title: The use of anti-spasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: focus on otilonium bromide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this review is to summarize the studies carried out, with particular interest in those who dealt with otilonium bromide in treatment of IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IBS is a frequent gastrointestinal disease, characterized by a combination of several symptoms including abdominal pain or discomfort, flatulence and problems related to bowel habits (constipation and/or diarrhea). It affects about 15% of the western population, with a negative impact on the quality of life and also on health care costs. Face to such important complexity and negative impact, therapeutic options are still very limited and most of the pharmacological compounds mostly validated for short term use, are only partially controlling symptoms. Among those, anti-spasmodics are commonly used in clinical settings. Despite a discrete literature in support of these drugs, systematic collections of clinical evidence to support the use of anti-spasmodics and in particular the use of otilonium bromide in course of IBS are scarce.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Otilonium bromide is a systemically poorly absorbed antispasmodic, which has shown clear efficacy compared to placebo, in controlling symptoms related to IBS. Otilonium bromide was effective also in comparison to other drugs, such as pinaverium bromide and mebeverine, with a favorable tolerability profile. Further studies are necessary to better define duration of treatment and maximum therapeutic dose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pizzoferrato
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lopetuso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scaldaferri
mesh_terms: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C013934:octylonium