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Treatments for Irritable bowel syndrome

Treatments for Irritable bowel syndrome:

Treatment can help to control or eliminate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The overall treatment goal for people living with irritable bowel syndrome is to control symptoms to a degree that allows them to feel better and live the most normal, healthy and active lives possible.

The most effect treatment plans include a multifaceted approach. One facet of treatment is dietary. This includes avoiding foods that may trigger symptoms. It is also often helpful to avoid overeating and eating excessively gassy, greasy or spicy foods that can cause indigestion and trigger irritable bowel syndrome. A high-fiber diet may help to relieve constipation.

In some severe cases, treatment may also include medications that have an anti-diarrheal effect and/or relieve pain. An antispasmodic drug may help to reduce intestinal contractions. If symptoms are triggered by stress, an antianxiety or antidepressant medication may be prescribed.

If diarrhea becomes severe and leads to dehydration, hospitalization and intravenous rehydration and electrolyte replacement therapy may be necessary.

Treatment List for Irritable bowel syndrome

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Irritable bowel syndrome includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Alternative Treatments for Irritable bowel syndrome

Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Irritable bowel syndrome may include:

Irritable bowel syndrome: Is the Diagnosis Correct?

The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Irritable bowel syndrome may include:

Hidden causes of Irritable bowel syndrome may be incorrectly diagnosed:

Irritable bowel syndrome: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Irritable bowel syndrome:

Curable Types of Irritable bowel syndrome

Possibly curable types of Irritable bowel syndrome may include:

Irritable bowel syndrome: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Drugs and Medications used to treat Irritable bowel syndrome:

Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment or change in treatment plans.

Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Irritable bowel syndrome include:

  • Alosetron
  • Lotronex
  • Loperamide
  • Anit-Diarrheal
  • Apo-Loperamide
  • Diarrid
  • Dom-Loperamide
  • Imodium
  • Imodium AD
  • Kaopectate 1-D
  • Maalox A/D
  • Pepto Diarrhea Control
  • Clidinium and Chloridazepoxide
  • Librax
  • Apo-Chlorax
  • Dicyclomine
  • Bentyl
  • Bentylol
  • Formulex
  • Lomine
  • Pinaverium
  • Dicetel
  • Propantheline
  • Propanthel
  • Psyllium
  • Fiberall
  • Genfiber
  • Hydrocil
  • Konsyl
  • Konsyl-D
  • Konsyl Easy Mix
  • Konsyl Orange
  • Metamucil
  • Metamucil Smooth Texture
  • Modane Bulk
  • Perdiem Fiber Therapy
  • Reguloid
  • Serutan
  • Novo-Mucilax
  • Trimebutine
  • Apo-Trimebutine
  • Modulon
  • Debridat
  • Libertrim
  • Prescol
  • Mebeverine
  • Colese
  • Colofac
  • Tegaserod
  • Zelmac

Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Irritable bowel syndrome:

Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Irritable bowel syndrome include:

  • Alprazolam
  • Alprazolam Intensol
  • Apo-Alpraz
  • Med-Alprazolam
  • Novo-Alprazol
  • Nu-Alpraz
  • Xanax

Latest treatments for Irritable bowel syndrome:

The following are some of the latest treatments for Irritable bowel syndrome:

Hospital statistics for Irritable bowel syndrome:

These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Irritable bowel syndrome:

  • 0.045% (5,798) of hospital consultant episodes were for irritable bowel syndrome in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 92% of hospital consultant episodes for irritable bowel syndrome required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 28% of hospital consultant episodes for irritable bowel syndrome were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • 72% of hospital consultant episodes for irritable bowel syndrome were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
  • more hospital information...»

Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Irritable bowel syndrome

Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Irritable bowel syndrome:

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings »

Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Irritable bowel syndrome, on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:

Medical news summaries about treatments for Irritable bowel syndrome:

The following medical news items are relevant to treatment of Irritable bowel syndrome:

Discussion of treatments for Irritable bowel syndrome:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: NIDDK (Excerpt)

How Does a Good Diet Help IBS?

For many people, eating a proper diet lessens IBS symptoms. Before changing your diet, it is a good idea to keep a journal noting which foods seem to cause distress. Discuss your findings with your doctor. You also may want to consult a registered dietitian, who can help you make changes in your diet. For instance, if dairy products cause your symptoms to flare up, you can try eating less of those foods. Yogurt might be tolerated better because it contains organisms that supply lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk products. Because dairy products are an important source of calcium and other nutrients that your body needs, be sure to get adequate nutrients in the foods that you substitute.

