SINGAPORE - A new
treatment is now available in Singapore that can potentially treat chronic
constipation sufferers by helping to restore normal bowel function.
Called Resolor, the drug works by activating chemical
receptors in the digestive system.
"Resolor is the first of a new class of drugs
available that specifically targets the source of the problem and can,
therefore, offer more comprehensive normalisation of the bowel function than
the more commonly used over-the-counter remedies such as laxatives," said
Professor Jan Tack, Professor and Head of Clinic, Department of
Gastroenterology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.
A recently published survey of Singaporean women with
chronic constipation revealed that one in every two women were dissatisfied
with current treatment options, with non-effectiveness being the most common
reason.
Sufferers of chronic constipation usually complain of
symptoms that include straining, bloating, feeling "plugged up" and
difficulty in passing stools.
However, doctors do not typically confirm a diagnosis
based on these symptoms without knowing the frequency of stools, said Janssen,
the pharmaceutical company distributing the drug.
As patients are usually more concerned about their
symptoms and not stool frequency, there is a significant disconnect that often
results in a delayed diagnosis, leaving sufferers frustrated.
Laxatives are currently the most widely used treatment
for constipation and readily available as over-the-counter remedies, almost
half of people who try them report inadequate relief of symptoms.
A multinational study of 14,000 patients found a higher
rate of persistent symptoms among those taking laxatives versus those using
non-laxative treatment approaches.
In placebo-controlled studies, almost twice as many
patients taking Resolor achieved normalisation of bowel movements compared to
those taking the placebo.
The drug also alleviated constipation symptoms, including
bloating, straining, stomach pain and discomfort.
The drug has demonstrated a good safety profile. In one
study, nearly 90 per cent of elderly nursing home patients with a history of
heart disease demonstrated good tolerability towards Resolor.
The most common side effects reported in clinical studies
have been headache (22 per cent) and nausea (17 per cent), but these mostly
appear at the start of treatment and disappear after a few days of continued
treatment, Janssen said.
Resolor is currently approved for use in Australia,
Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, and more than 40 countries across Europe,
Central & South America and the Middle East.
YourHealth, AsiaOne
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