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Suggest Over The Counter Medication For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Posted on Thu, 1 Jun 2017
Question: Hello. Is there an over the counter medication to control irritable bowl syndrome? A friend mentioned Metemucil. My spelling may be incorrect.

I do have lower back issues and have had several epidurals without any lasting success.
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Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Management of IBS detailed below

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic,

Irritable Bowel syndrome (IBS) can be managed mainly by lifestyle and diet changes:

-Try relaxing, avoid stress. Exercise, music, meditation etc can all help deal with stress.

-Avoid trigger foods. Fat rich diet, spicy food, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners are some common triggers for IBS. Using reduced fat milk products have shown to help. Try identifying specific foods that trigger your symptoms and avoid those.

-Include probiotic rich food like yogurt in your diet.

-Eating high-fiber diet can also help. Fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, XXXXXXX are all fiber rich foods. However, introduce fiber slowly into your diet as too much fiber too soon can trigger diarrhea.

-Metamucil, which you've mentioned in your query, is a fiber supplement. Metamucil can help with IBS symptoms. Make sure to drink plenty of water along with Metamucil to avoid gas and bloating.

-If your IBS is diarrhea predominant medications like Buscopan(antispasmodic) and Imodium can be used as needed

Medications are also available for treatment of IBS.
Alosetron can be used for IBS diarrhea prominent
Linaclotide can be used for IBS constipation prominent
Antidepressants have also shown to help relieve symptoms of IBS

Please be advised to follow the lifestyle changes in the first place as detailed above. If symptoms still persist, follow up with your primary care provider to see if medications for IBS is right for you

Hope this answers your question
Please feel free to address further questions here

Regards,
Dr.Lekshmi

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3808 Questions

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Suggest Over The Counter Medication For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Brief Answer: Management of IBS detailed below Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic, Irritable Bowel syndrome (IBS) can be managed mainly by lifestyle and diet changes: -Try relaxing, avoid stress. Exercise, music, meditation etc can all help deal with stress. -Avoid trigger foods. Fat rich diet, spicy food, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners are some common triggers for IBS. Using reduced fat milk products have shown to help. Try identifying specific foods that trigger your symptoms and avoid those. -Include probiotic rich food like yogurt in your diet. -Eating high-fiber diet can also help. Fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, XXXXXXX are all fiber rich foods. However, introduce fiber slowly into your diet as too much fiber too soon can trigger diarrhea. -Metamucil, which you've mentioned in your query, is a fiber supplement. Metamucil can help with IBS symptoms. Make sure to drink plenty of water along with Metamucil to avoid gas and bloating. -If your IBS is diarrhea predominant medications like Buscopan(antispasmodic) and Imodium can be used as needed Medications are also available for treatment of IBS. Alosetron can be used for IBS diarrhea prominent Linaclotide can be used for IBS constipation prominent Antidepressants have also shown to help relieve symptoms of IBS Please be advised to follow the lifestyle changes in the first place as detailed above. If symptoms still persist, follow up with your primary care provider to see if medications for IBS is right for you Hope this answers your question Please feel free to address further questions here Regards, Dr.Lekshmi