April 1, 2007 by TP Admin
Posted in
Late last week the US Food and Drug Administration announced the withdrawal of Permax (pergolide) and Zelnorm (tegaserod) from the US market.
Pergolide is used with levodopa and carbidopa to manage Parkinson's disease. Two new studies showed an increase risk of heart valve damage in patients treated with pergolide versus those patients who did not receive the drug.
The FDA stresses if you are taking pergolide do not stop taking the drug as this can be dangerous. Continue your dosing regimen and consult with your doctor regarding alternative treatments.
Permax (brand name) is manufactured by Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Par and Teva market the generic pergolide products.
For more information, please see the FDA News Article at FDA News - Pergolide
Zelnorm (tegaserod) treats irritable bowel syndrome in women; the drug is also approved to treat chronic constipation in both men and women under 65 years of age.
Analysis of new data from clinical trials shows an increased risk of heart problems attributed to Zelnorm. The FDA determined the serious risks of Zelnorm outweigh the benefits of treating IBS or chronic constipation with this drug, especially since neither condition is life threatening.
Zelnorm is manufactured by Novartis; there are no generic tegaserod products.
For more information, please see the FDA News Article at FDA News - Zelnorm
