Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, including details on treatment, symptoms, digestion, nutrition, diet, drugs.

Gastrointestinal pharmacology: irritable bowel syndrome.

Bueno L

Neurogastroenterology Unit INRA, 180 Chemin de Tournefeuille-BP3, 31931 Toulouse, France. lbueno@toulouse.inra.fr

Over the past 30 years, the main treatment of irritable bowel syndrome has aimed to normalize gastrointestinal transit using either laxatives or antidiarrheal agents, with or without the concurrent use of spasmolytics. The recent introduction of serotonin-related drugs has stimulated investigations into the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome, including an evaluation of visceral sensitivity. At the same time, more information has been acquired on the status of the local immune system as a possible cause for sensitization of nerve terminals. Such investigations have stimulated the emergence of new concepts and original candidate drugs for the treatment of this functional disorder. Particular attention is devoted to the correction of visceral hyperalgesia.

Published 31 October 2005 in Curr Opin Pharmacol, 5(6): 583-8.
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