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serod ( te-GAS-a-rod) is a medicine for short term treatment of women who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation (not enough or hard bowel movements) as their main bowel problem. Tegaserod is also used to treat women younger than 65 years of age who have chronic constipation with an unknown cause. Tegaserod increases the movement of stools (bowel movement) through the bowels. Tegaserod does not cure irritable bowel syndrome. Tegaserod decreases pain and discomfort in the abdominal area, bloating, and constipation. If you stop taking tegaserod your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms may return in one to two weeks.

This medicine is available only with your healthcare professionals prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

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Aing to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your healthcare professional will make. For tegaserod the following should be considered:

Allergies?Tell your healthcare professional if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to tegaserod. Also tell your healthcare professional and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy?Tegaserod has not been studied in pregnant women. Before taking this medicine, make sure your healthcare professional knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding?It is not known if tegaserod passes into the breast milk. Many medicines pass into breast milk and they may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies. Mothers who are taking this medicine and wish to breast feed should discuss this with their healthcare professional and be sure they understand the risks and benefits of the medicine.

Children?Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing the use of tegaserod in children and adolescents under the age of 18 with use in other age groups.

Older adults?Many medicines have not been specifically studied in older people. Therefore it may not be known whether they work the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of tegaserod in older patients with use in other age groups for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

This medicine is not approved for patients 65 years of age or older for treatment of chronic constipation.

Studies on this medicine have only been done in women patients and there is no specific information about the use of tegaserod in male patients.
Other medical problems?The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of tegaserod. Make sure you tell your healthcare professional if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Abdominal adhesions or
Bowel obstructions or intestinal blockage (or history of) or
Gallbladder disease or gallstones (or history of) or
Liver disease or
Kidney disease or
Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting)?Tegaserod should not be used if you have any of these conditions
Abdominal pain, new or sudden worsening of?Tegaserod should be stopped immediately
Diarrhea?Serious side effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and dehydration can occur when using tegaserod. If you have any of these symptoms, notify your doctor immediately and stop taking this medicine. Tegaserod should not be used if you are currently experiencing or frequently experience diarrhea.

È>à1Aects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your healthcare professional immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common
Diarrhea; stomach pain


Less common
Dizziness; feeling of warmth; itching skin; redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest; swelling or puffiness of face


Frequency not determined
Black, tarry stools; bloody diarrhea ; bloody stools; constipation ; fainting; indigestion ; nausea; new or worsening abdominal pain; rectal bleeding; severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; vomiting


Symptoms of overdose
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur

Bloated, full feeling; chills; cold sweats; confusion; diarrhea; dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from lying or sitting position; excess air or gas in stomach or intestines; headache ; nausea; passing gas; stomach pain; vomiting


Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your healthcare professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.

More common
Bloated, full feeling; excess air or gas in stomach or intestines; headache; nausea; passing gas


Less common or rare
Back pain; disease or abnormality of the joint; headache, severe and throbbing; leg pain


Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include severe diarrhea and severe headache

If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children. IF USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

This medicine is a selective serotonin receptor agonist used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women who have constipation as their main symptom. It may also be used in some patients to treat certain forms of chronic constipation or other conditions as determined by your doctor.

To store this medicine:

Keep out of the reach of children.
Store this medicine at room temperature
Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

healthcare professional will want to check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few weeks that you take this medicine.

It is important to check with your healthcare professional or pharmacist if you are taking or plan to take any prescription or over-the-counter medicines while taking tegaserod

It is very important to tell your healthcare professional immediately if you become pregnant

You should consult your healthcare professional if you experience severe diarrhea, or if the diarrhea is accompanied by severe cramping, abdominal pain, or dizziness. You should also consult your healthcare professional if you experience new or worsening abdominal pain.

Do not take this medication if you have diarrhea now or have diarrhea often.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy.