Lotronex | For Irritable Bowel Syndrome Constipation
Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, the FDA in America approved Lotronex (alosetron hydrochloride) in February 2000 after giving it an expedited, "fast track" review. It was the first of a new generation of agents being studied specifically for the treatment of multiple symptoms of IBS, and it was meant to be prescribed only for women who were diarrhea-predominant.
In clinical terms, Lotronex was a potent and selective 5-HT3 antagonist. In brief, the neurotransmitter serotonin and 5-HT3 receptors that are extensively distributed on enteric neurons in the human GI tract are thought to play a role in increasing the sensation of pain and affecting bowel function in patients with IBS.
In November 2000, Lotronex was voluntarily withdrawn from the US market by GlaxoSmithKline in response to FDA safety concerns.
- Lotronex - How Does It Work?
- Lotronex Side Effects
- Lotronex Action Group
- Lotronex Alternatives
- IBS Diarrhea Diet Cheat Sheet
While the precise mechanism of action of Lotronex was never fully understood, one hypothesis was that Lotronex blocks the action of serotonin at 5-HT3 receptor sites in the enteric nervous system, thus slowing colonic transit time and preventing IBS diarrhea-predominant symptoms. In other words, Lotronex somehow affected the action of serotonin (a neurotransmitter found in abundance in the gut), thus preventing painful cramps and slowing colon contractions to reduce diarrhea.
Lotronex Side Effects
While clinical trials of the drug showed few side effects, reports of serious and even deadly adverse reactions to the medication began cropping up shortly after its FDA approval. In some patients the drug caused side effects so severe they resulted in hospitalization and even death.
Through the end of the year 2000, sixty-three patients taking Lotronex developed ischemic colitis, an interruption of the blood supply to the large intestine which results in severe internal damage. Seventy-five patients experienced severe constipation. Most of the patients who developed these problems required hospitalization. In all, the FDA has on record 141 cases of severe gastrointestinal complications in patients who took the drug, and five deaths. As a result of these problems, Lotronex was pulled from the US market in just nine months after it debuted.
Lotronex Action Group
In response, a group of IBS patients who had experienced great success with Lotronex formed the Lotronex Action Group, a non-profit patient group seeking renewed access to the drug. The Lotronex Action Group believes Lotronex to be safe if dispensed properly, and that the benefits of Lotronex far outweigh the potential risk for adverse side effects. The LAG has urged the FDA not to lose sight of the patients, and to realize that the medical community has been slow to recognize IBS as a legitimate disorder that can have debilitating side affects.
The LAG wanted taken into account their concerns that efforts for reintroduction of the only effective treatment for some IBS patients suffering from severe diarrhea and abdominal pain will be derailed due to a lack of understanding of the severity of the symptoms IBS can cause. The LAG also maintained that although claims have been made that severe side effects have been linked to Lotronex, it appears that less than a fraction of 1% of the 300,000 people taking the drug were affected.
Moreover, the LAG contended that no data has been released proving that those who suffered from side effects were ever properly diagnosed with IBS and were also good candidates for Lotronex in the first place. The Lotronex Action Group lobbied the FDA for immediate re-release of Lotronex while avenues for continued marketing were explored between the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, and the Food and Drug Administration.
In response to the pressure from both the pharmaceutical industry and the Lotronex Action Group, the FDA announced June 7, 2002 the approval of a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) that allows severely restricted marketing of Lotronex, to treat only women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The approved sNDA for Lotronex includes a risk management program to ensure patients and physicians are fully informed of risks and possible benefits of Lotronex.
Alternatives to Lotronex
For safe and effective non-drug approaches to managing IBS symptoms, check here to learn how the organic soluble fiber Acacia can help relieve diarrhea without risks or side effects, why fennel can be extremely beneficial for bloating, how peppermint can relieve and prevent abdominal pain, and how gut-directed hypnotherapy addresses the underlying pathology of bowel dysfunctions and relieves all IBS symptoms.
If you feel confident that your diarrhea is a symptomsof Irritable Bowel Syndrome, information is key. Learn all you need to know about this disorder with The First Year: IBS, an essential guide to successfully managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Lotronex clinical information supplied by the FDA.
