title: Drug treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is defined as a functional bowel disorder in which abdominal pain is associated with defecation or a change in bowel habit, and with features of disordered defecation and distension. The irritable bowel syndrome occurs in 10 to 20% of people worldwide and is very commonly encountered in clinical practice. This has encouraged the pharmaceutical industry to search for effective drug therapy. So far, a universally effective agent has not been found, and since this is a chronic, benign disorder, beginning in youth, long term drug use should be avoided. Nevertheless, if a specific IBS symptom, such as constipation or abdominal pain dominates, a specific drug may be helpful. However, tests and treatment should be minimised or even avoided in order to do no harm. A largely nonpharmaceutical approach to IBS should be taken. This approach employs drugs sparingly and then only targeted at specific and resistant symptoms.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pattee
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015990:Placebo Effect
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics