Baseline characteristics (randomised patients in first treatment period)
| Tegaserod (n = 2135) | Placebo (n = 525) | |
|---|---|---|
| *Each patient reported one symptom that they viewed as their main complaint during the three months preceding study entry. | ||
| †These included infrequent defecation, feeling of incomplete evacuation, hard stools, and straining. | ||
| Mean age, years (range) | 41.9 (17–66) | 42.6 (18–65) |
| Premenopausal (%) | 1349 (63.2) | 320 (61.0) |
| Mean duration of IBS symptoms, years (range) | 13.1 (0.3–59.0) | 13.4 (0.2–55.0) |
| Patients’ most bothersome symptom, n (%)* | ||
| Constipation | 749 (35.1) | 176 (33.5) |
| Abdominal discomfort/pain | 701 (32.8) | 173 (33.0) |
| Bloating | 410 (19.2) | 103 (19.6) |
| Other† | 273 (12.9) | 73 (13.9) |
| Use of tegaserod before study | 236 (11.1) | 50 (9.5) |