Symptom Finder - Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
1. Look for gastrointestinal diseases which may masquerade as this syndrome such as, giardiasis, amebiasis, neoplasm, lactose intolerance, and malabsorption syndrome. Avoid caffeinated products, milk, and milk products.
2. High fiber dietary supplements such as psyllium (Metamucil): 1 teaspoon bid–tid in a glass of water.
3. Add an antispasmodic such as, dicyclomine (Bentyl) 10–20 mg qid or Imipramine (Tofranil) 10–25 mg tid.
4. Treat patients with chronic anxiety neurosis with an SSRI such as, fluoxetine (Prozac) 10–40 mg daily or refer them to a psychiatrist.
5. Try an elimination diet restricting one type of food at a time. Alternatively, begin with a clear liquid diet and add solid items one at a time over a period of several weeks. Baby foods may be added one at a time instead. Refer to a gastroenterologist if all these measures fail.
1. Look for gastrointestinal diseases which may masquerade as this syndrome such as, giardiasis, amebiasis, neoplasm, lactose intolerance, and malabsorption syndrome. Avoid caffeinated products, milk, and milk products.
2. High fiber dietary supplements such as psyllium (Metamucil): 1 teaspoon bid–tid in a glass of water.
3. Add an antispasmodic such as, dicyclomine (Bentyl) 10–20 mg qid or Imipramine (Tofranil) 10–25 mg tid.
4. Treat patients with chronic anxiety neurosis with an SSRI such as, fluoxetine (Prozac) 10–40 mg daily or refer them to a psychiatrist.
5. Try an elimination diet restricting one type of food at a time. Alternatively, begin with a clear liquid diet and add solid items one at a time over a period of several weeks. Baby foods may be added one at a time instead. Refer to a gastroenterologist if all these measures fail.
