Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Alosetron, marketed under the brand name Lotronex, is a 5-HT3 antagonist used for the management of severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women only. Alosetron is a potent and selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. 5-HT3 receptors are nonselective cation channels that are extensively distributed on enteric neurons in the human gastrointestinal tract, as well as other peripheral and central locations. Activation of these channels and the resulting neuronal depolarization affect the regulation of visceral pain, colonic transit and gastrointestinal secretions, processes that relate to the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 5-HT3 receptor antagonists such as alosetron inhibit activation of non-selective cation channels which results in the modulation of the enteric nervous system. Alosetron is used for the treating women with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) accompanied by severe diarrhea (usually lasting for 6 months or more). It is only prescribed to women who do not respond to other medicines and is not to be used by women whose main IBS problem is constipation.   ^NCATS