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Paxil IBS

Paxil contains the active ingredient paroxetine and is a type of anti depressant known as an SSRI or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Although classed as an antidepressant, it has been found to help other conditions including irritable bowel syndrome. When prescribed as a treatment for IBS it is usually given in a lower dose than that required for someone who is suffering from depression.

How does Paxil work?

Paxil is believed to work by regulating serotonin, a type of neurotransmitter that influences our moods and Paxil as well as other SSRI’s work by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. However, serotonin is also present in large quantities in the gut and helps to regulate bowel movements and the digestive process in general and influences the speed at which the food is moved through the intestines which is possibly why Paxil may prove beneficial for some people with IBS.

Research

A number of research studies have found that Paxil can help alleviate the symptoms of IBS. One double blind study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, for example, found that patients with IBS responded very well to Paxil. It has to be said that the first step to improved wellbeing for anyone with IBS is to increase the amount of fibre in the diet but not everyone experiences an improvement in their IBS symptoms after switching to a high fibre diet.

In the Pittsburgh study, a total of 81 people with IBS who didn’t see an improvement in their symptoms after following a high fibre diet, were given either Paxil or a placebo for 3 months. Out of those who took Paxil, just over 63% said they felt better whereas only just over 26% said the same after taking the placebo. At the end of the trial the patients were given a choice as to whether they wanted to continue with their “medication”. Approximately 84% of the Paxil group wanted to continue. Even though the number of participants in the study was relatively small, the findings are encouraging.

However, Paxil is not suitable for everyone and you should discuss the full implications of Paxil with your doctor, particularly if you are already pregnant or are planning to start a family in the near future. As with any drug, Paxil can carry a risk of side effects and may also interact negatively with other medication, both prescription and over the counter.

Treating IBS

There isn’t a drug in existence that can be said to be a recognised treatment for IBS mainly because the nature of IBS is that there is no single identifiable cause, and the way that it affects people can vary so much from individual to individual. There is no cure either so treating IBS means dealing with the individual symptoms. As such, Paxil and other antidepressants are only likely to be prescribed in particularly severe cases of IBS.

There are a number of other steps you can take to improve the way that IBS affects you. Apart from increasing the amount of soluble fibre in the diet, you should avoid stress, eat smaller meals but eat them regularly, reduce the amount of digestive stimulants in the diets such as tea, coffee, alcohol, fizzy drinks, chocolate and dairy products and drink plenty of water, at least 2 litres a day. By making a few dietary and lifestyle changes you may find that is enough to keep your symptoms under control.