Drug therapy of irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disabling condition in the community. It is characterised by abdominal pain and disordered bowel habit, but the pathophysiology of the condition is unclear. Multiple factors including diet, gastrointestinal infection, disordered gut motility and emotional stress have all been implicated as potential triggers. Recent advances in our understanding of gastrointestinal physiology suggest that visceral hypersensitivity may underlie at least some of the clinical features. The key role of serotonin in gastrointestinal neural function has led to the development of new drugs that show therapeutic promise in management of irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment currently remains symptomatic with disorders of defaecation responding more readily than abdominal pain.