Over 18% of the worlds population, more so with the urban life style
, suffer from IBS. It is a growing ailment that doctors are diagnosing at great speed; however as of now there are no cures for it. The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown. So to get any relief, ibs treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms in order to live a normal life.
Over The Counter ibs treatments:
The first types of treatments will generally be over the counter items. Most people tend to have mild IBS symptoms. For mild irritable bowel syndrome prescribed IBS medication is generally not considered helpful. Rather the over the counter ibs treatment may include these:
* Anti-Diarrhea Medication These over the counter drugs target the diarrhea aspect. They are already well known for controlling diarrhea which may not be associated with IBS. They can be a Loperamide in the form of drugs.
* Fiber supplements One of the simplest irritable bowel syndrome treatments is adding the right amount of fiber to your diet. Doctors will often recommend a fiber supplement containing psyllium. They may also recommend one which contains methylcellulose. The right amount of dietary fiber is critical for relieving the irritable bowel syndrome symptom of constipation.
Prescription Medications:
In many cases doctors will opt for prescribing sufferers of IBS various medications to provide relief of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Some of these medicines may even work in a similar fashion to over the counter medication and fiber supplements. Generally the prescribed IBS medication will target different causes. They can be the following:
* Antidepressant Medicine If it is determined that the onset of irritable bowel syndrome may be derived from depression, very often your doctor will prescribe an antidepressant drug. They may include a tricyclic antidepressant which helps with the ibs treatment of diarrhea and abdominal pain.
* Anticholinergic Medicine If it is determined that your IBS symptoms are from problems associated with your nervous system then anticholinergic drugs are prescribed. These drugs are used to regulate the activities of the nervous system and provide reduction and relief from spasms and pain in the bowels.
Probiotics:
More and more research shows that probiotics can greatly help reduce IBS symptoms. The most important thing of course is to make sure that you choose a high quality probiotic to take. When recommending a probiotic, doctors make sure it does not contain any harmful additives or chemicals, as well as make sure it does not contain any common food allergens.