How effective are antidepressants for IBS?
antidepressants are considered significantly effective in the treatment of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). When the patient uses antidepressants for IBS, he can usually expect to look forward to a significant reduction in the pain she feels from the condition, as well as other symptoms of IBS. For example, it may have less flatulence, diarrhea and constipation due to the use of these drugs. Antidepressants can also help reduce the nausea and the sense of urgency that a person with this condition can feel when it needs the movement of the intestine. The doctor may prescribe antidepressants for IBS as the only treatment or in combination with other types of IBS treatment.
Although it is known that antidepressants are effective in treating IBS symptoms, the doctor does not have to prescribe them in a slight case. Many doctors reserve this option to treat patients who have mild to strong IBS cases. The physician may be particularly likely to prescribe antidepressants for IBS if they also suffer from depression, although antidepressants are often used for patients who are notalso depressed.
The reason for the effectiveness of antidepressants for IBS is the way they work with the brain. Antidepressants work by disrupting the transmission of reports between the patient's gastrointestinal tract and its brain; They also help to send signals to the gastrointestinal tract that minimizes the pain IBS feels.
Some antidepressants also work to reduce the abnormal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and alleviate such symptoms such as constipation and diarrhea. They can also help reduce anxiety and depression, which may result in gastrointestinal symptoms. Some studies even indicate that antidepressants can help the return of the intestine to a normal nervous function, although this can happen gradually and through extended periods.
patient usually must transfer prescribed antidepressants initially for about four to six weeks to see how effectiveIt will be in its particular case. This is an approximate amount of time that usually takes for antidepressants to have a full effect on the symptoms of the patient's IBS. In many cases, doctors initially prescribe low doses of antidepressants for IBS and gradually increase the dose. This allows them to assess the effect of drugs on the patient's IBS, notice all side effects, and ensure that the patient gets a dose that meets its specific need.