Woman blames drug company for contributing to heart attack

From the Waterloo (Ont.) Record:
Trudy Metzger used to call the little white pill she took daily her miracle drug.

The 38-year-old Elmira woman took the drug to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Today, she believes the drug, Zelnorm, contributed to the massive heart attack she suffered two years ago at age 36.

"I could have died," Metzger said yesterday.

The mother of five is the representative plaintiff in a $125-million class-action lawsuit against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., the Quebec-based manufacturer of the drug.

None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been proven in court.

Silvie Letendra, spokesperson for Novartis, declined to comment.

"Since this matter is now before the courts, Novartis cannot comment," she said in an e-mail. ...more

Voluntary suspension of sales of Zelnorm due to cardiovascular ischemic events

From Health Canada:
At Health Canada’s request, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. is suspending marketing and sales of Zelnorm* (tegaserod hydrogen maleate) tablets in Canada to permit further evaluation of important safety information.
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