Treatments exist for managing irritable bowel syndrome symptoms

You may find that lifestyle changes alone are not adequate in managing your irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms; you may want to know what other resources are available to you. It is important to keep in mind that IBS is a group of symptoms, and different treatment options may be relevant depending on your specific symptoms. Different treatment options will be relevant for you depending on your symptoms. Most available medicines are intended to treat only one symptom. If IBS is interfering with your daily life, your doctor may suggest or prescribe a medicine based on your most troubling symptom. ¹ Not all treatments will be appropriate for you, and you may find that you only need to take medication some of the time.^2,3

Treatment for Pain

Various treatments may be used for pain symptoms:

• Antispasmodics are medications that may reduce pain or discomfort for some people with IBS, particularly if symptoms occur soon after eating.²
• Antidepressants can be helpful for some people with IBS, particularly those with psychological distress. Low-dose antidepressants may help relieve pain and other symptoms associated with IBS. ^2,3
• Probiotics contain live microbes, usually bacteria.³ As the gut contains trillions of bacteria, certain probiotics may help improve IBS symptoms², including pain¹. However, researchers are still studying the benefits of probiotics for treatment of IBS symptoms. It is recommended to speak to your doctor before using probiotics.³

Treatment for diarrhea

Treatments specific for diarrhea include

• Anti-diarrheal agents, such as loperamide may be prescribed by your doctor.  There are many types of anti-diarrheal medications that work in different ways. These can help prevent or relieve symptoms of diarrhea but may not help with pain.²
• Antibiotics (specific for the GI tract) may help relieve IBS symptoms such as diarrhea by reducing the numbers of bad bacteria growing in your gut.²

Treatment for constipation

Solutions to treat constipation include

• Laxatives should only be used under supervision of a doctor. There are many types of laxatives that work in different ways. These can help relieve constipation but may not reduce pain. ²

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

If conventional medical therapies prove unsuccessful or have unwanted side effects, you may want to consider complementary or alternative therapies (CAM). Complementary therapies are done in addition to traditional medical treatments, and alternative therapies are done instead of medical treatments.⁴