Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 10-20% of the entire population. It is the number one disease seen and diagnosed by primary care physicians and gastroenterologists. This multi-faceted disorder may also be defined as spastic colon, and is extremely hard to diagnose.
However, getting an accurate diagnosis has proven even harder in today's clinical settings, as many individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) often feel embarrassed and shy away from conventional physician assessments. As well, IBS is a functional disorder and does not manifest as inflammation, infection, or bleeding from the rectum, like the more serious Irritable Bowel Diseases (IBD).
Whether you have yet to visit your doctor for evaluation, or have been previously diagnosed, several treatment options, including natural supplementation, are available. A large number of individuals suffering from IBS are more likely to use over-the-counter medications to control the pain and discomfort of this condition. A practice that may prove detrimental to health if used consistently over an extended period of time. Moreover, the efficacy of current medicines prescribed for the symptom management of IBS is sporadic at best, because a measurement of disease severity is lacking.
However, one thing remains certain; particular foods, dairy products, dietary fats, and meats have all been shown to aggravate IBS. So much so, that persons with the disorder usually avoid foods that aggravate the condition, but contain the much-needed nutrients for disease support. In fact, dietary concerns account for nearly 60% of the questions asked to doctors regarding treatment of IBS.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Technically, IBS is a syndrome rather than disease, due to the fact that it exists as a group of symptoms rather than just one major influence. The top scientists in the world classify this condition as a diffuse (spread about the GI tract) process. However, the standard and most accepted definition of IBS remains within the arena of functional bowel disorders. IBS is characterized by abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, and abnormal contractions of intestinal muscles; being either faster or slower than normal.
There are two forms of IBS:
- Spastic colon is marked by post-meal diarrhea, constipation, or both, as well as pain.
- Painless diarrhea IBS involves the abrupt onset of diarrhea either during or after eating. It may also occur immediately upon waking.
What Causes IBS?
Despite advancements in research, the underlying cause of Irritable Bowel remains unknown. IBS prevalence in Western societies has lead many scientists to speculate that certain environmental, dietary, and cultural factors may be to blame. Yet others look to psychological causes, such as stress, as the primary mechanism for IBS. In addition, research has indicated that socially stressful situations may indeed play a role in the symptom incidence. However, stress's link to Irritable Bowel's underlying cause remains undefined. IBS has even been shown to occur after episodes of enteritis. Although all of these theories are promising, again, no clear cause has been established.
Think Twice Before Taking A Prescription For IBS!!
#1) Zelnorm (for IBS with constipation)
You may have heard about a prescription drug called Zelnorm. It is designed ONLY for people suffering from IBS with constipation and produced by the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, and you've probably seen many television commercials touting its benefits (they're the ones featuring attractive people with words written on their stomachs). What Novartis won't tell you unless you read the small print�there are so many questions about the benefits of this drug versus the risks that the the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) decided in March 2006 not to recommend Zelnorm for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
That's the European equivalent of being denied FDA approval.
Why?
Perhaps the CHMP read this information in Zelnorm's own prescribing information for physicians, taken from the FDA website (definitions in italics):
"Serious consequences of diarrhea, including hypovolemia (low blood volume), hypotension (lowered blood pressure), and syncope (lightheadedness or fainting) have been reported in the clinical studies and during marketed use of Zelnorm. In some cases, these complications have required hospitalization for rehydration... Ischemic colitis (decreased blood flow to the colon, which causes high fever, pain, bloody diarrhea, and sometimes toxic shock) and other forms of intestinal ischemia have been reported in patients receiving Zelnorm during marketed use of the drug (see ADVERSE REACTIONS: Post-Marketing Experience). A causal relationship between Zelnorm use and these events has not been established."
That's some serious stuff. Is it worth the risk? The CHMP doesn't think so.
#2) Lotronex (for IBS with extremely severe diarrhea)
This product has the potential for such severe side effects each patient is required to sign a statement that they understand the potential risks involved.
Here's the quote from the Lotronex Product Guide, again on the FDA website:
"Because of serious bowel side effects, including some deaths, seen with use of this drug, LOTRONEX is only for women who have very bad irritable bowel syndrome and whose main problem is diarrhea (diarrhea-predominant IBS). To decide if you want to use LOTRONEX, you need to know about possible side effects of LOTRONEX and how LOTRONEX may help your IBS. Very few patients have diarrhea-predominant IBS that is bad enough to consider using LOTRONEX."
Some DEATHS? What???
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