5 medications that can help you control IBS

People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often have a hard time finding relief. Here are some standard drugs that you can talk to your doctor about taking to help you control the symptoms of IBS.

• Even if you aren't depressed, antidepressants can block pain signals travelling between your intestines and your brain.
• Antidepressants can even help your bowel movements become more normal.
• In one study, people with IBS who took citalopram reported that abdominal pain and bloating improved significantly in just a few days.
• Expect pain and cramp relief with any antidepressant. Constipation seems to improve more with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
• Diarrhea seems to ease more with tricyclic antidepressants.

• Good to help with pain and cramping, these medications include hyoscine and dicyclomine.
• They work by relaxing the walls of the intestines.
• You may have to try several to find one that's best for you.

• The over-the-counter diarrhea medication loperamide works for many people.
• For severe diarrhea, talk to your doctor about which prescription drugs are available.

• For constipation, plain old milk of magnesia is often effective. If it doesn't help, see your doctor.
• If your constipation is severe, your doctor may suggest medications containing polyethylene glycol.

• This minty remedy relaxes muscles in your gastrointestinal tract.
• In one study of 57 people with IBS, 75 percent of those who took peppermint-oil capsules saw symptoms improve by 50 percent or more after four weeks, compared to 38 percent who took a placebo.
• Use enteric-coated capsules so the oil is released in your intestines, not your stomach.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a frustrating mystery. Experts say that this digestive problem's symptoms seem to result from bowels that move too quickly or too slowly. But with the right medication, always taken after you talk to your doctor, you could experience relief.