Treating Abdominal Pain from Irritable Bowel Syndrome

David — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 14:38:23 +0000

Pain is common, but you can do something about it.
Abdominal pain is a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). According to an August 2002 survey of 350 people with IBS by the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, more than a third (39%) describe their pain as “extreme” or “very severe.” In fact, pain is a serious quality of life issue, causing many patients with IBS to miss work, school, and social events. How can people with IBS better manage their abdominal pain?

Why Pain Happens
The abdominal pain experienced by people with IBS may be a result of intestinal contractions. The muscles in the colon contract to move stool along and out of the body.In a person with IBS, these muscles may be contracting irregularly and intermittently along the length of the colon. This may cause symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. Pain is most common after a meal and may last for several hours.
Finding the Source of Pain
Keeping a food diary can help in determining if certain foods are contributing to the symptom of abdominal pain. Recording everything eaten and including such details as where, when, and with who meals are taken can help find “triggers” for abdominal pain. Bringing the food diary to office visits with a physician or nutritionist for their analysis and advice can also be beneficial.
Treating Pain
Antispasmodics. Antispasmodics (such as dicyclomine [Bentyl], hyoscyamine [Levsin], and belladonna/phenobarbital [Donnatal]) are a class of drugs that are often prescribed to treat IBS symptoms. These drugs can relax the muscles of the stomach and intestines, and provide relief from abdominal pain. To be effective, antispasmodics are typically taken 30 to 60 minutes before a meal. However, they can also cause side effects such as blurred vision, constipation, decreased sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, and urinary problems.Peppermint oil. A natural antispasmodic, peppermint can also help reduce spasms in the colon. Peppermint oil can be taken in either capsules or tea. While the capsules are more effective, and have even been approved for use with people with IBS in Germany, they can cause anal irritation. Additionally, peppermint also relaxes the muscles in the esophagus and can contribute to heartburn caused by acid reflux.

Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline [Elavil], nortriptyline [Aventyl], imipramine [Tofranil]) are prescribed to people with IBS in order to treat abdominal pain. However, these agents are typically prescribed in much lower doses than they would be for treating depression. Antidepressants seem to be more helpful when taken at night for people with diarrhea predominant IBS (D-IBS). It may take several weeks of treatment with an antidepressant before it has an effect on abdominal pain.

Heating pad. A simple and inexpensive way of treating abdominal pain is with a home heating pad. Heat can help soothe cramping muscles and provide a source of comfort. Some tips to remember are:

Never use a sports cream product (such as Icy Hot or Ben-Gay) with a heating pad as it can cause severe burns.
Don’t fall asleep with the heating pad still on.
Never use a heating pad on bare skin.

Author: Amber J. Tresca

IBS Blog » ibs pain

Treating Abdominal Pain from Irritable Bowel Syndrome