Treatments and Drugs for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Contrary to what some people believe, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a chronic condition, which affects millions of people around the world. However, even though there is no known cure, the condition is often controlled with the use of different drugs, therapies, and natural remedies, in order to reduce the severity of the symptoms. In fact, two drugs in particular have recently been designed specifically for treating IBS, both of which are now available to those suffering from this debilitating condition. There are also other natural approaches one can take in order to manage the condition, which I would recommend, such as what IBS Eliminated dicusses.

IBS Specific Drugs

Those who are diagnosed to be suffering from severe diarrheic IBS are often prescribed Alosetron (Lotronex) by their doctors, providing their doctor has enrolled in a special program, which follows strict protocols. This drug works by blocking certain nerve impulses, which in turn are responsible for spasms and diarrhea.

Those patients who suffer predominantly from constipation will be prescribed Lubiprostone (Amitiza), a drug that increases the amount of fluids in the small intestine in order to encourage bowel movement. However, many patients on this drug complain about side effects including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea.

If you are taking either of these, I highly recommend following the IBS Eliminated system to see if you can get off these drugs.

Other IBS Medications

Interestingly enough, they are several drugs on the market nowadays which are able to offer sufferers a certain amount of relief, even though they were not originally designed for treating IBS, such as:

Anticholinergics – relaxes the bowel and prevents spasms
Antidepressants – reduces pain and improves mood
Anti-diarrheals – used for treating diarrhea
Laxatives – uses for treating constipation

Of course, if your condition is being made worse due to an infection, then it’s very likely that your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. In this case, it is crucial that you do not stop taking your medication unless advised to do so by your doctor. Furthermore, before you decide to take any over-the-counter medications, you should always discuss it with your doctor first, particularly if you’re already taking description drugs.

Natural Remedies and Treatments

As many people can attest to, there are several natural approaches for treating IBS, and which are known to be moderately successful. In fact, many people have found at least some relief simply by eliminating certain foods from their diet. As such, it is always advisable for IBS sufferers to keep a food journal in order to determine which foods tend to irritate the condition, causing the symptoms to be more severe. Sufferers should pay particular attention to spicy foods, greasy foods, caffeine, and also dairy products, as these are all known to trigger the condition. Artificial sweeteners are another culprit although many people tend to overlook them completely, believing that something so insignificant could surely not trigger the condition.

In addition, sufferers should make a point of drinking at least 64oz. of water each day. If you suffer frequent diarrhea, drinking water will help to ensure you don’t become dehydrated. On the other hand, if you suffer from frequent constipation, drinking plenty of water will help to soften stools.

Over and above making changes to your diet, it’s crucial that you get enough regular physical exercise as this helps to promote the production of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are essentially a chemical in the brain that helps to regulate moods and this of course is beneficial in terms of reducing stress levels.

Lastly but not least, depending on the severity of your condition, you may want to consider counseling in order to help you bring your stress levels under control. While stress in itself does not cause IBS, high stress levels certainly do make the condition worse.

Probiotics Are Good For You

We don’t normally like to think of it but humans have a symbiotic relationship with many tiny organisms. ‘Symbiosis’ means two or more species interacting, sometimes very closely, and gaining mutual benefit from the relationship. ‘Closely’, in this case, actually means: inside our bodies.

The intestinal flora that live inside our colon is a good example. There are over 700 different species of bacteria inside the human gut, most of which are beneficial. They are essential to healthy digestion and even help produce some vitamins, along with aiding the immune system. They also lower the pH of the intestine slightly, which inhibits the growth of some pathogens (harmful organisms) like salmonella.

That balance of good bacteria to potentially harmful bacteria can get out of whack, though. Antibiotics, stress, and other factors can lower the amount and ratio of helpful digestive bacteria. When that happens, probiotics – supplements or food additives that contain some of those species – can be a useful health aid.

Dannon Activia, for example, has become a well-known brand/type of yogurt that goes beyond the usual benefits of that food. It contains additional probiotics that have a clinically proven, and real-world tested benefit. Less intestinal gas and cramping, firmer stools, and other benefits have been well documented. Another probiotic, the now-common Lactobacillus acidophilus ‘additive’ (an ingredient in many probiotics) has long been known to aid in treating constipation.

In some instances you may see listed among the ingredients of supplements or foods the word ‘prebiotics’. These additives are not bacterial species themselves (i.e. they’re not technically probiotics) but contain ‘food’ for the probiotic species or those that naturally live in the colon.

Prebiotics, like most supplements or food additives, cover a wide range of type and quality and may be beneficial or may be nothing but hype. The only way to know is to research an individual product. The same may be said of probiotics, but here the research is a little more substantial. Major manufacturers with respected reputations have more well-known and trustworthy products.

The two most common prebiotics on the market are whey and FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides).

Whey is the liquid ‘waste’ left behind when cheese curds are separated off during cheesemaking. However, what is waste in one circumstance can be a very useful product in another. Whey has been consumed for centuries by cultures around the world and has known health benefits. That’s not surprising, since it’s chiefly water, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, lactose, fat, and water-soluble vitamins. Naturally, those with lactose intolerance should avoid this type of prebiotic.

FOS is a type of sugar that humans don’t possess the enzyme needed to break down. Fortunately, bifidobacteria in the colon do have that ability. One of those 700 naturally occurring species mentioned, this tiny organism aids digestion and so ‘feeding’ it can be beneficial, in the right amount. It’s found naturally in tomatoes, bananas, honey, barley, and other foods. Their growth can also be encouraged by the intake of fiber.

While no miracle cure, probiotics can be useful in the treatment of diarrhea, vaginal yeast infections, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). As with any significant change to diet or when attempting to home-treat illness, it’s always wise to consult with your physician.

Probiotics

Have you heard of Probiotics?  I am sure you have and you
may even know a lot about them.

As more and more of the population have trouble with bloating,
upset stomach, or other digestive issues, the concept of
probiotics has become popular.

What does it mean exactly?

Probiotics are supplements, which contain what are supposedly
beneficial bacteria or yeasts, to help support or strengthen
the digestive system.   Essentially it is good bacteria going
into our bodies to replace or assist the body’s natural bacteria
that have been damaged by toxins or stress.

Probiotics have actually been used for quite a long time in
health related foods (and are naturally occurring in others),
but it is a relatively new concept to many people.

The most common form you’ll see is little drink containers
(about 100ml), which can be consumed daily.   These are
generally available at grocery stores.

However, you can also get pills, which tend to have
a stronger content of probiotics.  The pills can be
referred to as Acidophilus.  As the level of probiotic
needs to be fairly high to be effective, many nutritionists
recommend pills rather than the liquid form.

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There are also prebiotics.  These are carbohydrates
that our stomach needs to be able to grow good bacteria.
These also come in supplements and are naturally present
in things such as onions, garlic, asparagus, and banana.
Nutritionists do believe that prebiotics and probiotics can
help with digestive troubles.  However, the levels of bacteria
need to be correct to get any benefit from it!

So how do you find out what you need?  I always recommend
having a food intolerance or allergy test done to see exactly
what foods your body dislikes.

This will just be one step toward improving how you
feel each and every day!