Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms.

Lifestyle changes can help in some cases of IBS. For example, regular exercise and improved sleep habits may reduce anxiety and help relieve bowel symptoms.

Dietary changes can be helpful. However, no specific diet can be recommended for IBS, because the condition differs from one person to another.

The following changes may help:

• Avoid foods and drinks that stimulate the intestines (such as caffeine, tea, or colas)
• Avoid large meals
• Increase fiber in the diet (this may improve constipation but make bloating worse)

Talk with your doctor before taking over-the-counter medications.

No one medication will work for everyone. Medications your doctor might try include:

• Anticholinergic medications (dicyclomine, propantheline, belladonna, and hyoscyamine) taken about a half-hour before eating to control intestine muscle spasms
• Bisacodyl to treat constipation
• Loperamide to treat diarrhea
• Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants to help relieve intestinal pain
• Lubiprostone for constipation symptoms
• Rifaximin, an antibiotic

Therapy may help in cases of severe anxiety or depression.

Expectations (prognosis):

Irritable bowel syndrome may be a lifelong condition. For some people, symptoms are disabling and reduce the ability to work, travel, and attend social events.

Symptoms can often be improved or relieved through treatment.

IBS does not cause permanent harm to the intestines, and it does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or if you notice a change in your bowel habits that does not go away.