There is currently no cure for IBS, but there are many options available to treat the symptoms. These include medications and lifestyle changes such as reducing stress and adjusting your diet. Your doctor can help provide you with information on stress management and dietary changes that may help your specific symptoms.

Medications can be very helpful in relieving IBS symptoms. Some of these include:

• Fiber supplements or laxatives: These can help ease constipation. Examples of fiber supplements include psyllium (Metamucil) and methylcellulose (Citrucel).
• Anti-diarrheal medications: These over the counter medications such as Lomotil and loperamide (Imodium) help reduce diarrhea.
• Antispasmodics: These drugs can help prevent the powerful spasms of the colon that can cause abdominal pain. Antispasmodic drugs are usually anti-cholinergics (e.g. hyoscyamine, dicyclomine) which work by blocking the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is the signal that makes smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract contract.
• Antidepressants: Some antidepressants work by increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, but they also can increase serotonin levels throughout the body. Serotonin stimulates gut motility and so it can help relieve some symptoms including constipation.
• IBS-specific medications: Two medications are available that were specifically designed to help treat IBS:
• Alosetron (Lotronex): Alosetron is a serotonin blocker that relaxes the colon and slows the movement of waste through the colon and therefore help reduce diarrhea. Because of some severe side-effects, its use is limited to severe cases of IBS with diarrhea in women who haven’t responded to other treatments and it can only be prescribed by doctors enrolled in a special program. Alosetron is not approved for use by men.
• Lubiprostone (Amitiza): Lubiprostone was approved by the FDA in April 2008 to treat women age 18 and older who have IBS with constipation. It is a chloride channel activator that works by increasing the secretion of fluid into the small intestine, which increases the water content of the stool arriving in the large intestine and reduces constipation. Lubiprostone has not been shown to be effective in men.