Irritable Bowel Syndrome Medication

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS for short, is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and discomfort, cramping, bloating as well as constipation and diarrhea. These are the typical symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, which usually subside with bowel movements. In some individuals, constipation is predominant, while in others diarrhea is the common gastrointestinal problem. Many people also suffer from alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation. Sometimes, individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome experience a period where symptoms disappear for a few months and then return.

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In spite of the several researches carried out, the causes of irritable bowel syndrome are yet to be discovered. One supposition is that over sensitivity of the colon or large intestine to certain specific foods and stress can be responsible for causing irritable bowel syndrome. It can also be caused by an immune reaction as revealed by some studies. Many people believe that an active but undetected infection can stimulate an IBS attack.

It is a well known fact that people usually feel a cramping sensation in the stomach when they are nervous or stressed. This points to the fact that our large intestine has nerves that are connected to the brain, and they respond to stress and anxiety. But, while in healthy individuals, this response is restricted to a slight abdominal cramping that lasts for a few minutes, people with IBS can experience abdominal pain along with severe cramping as well as constipation or diarrhea. This may be due to the fact that their color is oversensitive to even mild stress and anxiety. This led many to suspect an association between anxiety and IBS.

Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
At present, there is no cure for irritable bowel syndrome. The treatment options available basically aim at relieving the symptoms of the condition. Along with medications, dietary changes and stress management techniques have shown efficacy in controlling the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Medication
Irritable bowel syndrome medications are generally prescribed to relieve symptoms like severe pain, constipation and diarrhea, if they do not respond to dietary changes and other home or natural treatments.

Medications for Constipation: If constipation is the predominant symptom of IBS, then soluble fiber supplements coupled with drinking lots of water and regular exercise can provide some relief. If these measures fail to ensure regular bowel movement, then medications like laxatives lubiprostone (amitiza), polyethylene glycol can be used. Lubiprostone increases the amount of fluid in the intestine for facilitating the passage of stool. Laxatives like milk of magnesia can also provide relief by retaining more fluid in the intestine. It can also draw fluid from the other areas of the body to the intestine thereby increasing the fluid content in order to promote bowel movement.

Correctol, dulcolax, and senokot are a group of stimulant laxatives that are used for constipation. They irritate the lining of the intestine for accelerating the speed of stool movement through it. But laxatives should be taken only under the supervision of physicians. Moreover, their daily use is not recommended, as people can become dependent on these medications for regular bowel movement. Zelnorm is another constipation medication used for women with irritable bowel syndrome. But it can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, and hence is not suitable for long term use.

Medications for Diarrhea: Loperamide is an over-the-counter medication for irritable bowel syndrome that provides considerable relief in diarrhea. Another anti-diarrheal medication is diphenoxylate, which is quite effective in reducing the frequency of bowel movements. Bile acid binding agents are also prescribed, which can prevent the bile acids from stimulating the large intestine for controlling bowel movements.

Medications for Relieving Pain:: Anticholinergics, dicyclomine and antidepressants are some common medications used for irritable bowel syndrome. They can relieve abdominal pain and cramping. Anticholinergics is an anti-spasmodic that can reduce colon or large intestine's response to both stress and certain foods. Other commonly used anti-spasmodics are donnatal, levsin, levbid, pro-banthine and bentyl. Antidepressants, on the other hand, raise pain tolerance in severe abdominal cramping. Many people with IBS experience anxiety and depression along with physical discomforts, and antidepressants can help them in this regard. Narcotic analgesics are another treatment option for relieving pain and inducing drowsiness in the patients of IBS. But constipation is a common side effect of these medications.

Irritable bowel syndrome medications can relieve the symptoms of IBS, but many of them can cause some side effects. Therefore, one should be very careful while taking medications, especially the irritable bowel syndrome over-the-counter medications. It is always safe to take medications only under the guidance of an experienced physician. Besides this, sometimes, lifestyle and an irritable bowel syndrome diet, with more fiber and avoiding certain foods, as well as proper stress management can help to reduce the frequency and severity of IBS attacks.