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.

Common symptoms reported by people with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Vitamin B Complex, Rest, Modafinil
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Polyethylene Glycol 3350, Docusate, Lactulose
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Diphenoxylate and Atropine, Lactase, Loperamide
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Trazodone, Zolpidem, Amitriptyline
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Gluten Free Diet, Simethicone, Psyllium Husk
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Dicyclomine, Endometrial ablation, Hyoscyamine
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Citalopram, Bupropion, Duloxetine
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Alprazolam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Tramadol, Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen
Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, insomnia, fatigue, and pain) regardless of condition.
Last updated:

Treatments taken by people with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

You’ve tried
Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Conzip, Dolol, Dolzam) 23 more
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
116
Tried for
Pain (115) Anxious mood (1)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Amineurin, Amitriptyline Troche, Anapsique) 10 more
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
104
Tried for
Insomnia (77) Pain (67)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta, Cymgen, Yelate) 1 more
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
77
Tried for
Depressed mood (68) Anxious mood (8)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Anexsia, Lorcet 10/650, Lorcet Plus) 13 more
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
76
Tried for
Pain (75) Anxious mood (1)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Bentyl)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
73
Tried for
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (72) Diarrhea (2)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(APO-Gabapentin, DOM-Gabapentin, Epleptin) 7 more
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
72
Tried for
Pain (69) Anxious mood (2)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Imodium, Imodium A-D, Maalox Anti-Diarrheal) 1 more
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
62
Tried for
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (61) Diarrhea (6)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(APO Clonazepam, Clonex, Clonotril) 7 more
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
49
Tried for
Anxious mood (41) Insomnia (7)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica, Maxgalin, Provelyn)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
48
Tried for
Pain (47) Abdominal bloating (1)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Apo-Trazodone, Deprax, Desyrel) 8 more
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
47
Tried for
Insomnia (44) Depressed mood (3)
2 more
Data from patients with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:
You’ve tried this treatment.

Compare treatments taken by people with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

You’ve tried
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
How many evaluations
Tried for
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Conzip, Dolol, Dolzam) 23 more
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (49 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation Drowsiness 31 more
How many evaluations
51
Tried for
Pain (115) Anxious mood (1)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Amineurin, Amitriptyline Troche, Anapsique) 10 more
Perceived effectiveness
for Insomnia (50 evaluations)
Side effects
Dry mouth Weight gain 33 more
How many evaluations
64
Tried for
Insomnia (77) Pain (67)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta, Cymgen, Yelate) 1 more
Perceived effectiveness
for Depressed mood (37 evaluations)
Side effects
Drowsiness Weight gain 45 more
How many evaluations
64
Tried for
Depressed mood (68) Anxious mood (8)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Anexsia, Lorcet 10/650, Lorcet Plus) 13 more
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (50 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation Nausea and vomiting 24 more
How many evaluations
50
Tried for
Pain (75) Anxious mood (1)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Bentyl)
Perceived effectiveness
for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (21 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation Nausea 13 more
How many evaluations
27
Tried for
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (72) Diarrhea (2)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(APO-Gabapentin, DOM-Gabapentin, Epleptin) 7 more
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (41 evaluations)
Side effects
Dizziness Drowsiness 27 more
How many evaluations
46
Tried for
Pain (69) Anxious mood (2)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Imodium, Imodium A-D, Maalox Anti-Diarrheal) 1 more
Perceived effectiveness
for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (12 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation Diarrhea
How many evaluations
12
Tried for
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (61) Diarrhea (6)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(APO Clonazepam, Clonex, Clonotril) 7 more
Perceived effectiveness
for Anxious mood (33 evaluations)
Side effects
Drowsiness Sleepiness 10 more
How many evaluations
35
Tried for
Anxious mood (41) Insomnia (7)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica, Maxgalin, Provelyn)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (21 evaluations)
Side effects
Weight gain Dizziness 29 more
How many evaluations
28
Tried for
Pain (47) Abdominal bloating (1)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Apo-Trazodone, Deprax, Desyrel) 8 more
Perceived effectiveness
for Insomnia (18 evaluations)
Side effects
Dry mouth Excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) 5 more
How many evaluations
18
Tried for
Insomnia (44) Depressed mood (3)
2 more
Data from patients with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:
You’ve tried this treatment.
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Who has IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) on PatientsLikeMe?

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 48
20s 400
30s 870
40s 1,216
50s 1,063
60s 420
70+ 58

Gender

Distribution of females vs. males

90% Females
10% Males
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 898
20-29 years 747
30-39 years 586
40-49 years 315
50-59 years 131
60-69 years 13
70+ years 5
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 2,993
Not Diagnosed 355
These charts show data from IBS patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: