A New Treatment for IBS

Lubiprostone (Amitiza®) is a drug that increases the secretion of fluid in your intestines to help make it easier to pass stools; up to now it’s been used to treat chronic constipation, but additional research has shown that it can be effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) when it’s characterized by constipation. This is important news for sufferers from this type of IBS, especially since the withdrawal of tegaserod (Zelnorm®).

Clinical studies show that 8 microgram of lubiprostone given twice daily is effective in 17% of patients with IBS-with-constipation, compared with a placebo’s effectiveness in 10% of patients. The scoring system for effectiveness included pain as a main symptom, so the apparently small response (in favor of lubiprostone) is indeed significant and relevant.

In another recent report, polyethylene glycol ( PEG ) 3350 (MiraLAX®) has been regarded as effective for treating chronic constipation, long-term. Over 300 patients with chronic constipation (average duration 23 years!) took 17 grams daily of PEG for 6 months. Successful treatment was reported for 52% of the PG-treated and 11% of the placebo patients. So now it’s time for a study of PEG in IBS-with-constipation, maybe.