title: Tegaserod: a serotonin 5-HT4 receptor agonist for treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Activation of serotonin 5-HT(4) receptors has been proposed as treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, a common, complex and distressing gastrointestinal disorder. Abnormal intestinal motility and sensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome patients can result in diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, headache and fatigue; these and other symptoms can lead to exacerbation of psychological stress, which may in turn induce further physiological abnormalities and patient discomfort. The serotonin agonist tegaserod binds with high affinity to 5-HT(4) receptors and has demonstrated potent pharmacological effects on the mid- and distal gut. Tegaserod has been safely employed in clinical trials where it has demonstrated efficacy in normalizing intestinal function, thereby improving irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Medical Information Department, Prous Science, Provença 388, 08025 Barcelona, Spain. xrabasseda@prous.com
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rabasseda
mesh_terms: D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D044422:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058828:Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D058828:Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists; D044422:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4; C105050:tegaserod