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Tegaserod in the treatment of constipation-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders

Anurag Agrawal and Peter Whorwell

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition for which, until recently, treatment options have been limited. Tegaserod has selective serotonin subtype 4 receptor agonist activity and acts by increasing gastrointestinal motility, secretion and possibly reducing visceral sensitivity. It has been developed to treat patients with irritable bowel syndrome who suffer from abdominal pain, constipation and bloating. Studies so far suggest that it is an effective treatment for these symptoms with an excellent safety profile. Its role in other functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, is still being assessed. This review describes the structure, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of tegaserod and its effect on gastrointestinal physiology, as well as its clinical utility.