IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

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What is IBS (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.

What is it like to have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)?

Common symptoms How bad it is What people are taking for it
Vitamin B Complex, Rest, Modafinil
Diphenoxylate and Atropine, Lactase, Loperamide
Polyethylene Glycol 3350, Docusate, Lactulose
Simethicone, Psyllium Husk, Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy)
Fluoxetine, Bupropion, Duloxetine
Zolpidem, Trazodone, Amitriptyline
Heating Pad-Hot Packs, Dicyclomine, Endometrial ablation
Clonazepam, Alprazolam, Lorazepam
Ibuprofen, Tramadol, Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen

What do patients take to treat IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and its symptoms?

Treatments reported by members Perceived effectiveness Overall rating of side effects # of Evaluations

(Bentyl)

23

(Wal-mucil, Standard Process Gastro Fiber, Visiblin, Plantago Ovata)

15

(Imodium, Maalox Anti-Diarrheal, Norimode, Imodium A-D)

15

(Buscapine, Buscocalm, Bipasmin N, Egazil)

11

(Buscopan, Spasmosan, Hyoscine butylbromide)

9

(GoLYTELY, TriLyte, Colyte)

8
6

(MiraLax, Laxido, Restoralax, Pegorion)

5

(Colofac, Mylan mebeverine, Bevispas)

5

(Digestive Advantage Daily Constipation Formula, Scdophilus 3, Florajen, Trunature Digestive Probiotics)

5
These charts show data from IBS patients’ latest treatment evaluations
Last updated:
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Who has IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 3,623 patients have this condition
  • 22 new patients joined this month
  • 530 say IBS is their primary condition
Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 36
20s 370
30s 781
40s 1,052
50s 882
60s 283
70+ 38

Gender

Distribution of females vs. males

90% Females
10% Males
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 742
20-29 years 648
30-39 years 513
40-49 years 267
50-59 years 110
60-69 years 6
70+ years 4
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 2,538
Not Diagnosed 309
These charts show data from IBS patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: