Comprehensive IBS Treatment Options: From Medications to Lifestyle Changes

If you are suffering from IBS, you may experience difficulty in your professional life due to the uncertainty of your bowel habits. Also, you may be unable to participate in daily activities. Sometimes, you may have to make changes to your work schedule too.

Only a small number of people with IBS have severe symptoms. Others can control their symptoms with diet and lifestyle changes and stress management. We can treat severe symptoms with medication and counselling. IBS does not cause changes in the intestinal tissue.

Are you curious to know if you might have IBS? Find out here: Do I Have IBS? 

What Is IBS and Why Does It Happen?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of intestinal symptoms that can include abdominal cramping, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, and gas. It’s a common health condition, but it causes severe discomfort and disturbs one’s daily routine.

Causes 

The causes of IBS are related to problems in how your gut and brain coordinate to ensure that your digestive system functions properly. However, researchers have not yet detected the exact cause of IBS. However, some factors might cause IBS. Those factors include -

• Stress During Early Life: Stressful events, especially in childhood, tend to cause more symptoms of IBS in the adult stage of life.
• Severe Infection: Severe diarrhoea caused by bacteria or a virus can cause IBS in later stages. IBS also might be associated with increased bacterial flora in the intestines, also known as bacterial overgrowth.
• Food Sensitivity: Sensitivities or allergies caused by consuming certain foods can cause IBS.
• Changes in Gut Microbiota: Changes in gut microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, which live in the intestines and are important for gut health and overall health. According to research, microbes present in the gut of IBS patients might differ from those in people who don’t have IBS.
• Nervous System: Nerve issues in the digestive system cause discomfort in the abdomen, stretching from gas or stool. Improper coordination between the brain and the intestines can cause the body to overreact to changes in the digestive process, leading to pain, diarrhoea, or constipation.
• Intestinal Muscle Movements: Stronger and longer-lasting intestinal muscle contractions can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhoea. Weak contractions can slow down the passage of food and lead to hard, dry stools.

Triggers

Certain things can trigger IBS symptoms. Though the triggering factors don’t cause the condition itself, they can worsen your IBS symptoms. These are the common triggers:

• Menstrual cycle: Symptoms of IBS may worsen during your menstrual cycle.
• Certain foods: Food triggers differ in individuals. Some common foods that can trigger your IBS symptoms are dairy products, foods that contain gluten (like wheat), and foods and drinks that can cause gas.
• Physical and mental stress: Whenever there is a disturbance in the balance of mind, body, and brain, stress occurs. According to some research, IBS manifests as your gut’s response to stress.

Types of IBS

People with IBS have normal bowel movements on some days and abnormal bowel movements on others. So, IBS is classified based on the consistency of your stools on days when your symptoms are worse. Based on this, there are three types of IBS:

• IBS with constipation (IBS-C).
• IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D).
• Mixed IBS (IBS-M) - alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhoea.

There is also unsubtyped IBS (IBS-U) for people who don’t fit into any of the above three types.

Ayurveda Perspective of IBS

In Ayurveda, a condition called ‘Grahani’ is mentioned, which can be correlated to IBS. The word ‘Grahani’ is given because this condition is related to the organ called ‘Grahani’ (small intestine or specifically duodenum), the function of which is said to be ‘ghana’ or retaining power. In Grahani disease, the power of absorption and retention is altered, and the bowel loses its capacity to hold contents for a stipulated period of time.

Ayurveda treatment of Grahani or IBS mainly concentrates on increasing the digestion strength and absorption capacity of the intestines. This is achieved by administering single herbs or herbal formulations and panchakarma detoxification therapies, especially Basti or medicated enema therapy. Some external therapies, like Shirodhara (the process of pouring medicated liquids over the forehead for a stipulated period of time), are also used.

Some important herbs useful in the treatment of IBS are Pomegranate, Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), Chavya (Piper chaba), Lajjalu (Mimosa pudica), Shalmali (Salmalia malabarica) and Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa).

• A wholesome diet for IBS: Easy-to-digest food, regular intake of buttermilk, pomegranate, cumin, green gram, honey, Bael fruit, and pigeon pea.
• Unwholesome diet: Acidic beverages, alcohol, curd

Read more on Ayurvedic Solutions for IBS: Take Control of Your Gut Health.

Medications for IBS

When you consider medications for IBS, there are over-the-counter medicines and prescription medications.

Over-the-Counter Options

IBS symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain are manageable with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Over-the-counter medicines, along with home remedies, help manage symptoms. 

• In IBS type D, Loperamide and Bismuth Subsalicylate help slow down intestinal movement to reduce diarrhoea. They can help slow diarrhoea but won’t help with other symptoms like abdominal pain or swelling.
• Fiber supplements are beneficial in IBS type C. They add bulk to stools and regulate bowel movements. Psyllium and Methylcellulose are commonly used fibre supplements.
• Some OTC medicines, such as simethicone, are good for gas relief and considered generally safe. They also help relax muscles and reduce abdominal pain. However, some antacids, especially those with magnesium, can cause diarrhoea.

However, you should not take any OTC medicine for the long term without consulting your doctor because other serious conditions can also cause IBS symptoms. 

Prescription Medication

For some people, these might not be sufficient to manage the symptoms effectively. So, such people may require prescription medication. In such cases, you can contact your doctor to get a prescription for some specific medicines. 

