Irritable bowel syndrome medication

Medications for IBS

When a person is suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, they will probably be recommended to take some anti-spasmodic drugs, though they might also be given a low-dose antidepressant and some laxatives.

There are also new prescription drugs that have been created for IBS, however the effectiveness of each drug really varies greatly from patient to patient.

Trial and error is probably the best way to see what drug works best for each person.

These drugs should be able to get rid of the most common symptoms of IBS, including painful abdominal spasms, diarrhea and constipation. However, they will probably not cure the underlying conditions that are causing the IBS.

Imodium and Lomotil are the most common medications that are prescribed for IBS and what they do is improve the intestinal water absorption and tone the sphincter and make it stronger. These drugs will also decrease the intestinal transit, which will make the stool more consistent and reduce the frequency, which means that diarrhea symptoms should go away as well.

Both are used to prevent diarrhea and are usually taken before meals or before expectedly stressful situations, which are both common triggers of diarrhea.

There are also chemical laxatives that can be used to prevent constipation, if this is one of the IBS symptoms that a person is experiencing. Milk of Magnesia or ExLax are used frequently. These drugs will stimulate the bowel by irritating the lining, and a person can easily become addicted to them, so most doctors do not recommend these options. Food for IBS

When a person is suffering from IBS, it is also important to make sure that the diet is regulated, because the source of the problem was most likely due to unhealthy eating.

People will notice that the symptoms usually arise right after eating. These common symptoms, such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and bloating, can be avoided by changing the diet.

When a person has IBS, it is important to avoid all foods that can make diarrhea worse, such as caffeine, alcohol, dairy products, sugar, fatty foods, beans, cabbage, broccoli and anything else that gives a person gas, and especially artificial sweeteners.

In order to stop constipation and get rid of it, a person needs a lot of fiber in their diet and they must also drink a lot of water and exercise regularly.

It is also important not to rush the meals and to eat slowly and in a relaxing environment. Try to chew the food at least 20 times before swallowing.