Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Colonoscopy results and zelnorm

Hi Ruchie - To get really accurate, detailed information on Zelnorm, go to your local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for the clinical insert that comes with the drug. It's a big piece of paper folded very small, with tiny writing, but it has all of the hard-core medical and scientific information about the drug - risks, side effects, mechanisms of action, research study info, etc.

Because Zelnorm is brand new, there are no long-term studies of yet, and no one really knows if there are any long-term risks. The drug is actually only approved to be taken for so many weeks, not indefinitely.

I've heard from just a few folks so far who have tried Zelnorm, with not so great results. But this is literally just 3 people or so, so that's definitely not enough. Hopefully some folks on the board who have Zelnorm experience will post.

I honestly think your doctor is nuts to tell you to eat meat and dairy and everything else if you're taking the drug. That's akin to telling a patient with high cholesterol to just keep eating the meat and dairy since they're being given a statin drug. Drugs can't (or at least shouldn't) compensate for a healthy lifestyle, though they can be extremely helpful additions.

I'd keep doing what you have been to try and manage symptoms, and certainly consider hypnotherapy as well. See what info you can get about Zelnorm from the pharmacist (and ask your doc if he has any printed materials) so you know what to expect. And hopefully, if you decide to try it, it will work really well for you!

- Heather

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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!

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