• Your doctor can advise you on different prescription medicines to help with your IBS.
• Doctors may prescribe antidepressants, which can help with abdominal pain. In lower doses, they can help block pain signals to the brain. Even though they are antidepressants, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are depressed. Example: amitriptyline.
• If you have depression, your doctor may recommend another type of antidepressant called an SSRI. Example: Fluoxetine.
• Doctors may also prescribe nonabsorbable antibiotics such as rifaximin if these medicines don’t work.
• Antispasmodics, such as dicyclomine, help in relaxing muscles and reduce abdominal pain and cramping.
• Alosetron can relieve stomach pain and diarrhoea. It works by blocking messages from the gut to the brain. But its side effects can be serious.

Dietary Adjustments for IBS Management

The role of diet in the management of irritable bowel syndrome is significant. For some people, dietary changes can help ease symptoms. These include eating smaller meals and avoiding foods that trigger symptoms. 

• Changing your diet, which includes eating smaller amounts of food and avoiding foods that aggravate or trigger symptoms, can help manage symptoms.
• A low-FODMAP diet is good for IBS. FODMAP is a type of carbohydrate found in certain foods. Some studies have shown that FODMAPs contribute to some common digestive problems.
  Foods with low-FODMAP: Eggs and meat; certain cheeses such as brie, Camembert, cheddar and feta, almond milk; grains like rice, quinoa and oats; vegetables like eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini; fruits such as grapes; oranges, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple.
• You should not consume carbonated and alcoholic beverages or certain foods that may lead to increased gas.
• Avoid gluten-containing foods such as wheat, barley and rye. These may worsen your diarrhoea.
• Avoid alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffeine, chocolate, fried foods, the artificial sweetener sorbitol, and fructose. These can trigger your diarrhoea symptoms.
• Drink plenty of water every day. Try having a glass an hour before or an hour after meals instead of while you eat. Drinking water with food may make the food move through your system faster.
• Limit intake of fibre if you have diarrhoea. Avoid foods rich in fibre such as barley, oat bran, the flesh of the fruit (as opposed to the skin), and navy, pinto, and lima beans.

Lifestyle Changes to Support IBS Relief

Lifestyle has a significant role in managing IBS. Following a balanced lifestyle can help in reducing your IBS symptoms.

• Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet and avoiding foods that aggravate your symptoms can help improve your digestive health.
• You should drink plenty of fluids. Drinking the right amount of water can help ease the functioning of your digestive system and can also help relieve constipation.
• Physical exercise can also help reduce IBS symptoms. Being physically active will improve your bowel movements.
• Stress management for IBS care is very important. Mental stress or anxiety can make your IBS symptoms worse, so make sure you manage your stress properly.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can irritate your digestive system and worsen its health.
• It is essential for you to get enough sleep to keep your gut health in good shape. For this, sleeping for 7 to 9 hours a day is very important.

Read more on Guide to Effective Weight Management Strategies for IBS

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

When you consider different IBS treatment options, you can also rely upon complementary and alternative therapies for the management of IBS. Improvement of IBS symptoms happens through several stress-reduction techniques by psychologists or other medical professionals.

• Use of probiotics and prebiotics - As more and more reports emerge about the important role that microorganisms living in the human body play in health, there is growing hope for probiotic and prebiotic treatments for gastrointestinal diseases. So, prebiotics and probiotics for IBS are also good options.
• Psychotherapy - In many of the cases, IBS symptoms and anxiety or stress are related. Cognitive behavioural therapy caused considerable improvements in symptom severity. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps reframe negative thoughts into more positive ones, improving some people’s symptoms and quality of life. 
• Meditation - Different meditation techniques help reduce nervous system activity and relax muscles. 
• Yoga - Some asanas (postures) improve body and mind balance and are valuable to some IBS sufferers. Yoga can also act as a self-relaxation technique like meditation.
• Acupuncture - It can be a complementary and alternative therapy which can improve gut motility, help in reducing stress and anxiety and relax muscles
• Herbal remedies - Herbal remedies promote digestive health. Herbal remedies are beneficial in reducing symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating and gas.

When to See a Doctor

You should consult your doctor if you have severe or persistent symptoms lasting longer than a few days. If you experience a sudden onset of symptoms, such as a sudden change in bowel habits or gastrointestinal symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Such gastrointestinal symptoms include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting that is not improving even after trying home remedies, alternative therapies or over-the-counter medications. Because symptoms might be caused by some other conditions that are more serious than IBS.

My Nirva journey has been great. The main reason that I joined Nirva was my bad gut health, and I was very insecure about my bloating on a daily basis, but even after a week, I’ve seen results with a good healthy diet and daily yoga.

Wrapping Up

IBS-D is a complex health condition whose symptoms are uncomfortable and can interfere with your daily life. Even though IBS has no complete cure, we can manage its symptoms well.

You can improve your symptoms by changing your diet and lifestyle and establishing good daily habits. But if you don’t see results after trying lifestyle changes, alternative therapies, and OTC medications, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

Each treatment may not be effective for everyone. So, it takes time and patience to find the right treatment for you and which medications work best for you.

You can contact Nirva for a proper diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and dietary advice. Based on your symptoms, Nirva offers customized treatment plans that can give you the best results. So contact Nirva today to take charge of your health.