IBS

Question 1

IBS & symptoms

Answer 1

chronic, life long, relapsing condition
common in women and 20-30 year olds
exacerbated by coffee, milk, large meals, fried food and stress
symptoms - abdominal pain, constipation, diarrheoa, urgency, incomplete dafecation and passing mucus

Question 2

non drug treatment

Answer 2

focused on symptom control, diet and lifestyle management includes:
- increase excercise
- regular meals
- limit fresh fruit consumption to 3x a day
- at least 8 cups of water
- avoid caffeine, alcohol
- avoid sorbitol sweetner if diarrhoea
- reduce stress

Question 3

drug treatment

Answer 3

CANNOT BE TREATED OTC if hasn’t been been diagnosed by GP

usually OTC:
- antispasmodics - mebeverine, alverine, peppermint oil
- laxatives if constipated (not lactulose as may cause bloating)
- loperamide - if diarrhoea
- anti muscarinic - hysocine butylbromide (avoid in cardiac disease)

2nd line - for pain if OTC doesn’t work
- low dose amitriptyline unlicensed
or SSRI if TCA doesn’t work