Dietary fiber may lessen IBS symptoms in many cases. Whole grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits, and vegetables are good sources of fiber. Consult your doctor before using an over-the-counter fiber supplement. High-fiber diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help to prevent spasms from developing. Some forms of fiber also keep water in the stools, thereby preventing hard stools that are difficult to pass. Doctors usually recommend that you eat just enough fiber so that you have soft, easily passed, and painless bowel movements. High-fiber diets may cause gas and bloating, but within a few weeks, these symptoms often go away as your body adjusts to the diet.

Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea in people with IBS. Symptoms may be eased if you eat smaller meals more often or just eat smaller portions. This should help, especially if your meals are low in fat and high in carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables.


Can Medicines Relieve IBS Symptoms?

Your doctor may prescribe fiber supplements or occasional laxatives if you are constipated. Some doctors prescribe drugs that control colon muscle spasms, drugs that slow the movement of food through the digestive system, tranquilizers, or antidepressant drugs, all of which may relieve symptoms.

It is important to follow the physician's instructions when taking IBS medications--particularly laxatives, which can be habit forming if not used carefully. (Source: excerpt from Irritable Bowel Syndrome: NIDDK)

IBS: NIDDK (Excerpt)

IBS has no cure, but you can do things to relieve symptoms. Treatment may involve

  • diet changes
  • medicine
  • stress relief

You may have to try a combination of things to see which works best for you. (Source: excerpt from IBS: NIDDK)

IBS: NIDDK (Excerpt)

To find out which foods are a problem, write down this information:


  • What you eat during the day.

  • What symptoms you have.

  • When symptoms occur.

  • What foods always make you feel bad.


Take your notes to the doctor to see if you should stop eating certain foods. (Source: excerpt from IBS: NIDDK)

IBS: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Fiber reduces IBS symptoms--especially constipation--because it makes stool soft, bulky, and easier to pass. Fiber is found in bran, bread, cereal, beans, fruit, and vegetables.

Here are some examples of foods with fiber:

Fruits Vegetables Breads, cereals, and beans
Apples
Peaches
Broccoli, raw
Cabbage
Carrots, raw
Peas
Kidney beans
Lima beans
Whole-grain bread
Whole-grain cereal

Add foods with fiber to your diet a little at a time to let your body get used to them. Too much fiber all at once might cause gas, which can trigger symptoms in a person with IBS.

Besides telling you to eat more foods with fiber, the doctor might also tell you to get more fiber by taking a fiber pill or drinking water mixed with a special high-fiber powder. (Source: excerpt from IBS: NIDDK)

IBS: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea in people with IBS. If this happens to you, try eating four or five small meals a day. Or, have your usual three meals, but eat less at each meal. (Source: excerpt from IBS: NIDDK)

IBS: NIDDK (Excerpt)

If necessary, the doctor might give you medicine to help with symptoms:

  • Laxatives: To treat constipation.
  • Antispasmodics: To slow contractions in the bowel, which helps with diarrhea and pain.
  • Antidepressants: To help those who have severe pain.

You must follow your doctor's instructions when you use these medicines. Otherwise, you could become dependent on them. (Source: excerpt from IBS: NIDDK)

IBS: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Learning to reduce stress can help. With less stress, you may find that you have less cramping and pain. Also, you may find it easier to manage your symptoms.

Meditation, exercise, and counseling are some things that might help. You may need to try different activities to see what works best for you. (Source: excerpt from IBS: NIDDK)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Drinking lots of water and increasing your fiber intake may help, especially if constipation is a problem. Fiber is found in bran, bread, cereal, beans, fruits, and vegetables. It's a good idea to increase the fiber in your diet gradually to avoid causing gas and pain. Many people with IBS also use a fiber supplement to add soluble fiber, often from psyllium seeds, to the diet.

Regular exercise can help with constipation and improve your health in other ways. Look into support groups, stress reduction methods or counseling if you think they might be helpful. Be careful about using laxatives, anti-diarrhea or other over-the-counter medicines to treat yourself. They can cause problems if misused. Other kinds of medicines sometimes make IBS symptoms worse, too. (Source: excerpt from Irritable Bowel Syndrome: NWHIC)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Medicines sometimes used for IBS symptoms include:

  • fiber supplements and occasional use of laxatives (for constipation)

  • antispasmodics—drugs that control colon muscle spasms and help with diarrhea and pain

  • tranquilizers and antidepressants to help with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions for use of all medicines. Some medicines including laxatives can be habit-forming, and all drugs have side effects. Tell your doctor about any over-the-counter medicines that you use. New drugs are being developed for IBS—ask your doctor about new treatment options. (Source: excerpt from Irritable Bowel Syndrome: NWHIC)

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