What treatments can relieve IBS symptoms?

What treatments can relieve IBS symptoms?

Lin Chang (UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases) gives expert video advice on: Will my IBS symptoms get better?; Is there a cure for IBS?; What treatments can relieve IBS symptoms? and more...

There are various treatments that can relieve IBS symptoms. I think the challenge is that some treatments work for some patients, and other treatments work for other patients. We don't necessarily have a treatment that will work on all patients so you basically direct your therapy according to what the patient's predominant symptoms are. We have certain treatments for IBS with diarrhoea; certain treatments for IBS with constipation or treatments that are directed at decreasing pain. I think it is important for successful treatment to discuss the treatment options in that particular patient and for the patient and physician to decide together what is the best treatment for their patient because not every patient wants to take the same treatment. Some patients don't want to take medicines or they have tried certain medicines that you think may be good for them, but they feel that they have already tried it so they want to try something else. It is best to use scientific evidence and medical evidence of what treatments work for that particular patient's symptoms, but also to use your own experience as a physician or anecdotal experience and also the patient's thoughts and interests in a particular type of treatment because if they are motivated to take that treatment, they understand why it might help them, there's a greater chance of success.