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Australian Prescriber Vol. 24 No. 3 2001

Drug therapy of irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common problem, but its cause is unknown. People who have irritable bowel syndrome have repeated pains in the abdomen. They may also have constipation or diarrhoea and their stomach may feel bloated.

There is no test which can diagnose irritable bowel syndrome. Before the diagnosis can be made the doctor has to make sure the pain is not due to another disease. For example irritable bowel syndrome does not cause bleeding from the bowel.

The treatment of irritable bowel syndrome is aimed at the symptoms. If diarrhoea is the main symptom, antidiarrhoeal medicines are used. Constipation is best treated by eating a high fibre diet. Foods which contain lots of fibre include bran, fruit and vegetables. The abdominal pain may be helped by medicines which reduce spasms in the gut.