people with high blood pressure, cholesterol or triglyceride levels, people diagnosed with depression or anxiety and people with history of suicidal tendencies. When you start taking Zelnorm, you need to follow the instructions given to you by your physician regarding the schedule, the dosage and the duration of your regimen. It may take Zelnorm up to two weeks before it starts alleviating the symptoms of IBS, but if the effects are absent after 4 to 6 weeks, you should discuss discontinuing your treatment with your doctor. Furthermore, inform yourself about any side effects of Zelnorm or interactions with other medications.

If you do as instructed by your doctor, you should see how effective Zelnorm is against irritable bowel syndrome and how much it can improve the quality of life.