Effect of a laxative with and without tegaserod in adolescents with constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of a laxative alone and in combination with tegaserod in alleviating pain and improving stool frequency in adolescents with constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome.


METHODS
Forty-eight postpubertal adolescents of both sexes with constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome, as defined by Rome II criteria, were randomly allocated to Group A (n = 27) for treatment with a laxative (polyethylene glycol 3350 oral solution) only or Group B (n = 21) for combination therapy with the laxative and tegaserod. Symptoms of abdominal pain (scale 0-10) and frequency of bowel movements were recorded daily in the pre-treatment phase and the post-treatment phase after a 7-day 'washout' period. Patients served as their own controls.


RESULTS
Treatment with the laxative alone (Group A) resulted in significant increase in frequency of bowel movements (P < 0.05), but not significant improvement in pain (P > 0.05). Treatment with the combination of the laxative and tegaserod (Group B) led to significant increase in the frequency of bowel movements and also significant reduction in pain (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The laxative alone improved stooling but not pain in adolescents with constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Addition of tegaserod resulted in alleviation of pain as well.
Khoshoo
V
V
West Jefferson Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70072, USA. vkhoshoo@sbcglobal.net
Armstead
C
C
Landry
L
L
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002400:Cathartics; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007211:Indoles; C105050:tegaserod