Irritable bowel syndrome: Which medications help?

The possible causes for irritable bowel syndrome are diverse and vary from person to person. Therefore, it is often not so easy to find the right medication. In addition one comes to the diagnosis of irritable bowel mostly over the exclusion procedure . This means that other intestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are excluded prior to diagnosis.

The recommended medicines can usually not eliminate the symptoms forever. However, there are medications for irritable bowel syndrome that have the effect of relieving symptoms. So if you want to do something about your irritable bowel syndrome, you should seek a holistic therapy in which medication for the symptoms is part of the treatment.

Irritable bowel medications: What are the possibilities?

Due to the many possible causes and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a whole range of different medicines can be considered. Depending on the individual case, the following drugs, for example, can help in irritable bowel syndrome:

1. painkillers
2. anti-spasmodic drugs
3. laxative
4. diarrhea medication
5. light antidepressants

Patients do not have to take all of these drugs for irritable bowel syndrome at the same time. Rather, they are options that are open to patients and should best be taken in consultation with the attending doctor. Pain killers and antispasmodic drugs can, for example, alleviate acute symptoms. Since the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can include both diarrhoea and constipation, remedies for both are used in the therapy of various patients. Antidepressants may be helpful in calming the intestinal nervous system.

It is also important to note that some irritable bowel medicines are available only on prescription and others without a prescription. In the case of non-prescription drugs, it is nevertheless advisable to consult a doctor or pharmacist. Irritable bowel medications should always be taken for a limited time. A longer-term therapy is best discussed with the family doctor and only then carried out.

House remedies for irritable bowel syndrome

In the case of mild symptoms due to irritable bowel syndrome, herbal household remedies can also help in addition to medication. If the symptoms consist mainly of flatulence and abdominal pain, then fennel, aniseed and caraway teas can provide relief. Also helpful is peppermint oil, which in the form of capsules is supposed to alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

What can help with irritable bowel syndrome besides medication

If you treat your irritable bowel with tablets and other medications, you only ever do something about the symptoms. In order for the stomach to feel good in the long run, it is worthwhile to treat it holistically . A change in diet or treatments aimed at the psyche, such as therapies or hypnosis, can help with irritable bowel syndrome in the long term.

As far as nutrition is concerned, you can, for example, get used to eating consciously and eating several small portions throughout the day instead of less large ones. In addition, it can be helpful to avoid foods that strain the intestines, such as swelling vegetables. However, you should always talk to your doctor or dietician if you are changing your diet. This will ensure that the new type of diet also provides all the important nutrients.

The psychological remedies for irritable bowel syndrome include behavioural therapies, but also physical exercises such as Thai Chi and Yoga. In general, many things that reduce stress are good, because stress can trigger or intensify the symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome.

The irritable bowel syndrome and the microbiome

One of the many causes of irritable bowel syndrome can be that the microbiome, i.e. the totality of all microorganisms in the intestine, is out of balance. Not medications, but food supplements with probiotics, which support the good bacteria in the intestine, can help here under certain circumstances.

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Detailed information

• Sources:
• Wald, A., & Rakel, D. (2008). Behavioral and Complementary Approaches for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 23(3), 284–292. Doi: 10.1177/0884533608318677
• Saha, L. (2014). Irritable bowel syndrome: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 20(22), 6759. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759]
• Chey, W. D., Kurlander, J., & Eswaran, S. (2015). Irritable Bowel Syndrome. JAMA, 313(9), 949. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.0954
• Adriani, A., Ribaldone, D. G., Astegiano, M., Durazzo, M., Saracco, G. M., & Pellicano, R. (2018). Irritable bowel syndrome: the clinical approach. Panminerva Medica, 60(4). doi: 10.23736/S0031-0808.18.03541-3
• Reizdarmsyndrom: Therapie – Medikamente | Apotheken-Umschau