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IBS Treatments
Note: It is very important and
helpful if you can, to establish a good doctor patient relationship with your
doctor or doctors.
On this page you will find some of the current
treatments for IBS. However, this website is viewed in many countries and
medications and treatments are used for different reasons and conditions. I
cannot list all the medications and OTC's available, but I am including as many
of the most prescribed as possible. I am also including links for drug searches.
There can be and usually are different types of
symptoms in each individual, a person can have constipation, diarrhea, or both
symptoms alternating. Although there is usally a predominate symptom. A person
might also suffer from gas, mucous, cramps, and pain as well as incomplete
evacuation. These symptoms can and do very with each individual and their
makeups. The symptoms can range from just bothersome (mild), moderate to severe,
and a person can sometimes become close to disabled. Many people also find they
may have other conditions along with IBS. However, IBS can also cause many
symptoms do in part to the systems involved, one the ENS or brain gut and also
the brain and Central Nervous system.
Medication searches online:
Medications:
These are some common
prescription medications. Since IBS symptoms differ from individual to
individual, doctors prescribe different drugs depending on the person symptoms
and their medical history.
Some of these drugs are not targeted for IBS, but for other digestive problems.
A variety of anti-depressants
maybe prescribed as well for anxiety and stress and for their serotonin
regulation properties or effects on the gastrointestinal tract..
This Drug list from Jackson
Gastroenterology has a wealth of information.
Click Here
Over
The Counter Remedies:
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Caltrate
A special note about Caltrate, many people who suffer from diarrhea have found
some relief using Caltrate. |
Psychological and Complementary Treatments:
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Hypnotherapy
This approach has been well research and shown to be
effective in the majority of patients who do it. For me personally it
was the best approach I have ever taken in thirty years of IBS and I highly
recommend it. |
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CBT Has
also shown effective results. |
| Accupunture |
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Biofeedback |
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Meditation |
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Yoga |
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Tai Chi |
Barbara Bradley Bolen, Ph.D.
bbolen@optonline.net
September 5, 2002
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
FOR IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
There is an old saying that if you give a child a fish, you feed that child for
a day, but if you teach a child to fish, they are fed for a lifetime. In
accordance with this old proverb, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form
of psychotherapy that strives to actively teach people skills and strategies
that they can use to help themselves feel better. A considerable amount of
research indicates that CBT is effective in helping to reduce the symptoms of
Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Many people wonder how psychotherapy can help IBS if IBS is a physical disorder.
One of the major triggers that can set off or exacerbate IBS is stress. In
addition, IBS is a very stressful disorder to live with. CBT provides an
individual with tools for combating stress, reducing the anxiety response and
thus calming the GI system.
The cognitive therapy part of CBT helps individuals to identify, challenge and
replace unhealthy thought patterns. When we are thinking clearly, we are able to
deal with the world in a calm, rational manner. However, our thinking often gets
distorted, due to our personalities, our past history, our emotional state or
lack of information. When thinking gets distorted it can lead to excessive
emotional reactions. For an individual with IBS, these thought distortions may
lead to an anxiety response that can trigger symptoms. For example, if a person
with IBS thinks “My stomach is rumbling. Uh, oh! I know I am going to be sick.
What is I can’t make it to the bathroom? This is terrible!”, that person is
going to experience anxiety and perhaps set off the very symptoms they are
afraid of. If instead, the person thinks, “Just because my stomach is making
some noise does not necessarily mean I am going to have symptoms. I will just
focus on what I am doing and see what happens”, that person will remain calm and
be less likely to stimulate their digestive system.
The behavioral aspect of CBT involves skill training. Relaxation techniques,
including deep breathing skills and progressive muscle relaxation, help the
individual to reduce the physiological symptoms of anxiety. An anxiety reaction
can be likened to a home security alarm. Relaxation techniques send the message
to the body that there is no emergency and that the alarm can be shut off. CBT
for IBS may also include skill training in assertion and anger management, as
research has shown that IBS patients often have difficulty in these areas.
IBS can wreak havoc on a person’s quality of life. CBT helps IBS sufferers to
regain a sense of control over their life. With the skills gained in CBT, one no
longer needs to be a passive victim of this disruptive disorder, but can now
actively use strategies which are effective in reducing the frequency, intensity
and duration of IBS symptoms.
Barbara Bradley Bolen, Ph.D.
bbolen@optonline.net
Author of:
Breaking the Bonds of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
New Harbinger Publications (2000)
Massage and IBS
by T.J. Ford, B.S., L.M.T
Swedish massage is an excellent way to deal with the stresses that are caused by
having a chronic condition such as IBS. As the body remains in a stressed
condition over a long period of time, different chemicals can affect your
overall health and well-being. Massage therapy has been shown to increase
circulation of blood and nutrients, as well as "good" chemicals such as
serotonin. And what better way to de-stress than with a massage? Also, the pain
and discomfort that IBS can cause can result in the muscles of the body
tightening up against the pain. This results in more discomfort from those tense
muscles. Some muscles can get so tense that they cause pain in other areas of
the body; specialized techniques such as trigger point therapy can help deal
with those painful areas. Finally, Swedish massage strokes applied to the
abdomen can help with constipation and irregular bowel function, by increasing
circulation and nutrition to the digestive organs and helping to relax tight
abdominal muscles.
Craniosacral therapy and IBS
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle yet profound type of massage that helps to
balance the body's central nervous system. The fluid that bathes our brain and
spinal cord, called cerebrospinal fluid, must be able to move freely within the
body. However, restrictions in the body caused by pain, injuries, or stress can
affect this flow, and in turn can affect the whole body. Specifically in the
case of IBS, a particular nerve called the vagus nerve runs from the base of the
brain down to the gut region. It may be that pressure on this nerve from some of
these craniosacral restrictions may be a factor in IBS. Research has shown
craniosacral therapy to be effective in treating colic in young children. The
massage is done with the client fully clothed and lying on their back, and takes
about an hour. Many people report a sense of deep relaxation during the
treatment. Often significant relief can be felt after the first session, but
many people wish to continue treatments until they reach their optimal level of
health.
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