IBS

Question 1

IBS

Answer 1

Common, chronic, relapsing and often life-long condition

Question 2

IBS is more common in

Answer 2

More common in women and people aged 20-30

Question 3

IBS is exacerbated by

Answer 3

Coffee, alcohol and milk
Large meals
Fried foods
Stress

Question 4

Symptoms

Answer 4

• abdominal pain
• diarrhoea or constipation
• urgency
• incomplete defaecation
• passing mucus

Question 5

How are symptoms of IBS usually relieved (non drug)

Answer 5

defaecation

Question 6

IBS - non drug treatment DOs

Answer 6

Do exercise
Do eat regular meals
Do reduce fresh fruit consumption to 3 portions per day
Do reduce insoluble fibre
Do drink at least 8 cups of water daily

Question 7

IBS - non drug treatment DONTs

Answer 7

Don’t caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks
Don’t have sorbitol if you have diarrhoea
Don’t stress

Question 8

Treatment - first line OTC

Answer 8

Antispasmodics: alverine, mebeverine and peppermint oil -
Laxatives: if constipated (not lactulose as it may cause bloating)
Loperamide: if experiencing diarrhoea
Antimuscarinic: Hycosine butylbromide (avoid in cardiac disease)

Question 9

Second - line

Answer 9

Second-line treatment for pain if OTC therapy doesn’t work:
Low-dose tricyclic antidepressant: Amitriptyline
SSRI if TCA doesn’t work
(unlicensed)

Question 10

Hyoscine butyl bromide vs hydrobromide

Answer 10

butyl - IBS
hydro - travel sickness, motion sickness