More treatment types for IBS
Treating constipation
Constipation is sometimes a main symptom of IBS. If so, it often helps to eat foods with plenty of fibre, and to drink plenty (two litres of fluids per day or more - to keep the stools moist). Fibre (roughage) is the part of the food which is not absorbed into the body. It remains in your gut, and is a main part of the stools. You can eat plenty of fibre by eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, cereals, fruit juice, wholemeal bread, etc.
If increasing 'fibre and fluids' does not ease constipation then bulk-forming laxatives (sometimes called fibre supplements) can help. These increase the 'bulk' of your faeces and are not 'medicines' as such. Unprocessed bran is the cheapest. You can sprinkle bran on breakfast cereals, or mix it with fruit juices, stews, soups, yoghurts, crumbles, scones, etc. Alternatives are ispaghula husk, methylcellulose and sterculia. You can buy these from pharmacies and health food shops, or get them on prescription. Their full effect may take some days to develop.
A note of caution: fibre and bulk-forming laxatives partly work by absorbing water (a bit like blotting paper). The combination of plenty of fibre or bulk-forming laxatives and fluid produces soft, bulky stools which should be easy to pass out when you go to the toilet. When you eat a high fibre diet, or take bulk-forming laxatives, you should drink plenty. At least two litres per day (8-10 cups). The faeces may become dry and difficult to pass out if you do not have enough to drink. Very rarely, lots of fibre or bulk-forming laxatives and not enough fluid causes an obstruction in the gut.
Note: fibre or bulk-forming laxatives do not usually help with other symptoms of IBS such as pain or bloating. Also, in some people with IBS, especially those with diarrhoea, extra fibre or bulk-forming laxatives makes symptoms worse (particularly bloating). So, it may not be such a good idea to increase fibre or take bulk-forming laxatives if you are not constipated.
Sometimes other types of laxatives are advised for short periods if the measures above are not enough to ease a troublesome bout of constipation.
Treating diarrhoea
An anti-diarrhoea medicine may be useful if diarrhoea is a main symptom. Loperamide is the most commonly used anti-diarrhoea medicine for IBS. You can buy this at pharmacies (but it is quite expensive). You can also get it on prescription which may be more cost effective if you need to take it regularly.
The dose of loperamide needed to control diarrhoea varies considerably. Many people use loperamide 'as required' but some take it regularly. Many people learn to take a dose of loperamide in advance when they feel diarrhoea is likely to be a problem. For example, before going out to places where they know it may be difficult to find a toilet.
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mrs tina coldwell, over 2 years
i was taken in to hospital 2 weeks ago with cramps and diarrhoea i had a scan and a camera put down my throat then sent home. they told me my stomach was inflamed and there was pus i was told it could be gastroenteritis. i went to see my docoter when i got home and was told that it could be ibs. after reading your site i think its more than possibly ibs. as this has been going on for some time and different food trigger it of.
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