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Medication, medicines for IBS

The type of medication used to treat IBS will usually depend on which particular symptom is the most dominant. No two people will experience IBS in exactly the same way so there is no standard treatment plan which is suitable for all.

The main symptoms of IBS are diarrhoea and/or constipation along with abdominal pain and bloating that are not the result of some other identifiable cause. No one understands exactly what might cause someone to develop IBS although certain foods and stressors can make the symptoms of IBS worse. In a few people, IBS is triggered by a gastrointestinal infection or a major life changing event and in other cases for no apparent reason at all.

Although at present there is no single medication that can effectively treat IBS as a whole there are developments in this area which means this may be an option in the future. In the meantime there are various preparations that can prove helpful in alleviating the symptoms of IBS and brief description of the most common ones are as follows:

Anti-diarrhoea medicines

Imodium can help stop particularly severe cases of diarrhoea.
Loperamide is the most commonly used medicine for IBS diarrhoea and can help reduce the number of bowel movements and improve stool form and consistency.

Anti-constipation medicines

Lactulose, or a magnesium oxide solution (milk of magnesia) or liquid paraffin can help increase the frequency of bowel movements and soften the stools making them easier to pass.
There are many stimulant laxatives available over the counter but they can increase abdominal spasms and pain.
Ispaghula husk is a type of bulking agent in the form of soluble fibre which has proved helpful for IBS sufferers.

Anti-depressants

Serotonergic agents can make a difference to the overall symptoms of IBS in some people and as such are often recommended for short term use in IBS patients. They are believed to impact on serotonin receptors in the body which transmit messages to the gut.
Low dose Trycyclic anti-depressants can help regulate and reduce the frequency of bowel movements as well as alleviate pain. Standard doses may be given if depression is a feature.

Anti-spasmodic medicines

Some patients have responded well to drugs such as Mebeverine and Alverine particularly when painful cramps are troublesome.

Peppermint oil has also proved useful to some people as a muscle relaxant and to ease abdominal discomfort. However a word of caution, there are some contraindications so consult your doctor first. It can cause an allergic reaction and in some people has made the symptoms of IBS worse.

Probiotic Supplements

Friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidocterium Breve have proven effective in some cases of IBS. It is available in supplement form, probiotic drinks or in yoghurts and is believed to help maintain the balance of bacteria in the gut and may therefore improve the overall symptoms of IBS.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

An interesting study completed in 1997 at the Research Unit for Complimentary Medicine, University of Western Sydney in Australia by Bensoussan et al concluded that Chinese Herbal Medicines were effective at treating IBS in some people. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 116 IBS patients, who were given either a standard Chinese herbal preparation, or an individualised herbal preparation or a placebo. Symptoms of IBS were regularly evaluated and assessed throughout the trial. Compared to the placebo group, patients in both the standard and individualised herbal preparation groups showed a significant improvement in bowel symptoms.