irritable bowel syndrome

Question 1

what is irritable bowel syndrome? risk factors? common in who?

Answer 1

-common- chronic relapsing and often life long- associated with abdominal pain diarrhoea or constiptaion urgency incomplete defaecation and passing mucus
-more common in women and ppl ages 20-30

Question 2

what exacerbates irritable bowel syndrome?

Answer 2

coffee, alcohol and ilk
large meals, fried meals
stress

Question 3

what non-drug treatment of irritable bowel syndrome is used?

Answer 3

increase exercise
-eat regularly
-reduce fresh fruit consumption to 3 portions a day
-reduce insoluble fibre
-drink at least cups of water daily
-reduce caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks
-avoid sorbitol if you have diarrhoea
-reduce stress

Question 4

what drug treatment is used for irritable bowel syndrome?

Answer 4

normally OTC: ~antispasmodics= alverine, mebeverine, and peppermint
~laxatives= if constioated (not lactulose as it may cause bloating
~loperamide= if experiencing diarrhoea
~antimuscarinic= hycosine butyl bromide (avoid in cardiac disease)

second line for pain if OTC therapy doesn’t work:
~low dose tricyclic antidepressant= amitriptyline
~SSRI if TCA doesn’t work
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