What is irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic noninflammatory disease characterized by abdominal pain, altered bowel habits consisting of diarrhea or constipation or both, and no detectable pathologic change in the intestinal tissue.

How do members experience irritable bowel syndrome?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with irritable bowel syndrome*

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Vitamin B Complex Rest Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Tramadol Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Ibuprofen
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Listen to Music Aromatherapy Massage Therapy
Common symptom
Stomach discomfort
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Omeprazole Dexlansoprazole Gastric bypass repair
Common symptom
Bowel irritability
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Probiotics Dicyclomine Colonoscopy

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for irritable bowel syndrome*

Treatment
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment

(Bentyl)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
732
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (11)
Treatment

(Imodium)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
1,041
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (4)
Treatment

(Questran)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
151
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (3)
Treatment

(Levsin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
391
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (2)
Treatment

(Generlac)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
269
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (1)

*Data from patients with irritable bowel syndrome, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with irritable bowel syndrome*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Bentyl)
Perceived effectiveness
for irritable bowel syndrome (6 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
6
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (11)
Treatment

(Imodium)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (4)
Treatment

(Questran)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (3)
Treatment

(Levsin)
Perceived effectiveness
for irritable bowel syndrome (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (2)
Treatment

(Generlac)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
irritable bowel syndrome (1)

*Data from patients with irritable bowel syndrome, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has irritable bowel syndrome on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 34
20s 375
30s 1,107
40s 1,766
50s 2,262
60s 2,094
70+ 1,204

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 1,179
Female 7,553