Being told you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is never a pleasant experience. One option that's open to you is having a conversation with your personal physician about trying irritable bowel medication. Which medicine is prescribed will be based on which symptoms are the most pronounced. The reason this is done is to get the major symptoms under control so you can get back into a daily routine without letting IBS get in the way of it.
For example, if your main problem is diarrhea, then chances are good that your doctor will prescribe an antidiarrheal, such as Lomotil, or even recommend an over the counter solution for your irritable bowel medication. Both medicines alleviate the contractions in the lower intestinal tract. However, your doctor may also advise you to make several changes to your lifestyle recommendations; including dietary suggestions. In fact, if you follow the lifestyle recommendations, you may hardly need any medication at all.
If you are woman and have diarrhea due to IBS, and you don't respond well to the other medications, then your doctor may put you on Alosetron. Other medications work differently, and may be tried as well. Bile acid binders change how the body handles the bile excreted from the gall bladder. Either way, all of the medications work to decrease the diarrhea.
Of course diarrhea isn't the only major symptom associated with IBS. Constipation may be another reason why irritable bowel medication is prescribed. It makes sense that you would need entirely different medicines to treat constipation or diarrhea. People often find relief with over the counter remedies including laxatives, stool softeners and fiber supplements. If those products don't work, then by all means check with your doctor for potential relief from a prescription.
The big problem with IBS is that there is no one single symptom, and it is still not fully understood. There could be any number of reasons for why a person suffers from it, and if the underlying cause can be treated, then the IBS should subside as well.
However, the way it usually happens is that it's the symptoms that get treated, and the actual problem may be left untreated. This can be a real issue for two reasons. First, it can take some trial and error to find the right irritable bowel medication. Second, because the root of the problem is never treated, it could result in staying on the medication for the rest of your life.
Of course these things are a small price to pay if it means you can get the relief you need. Just thought of getting through a single day is enough to keep trying. Yes, it may take some guesswork and a bit of time to find the best irritable bowel medication, but it will be more than worth it once you start feeling better.
