Initial Findings

• In order to develop a comprehensive listing of all medication used to treat IBS, the research team identified pre-compiled listings of IBS medications from medical media, hospitals, medical research and other credible sources.
• The Mayo Clinic currently reports twelve categories of medications used to treat IBS: fiber supplements (e.g., Metamucil), laxatives (e.g., Miralax), anti-diarrheal medications (e.g., Imodium), anticholinergic medications (e.g., Bentyl), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Tofranil), SSRI antidepressants (e.g., Prozac), pain medications (e.g., Lyrica), alosetron (lotronex), eluxadoline (viberzi), refaximini (xifaxan), bubiprostone (amitiza) and linaclotiede (linzess).
• WebMD highlights several other medications that have been shown to be effective in addressing IBS and its associated symptoms (e.g., bloating and abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea): probiotics, antispasmodics, bile acid sequestrants, Tenapanor (IBSRELA), Tegaserod, Plecanatide (Trulance) and Polyethylene glycol (PEG).
• Separately, WebMD recommends additional medications to treat IBS with diarrhea, including simethicone (Gas-X, Mylicon).
• Pharmacy Times published a listing of the newest IBS agents approved by the FDA, which adds lubisprostone to the inventories highlighted by the preceeding resources.
• Additionally, NIH recommends the use of coated peppermint oil capsules as an alternative medication to be used in conjunction with those discussed by other outlets.
• Separately, IBS Diets suggests several other medication options for both IBS-D and IBS-C, such as calcium supplements and ispaghula husk.
• Drugs.com provides perhaps the most comprehensive, single listing of specific medications used to treat IBS, with an inventory of 76 prescription, over the counter and off label drug suggestions.
• Meanwhile, the IBS medication inventories by other credible resources (e.g., Verywell Health, Medical News Today, Harvard Health Publishing) reiterate those stated by the previously listed resources, suggesting that combined reporting of the preceding outlets is comprehensive.