title: Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of amitriptyline for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of amitriptyline (AMI) in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents 12 to 18 years with newly diagnosed IBS were surveyed with a symptom checklist, pain rating scale, visual analog scale, and IBS quality of life (QOL) questionnaire. Subjects were randomized in a double-blinded fashion to receive AMI or placebo, and again completed surveys at 2, 6, 10, and 13 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients (24 female) were enrolled. Patients receiving AMI were more likely to experience improvement from baseline in overall QOL at 6, 10, and 13 weeks (P = .019, .004, and .013). Patients receiving AMI were also more likely to experience a reduction in IBS-associated diarrhea at 6 and 10 weeks (P = .029 for both), a reduction in periumbilical pain at 10 weeks (P = .018), and a reduction in right lower quadrant pain at 6, 10, and 13 weeks (P = .014, .039, and .004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMI significantly improves overall QOL in adolescents with IBS and should be a therapeutic option for adolescents with this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 91316, USA. bahar@bizla.rr.com
authors.forename: Ron J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bahar
authors.forename: Brynie S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: Marvin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ament
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000639:Amitriptyline