In threads on medical sites, such as, WebMD, that had irritable bowel syndrome as the topic, those sufferers unable to find out any information on Motofens status indicated that many pharmacists were unaware of the medications existence or that it was even unavailable. Many Motofen users reported that they ended up contacting numerous pharmacies in their area to gather what remaining stocks of the little used niche drug. Some state that traveling distances of up to 200 miles, one way, to get the medication; almost exclusively found in smaller, more traditional pharmacies like The Medicine Shoppe or independent local ones, rather than major chains. It is because of the small numbers of those who cannot find relief from the above listed drugs that Motofen can run up to $200, out of pocket, for a monthly supply. As a result, there are virtually no health plans where Motofen is not an off-legend medication. According to e-mails and calls to Valeants customer service department, there was apparent issue with a manufacturer of one of the chemicals used in the making of difenoxin. This chemicals name, nor the manufacturer, would not be released to the public at-large. It was said that the manufacturer was not in the United States.
Aromatase excess syndrome (AES or AEXS) is a rare genetic and endocrine syndrome which is characterized by an overexpression of aromatase, the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of the estrogen sex hormones from the androgens, in turn resulting in excessive levels of circulating estrogens and, accordingly, symptoms of hyperestrogenism. It affects both sexes, manifesting itself in males as marked or complete phenotypical feminization (with the exception of the genitalia; i.e., no pseudohermaphroditism) and in females as hyperfeminization.To date, 30 males and 8 females with AEXS among 15 and 7 families, respectively, have been described in the medical literature. Signs and symptoms
Observed physiological abnormalities of the condition include a dramatic overexpression of aromatase and, accordingly, excessive levels of estrogens including estrone and estradiol and a very high rate of peripheral conversion of androgens to estrogens. In one study, cellular aromatase mRNA expression was found to be at least 10 times higher in a female patient compared to the control, and the estradiol/testosterone ratio after an injection of testosterone in a male patient was found to be 100 times greater than the control.