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Just a small column in today's Health Section (Thomas Maugh's CAPSULES, which may be syndicated). For the bad news, though, check out Eric's "FDA LOTRONEX" post, for even more unanticipated side effects! Irritable Bowel Drug Passes Key Hurdle A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Tuesday recommended approval of the first drug designed to treat irritable bowel syndrome. The FDA usually follows the recommendation of such committees and should make a decision within the next two months. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a term that covers a broad variety of symptoms for which there is no obvious explanation, including diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation. The disorder is often called spastic colon, spastic bowel or functional bowel disease, and is thought to affect as many as 20 million Americans. Some researchers believe that people with IBS have nerves in the lining of their colons that are sensitive to bowel contractions and the passage of gas and fluid, triggering spasms and pain. The new drug, called Lotronex, is designed to block the receptors that receive messages in these nerves. In clinical trials with 1,273 female IBS patients with diarrhea, the majority of those receiving the drug reported pain relief within two to four weeks of beginning therapy. The primary side effects were constipation, headache and nausea. [This message has been edited by Persistance (edited 11-22-1999).]