According to the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 10 to 15 percent of Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS is characterized by constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal bloating and discomfort that cannot be explained by any other medical condition. Patients are diagnosed with IBS only after all other possible causes of their intestinal problems have been ruled out. Patients who suffer primarily from diarrhea are classified as IBS-D. Patients who experience constipation are classified as IBS-C. IBS-A is the classification for patients whose symptoms alternate between diarrhea and constipation. Amitiza is approved for IBS sufferers who experience constipation.
How Amitiza Works
Amitiza acts directly on the digestive tract, so very little of the drug is absorbed into the blood stream. It stimulates the walls of the intestine to secrete intestinal fluid. This fluid softens the stool and makes it easier to pass.
Amitiza works differently than other laxatives. Other laxatives pull fluid into the intestinal tract by absorption, while Amitiza directly stimulates the cell wall to secrete fluid. People will not become dependent on Amitiza as they do other laxatives, and Amitiza does not cause electrolyte imbalances.
Amitiza is approved for chronic constipation in adults and for irritable bowel syndrome in women over 18. The recommended dose for IBS is 8mg twice a day. Amitiza should be taken with food and water.
Amitiza should not be taken by women who are pregnant. It should not be given to people who may have a blockage in their intestinal tract or by people who already have diarrhea. Amitiza can cause nausea, but taking it with food often prevents this. Some people notice shortness of breath when they take Amitiza. This usually goes away within a few hours, but it may happen again if they continue to take the drug. Patients who have shortness of breath after taking Amitiza should talk to their doctor before continuing the medication.
Other IBS Treatments
Much of the current research into IBS centers on the role of serotonin in maintaining bowel regularity. Tegaserod (brand name Zelnorm) was developed for constipation-prominent IBS. It was withdrawn from the market in 2007 due to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Alosetron (brand name Lotronox) was approved for diarrhea in IBS. It was withdrawn in 2000 after it was found to cause constipation that led to severe and sometimes fatal complications. Lotronox was put back on the market in 2002, but it can only be prescribed by physicians who have registered with the manufacturer.
Many IBS sufferers turn to over-the-counter products for relief of their symptoms. Patients already taking prescription medications for IBS or any other medical condition should not use over-the-counter products without checking with their doctor or pharmacist.
Patients with diarrhea-prominent IBS can find relieve in over-the-counter diarrhea medications. Prescription medications for diarrhea, like loperamide, can help.
Over-the-counter medications for constipation can be helpful for patients who suffer from constipation with IBS. Fiber supplements ease constipation, but can worsen pain from bloating. Osmotic laxatives like milk of magnesia are helpful for occasional use, but should not be used regularly without the advice of a physician.
Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants decrease diarrhea in IBS. When used for IBS, they are given at doses lower than those needed to treat depression.
More About IBS
Researchers are not sure what causes IBS, and no cure is available. Current treatments only help the symptoms. The symptoms of IBS resemble the symptoms of other conditions like Crohn’s disease, lactose intolerance, food allergies, and celiac disease, so these conditions should be ruled out. Irritable Bowel Syndrome often develops after a traumatic experience, intestinal infection or surgery.
Flare-ups of the disease can follow periods of stress. For these patients, stress-management techniques offer some relief of symptoms. Certain foods may trigger IBS attacks. Those foods should be avoided, but patients should check with their doctor or a dietician to ensure that they are getting all the nutrients they need.
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