Pritzker Olsen Attorneys

Zelnorm Heart Attack and Stroke

ZELNORM – HEART ATTACK AND STROKE WARNING: Novartis has agreed to discontinue marketing Zelnorm, a drug used for the short-term treatment of women with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and for patients younger than 65 years of age with chronic constipation. An FDA analysis of safety data pooled from 29 clinical trials involving over 18,000 patients showed an excess number of serious cardiovascular adverse events, including angina, heart attacks, and stroke, in patients taking Zelnorm compared to patients given placebo.  Read the FDA health advisory regarding Zelnorm below. 

Lawyer Fred Pritzker, has over 30 years of product liability lawsuit experience and has recovered millions for clients.  He is nationally recognized and has been interviewed by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other publications.  In recognition of his accomplishments, he has been selected by other lawyers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America.

FDA Public Health Advisory:
Tegaserod maleate (marketed as Zelnorm)

FDA is issuing this public health advisory to inform patients and health care professionals that the sponsor of Zelnorm (tegaserod maleate), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, has agreed to stop selling Zelnorm.  Zelnorm is being taken off the market because a new safety analysis has found a higher chance of heart attack, stroke, and worsening heart chest pain that can become a heart attack in patients treated with Zelnorm compared to those treated with a sugar pill they thought was Zelnorm.

FDA announces the following, effective immediately:

  • At FDA’s request, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has agreed to stop selling Zelnorm.
  • Patients being treated with Zelnorm should contact their physician to discuss alternative treatments for their condition to prevent a Zelnorm heart attack or stroke.
  • Patients who are taking Zelnorm should seek emergency medical care right away if they experience severe chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, sudden onset of weakness or difficulty walking or talking or other symptoms of a Zelnorm heart attack or stroke.
  • Physicians who prescribe Zelnorm should work with their patients and transition them to other therapies as appropriate to their symptoms and need.

Zelnorm is a prescription medication approved for short term treatment of women with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and for patients younger than 65 years with chronic constipation.   In late February and early March 2007, Novartis Pharmaceuticals gave FDA the results of new analysis of 29 clinical studies of Zelnorm for treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal tract conditions; the data from all the studies were combined to assess the chance of side effects on the heart and blood vessels.  In each study, patients were assigned at random to either Zelnorm or a sugar pill they thought was Zelnorm.  These 29 studies included 11,614 patients treated with Zelnorm and 7,031 treated with a sugar pill.  The average age of patients in these studies was 43 years and most patients—88%--were women. 

The number of patients who suffered a Zelnorm heart attack, stroke or severe heart chest pain that can turn into a heart attack was small.  However, patients treated with Zelnorm had a higher chance of having any of these serious and life-threatening side effects than did those who were treated with a sugar pill.  Thirteen patients treated with Zelnorm (0.1%) had serious and life-threatening cardiovascular side effects; among these, four patients had a heart attack (one died), six had a type of severe heart chest pain which can quickly turn into a heart attack, and three had a stroke.  Among the patients taking the sugar pill, only one (or 0.01%) had symptoms suggesting the beginning of a stroke that went away without complication.

For Zelnorm lawsuit information, please contact Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. for a free consultation.  Call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. online consultation form


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