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Wednesday, February 01, 2006The FDA approved the sale of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s lubiprostone capsules, which are marketed as Amitiza. Amitiza works by increasing the body's intestinal fluid secretion, which helps ease the passage of stools and alleviate symptoms associated with chronic constipation, the FDA said. ......Amitiza has been shown in two clinical studies to give 60 percent of patients a bowel movement within 24 hours of taking the medication. Common side effects reported in testing included headache, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and swelling. The drug increases intestinal fluid by opening chloride channels in the cells of the gut lining and thus increasing fluid secretion. The result is wetter, better lubricated stools. Other laxatives either irritate the colon enough to make it contract, and then squeeze out the stool, or by pulling water in to the gut by osmosis to make the stool softer and easier to pass. Most of the older laxatives work their magic in the lumen of the gut without entering the body and causing multi-system side effects. The question for lubiprostone will be whether or not it acts on chloride channels in the rest of the body in addition to those in the gut. If it does, then expect the side effect profile to be worse than the older laxatives. posted by Sydney on 2/01/2006 08:25:00 AM 1 comments 1 Comments:
Oh, for heaven's sake, what ever happened to mineral oil?
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