Zelnorm is prescribed for women with IBS, whose primary bowl symptom is constipation.  The drug is approved for treatment of chronic and idiopathic constipation in both genders, but less than sixty five years of age.

How to use
The usual dose of zelnorm is 6 mg twice daily, most frequently for 4 to 12 weeks. Zelnorm can be taken with or without food. Older persons do not require lower doses than younger persons.
Generally, a dosage of 6 mg twice in a day is given. The most frequency is for four to twelve weeks. Zelnorm can be taken either after a meal or on an empty stomach. The doses are not age oriented.
 

Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose, you should take it whenever you remember, but refrain from double dosing or overdosing.
 

Drug Class and Mechanism
Zelnorm is an oral medication for the treatment of constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel function which may be either constipation or diarrhea. As many as 20% of American adults may suffer from IBS. Contractions of the intestinal muscles, primarily those of the colon, control the movement of food through the intestine. In constipated patients, there are fewer contractions than in persons without constipation. An important factor that controls the contractions is serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical manufactured by nerves in the intestine. It is released by the nerves and then travels and binds to receptors on the surface of nearby nerves. It is a "neurotransmitter," a chemical messenger, that is, a chemical that nerves use to communicate with each other. When it binds to receptors on the nerves that control contractions of the intestinal muscles, serotonin can either promote or prevent contractions depending on the type of receptor it binds to. Binding to some types of receptors causes contractions, and binding to other types of receptors blocks contractions. The serotonin 5-HT4 receptor is a receptor that prevents contractions when serotonin binds to it. Zelnorm blocks the 5-HT4 receptor and prevents serotonin from binding to it. As a result, contractions increase. The increased contractions speed the transit of digesting food and reverse the constipation. In addition, zelnorm reduces the sensitivity of the intestinal pain-sensing nerves and can thereby reduce the perception of pain.
Zelnorm is the medication given to women with an irritable bowel syndrome and as a treatment for constipation. IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder, which when chronic is the cause of repeated abdominal pain and discomfort. It may also cause an altered bowel function and cause constipation or diarrhea.  A minor percentage of Americans suffer from IBS. The movement of food through the intestine is basically controlled by the contractions of the intestinal muscles, like the colon. If a person is constipated, these contractions decrease. There are several factors that control the contractions, one of them being serotonin. Serotonin is a medicine that is manufactured by the nerves in the intestine. This chemical is released by the nerves and it then travels and binds to the receptors that are present in the nearby nerves.
Also, Zelnorm should be taken with extreme caution in the case of children. The safety and effectiveness of Zelnorm as regards children has not yet been confirmed.  If you become pregnant while under a prescription of Zelnorm, contact your doctor.  Do not breastfeed while under the prescription of Zelnorm. It is not confirmed whether Zelnorm is found in breast milk.
 

Warnings/Precautions

Other drugs that increase intestinal contractions will likely lead to more diarrhea if used together with tegaserod. Do not take this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. It may take up to 4 weeks for this medicine to work. If you experience different or suddenly worsening stomach pain compared to your regular IBS symptoms, stop taking this medicine and call your doctor immediately. Do not exceed the recommended dose without checking with your doctor. If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. It is unknown if this medicine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

Possible Side Effects

All drugs have side effects. The most common side effects of Zelnorm are diarrhea and headache. While these are just the common side effects, the patient may also experience side effects like severe allergic reactions like hives, itching, difficulty in breathing, rash, swollen mouth, lips, tongue or face. Other known side effects are bloody stools, diarrhea with cramping, dizziness, stomach pains, rectal bleeding, and even fainting. Consult your medical advisor immediately if you experience such kinds of side effects.