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Tegaserod for treating chronic constipation in elderly patients
Ronald F Baun1, Hedva Barenholtz Levy
1St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, USA.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|January 18, 2007
Summary
Tegaserod shows potential for chronic constipation but lacks sufficient elderly data. Older adults face a higher risk of diarrhea, warranting cautious use.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic constipation (CC) affects a significant portion of the elderly population.
- Current treatment options for CC in older adults may have limitations.
- Tegaserod, a gastrointestinal prokinetic agent, has been investigated for CC management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of tegaserod for managing chronic constipation specifically in elderly patients.
- To synthesize available data on tegaserod's use in older adults with CC.
- To identify potential risks and benefits of tegaserod in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (1966-2007).
- Inclusion of clinical trials assessing tegaserod's efficacy and safety for CC.
- Emphasis on studies including elderly participants and subgroup analyses.
Main Results:
- Tegaserod demonstrated efficacy in improving constipation in overall study populations.
- No significant adverse events were noted in overall populations, but elderly subgroup data were limited.
- Diarrhea was more common at higher doses and poses a potential concern for older adults.
- A long-term safety trial indicated good tolerability, but specific elderly data were not detailed.
Conclusions:
- Tegaserod is not recommended as a replacement for current CC therapies in the elderly.
- Inconclusive data exist regarding tegaserod's efficacy and safety in older adults due to small sample sizes.
- Elderly patients may have an increased risk of diarrhea with tegaserod.
- Further research specifically targeting the elderly population is necessary before widespread use is considered.
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