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, Modafinil, Rest
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
Simethicone, Gluten Free Diet, Psyllium Husk
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
Endometrial ablation, Mebeverine, Hysterectomy
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Diphenoxylate and Atropine, Dicyclomine, Loperamide
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Duloxetine
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Tramadol, Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Gabapentin
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Lorazepam, Clonazepam, Alprazolam
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)

(Elavil)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
90
Tried for
Insomnia (67) Pain (61)
4 more
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Treatment name(s)

(Ultram)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
86
Tried for
Pain (85) Anxious mood (1)
1 more
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Treatment name(s)

(Bentyl)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
77
Tried for
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (77) Diarrhea (4)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
70
Tried for
Pain (65) Fatigue (2)
4 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
65
Tried for
Depressed mood (57) Pain (7)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Vicodin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
52
Tried for
Pain (51) Anxious mood (1)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Imodium)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
48
Tried for
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (47) Diarrhea (9)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Desyrel)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
47
Tried for
Insomnia (45) Depressed mood (2)
2 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
46
Tried for
Anxious mood (42) Insomnia (5)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Xanax)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
41
Tried for
Anxious mood (41) Depressed mood (1)
1 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)

(Elavil)
Perceived effectiveness
for Insomnia (61 evaluations)
Side effects
Dry mouth Sleepiness 34 more
How many evaluations
80
Tried for
Insomnia (67) Pain (61)
4 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Ultram)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (40 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation Drowsiness 23 more
How many evaluations
42
Tried for
Pain (84) Anxious mood (1)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Bentyl)
Perceived effectiveness
for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (24 evaluations)
Side effects
Nausea Constipation 9 more
How many evaluations
28
Tried for
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (77) Diarrhea (4)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (39 evaluations)
Side effects
Drowsiness Dizziness 31 more
How many evaluations
46
Tried for
Pain (65) Fatigue (2)
4 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for Depressed mood (40 evaluations)
Side effects
Nausea Dry mouth 44 more
How many evaluations
65
Tried for
Depressed mood (57) Pain (7)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Vicodin)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (26 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation Dizziness with nausea 14 more
How many evaluations
26
Tried for
Pain (51) Anxious mood (1)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Imodium)
Perceived effectiveness
for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (24 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation
How many evaluations
26
Tried for
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) (47) Diarrhea (9)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Desyrel)
Perceived effectiveness
for Insomnia (24 evaluations)
Side effects
Excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) Sleepiness 13 more
How many evaluations
24
Tried for
Insomnia (45) Depressed mood (2)
2 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Perceived effectiveness
for Anxious mood (39 evaluations)
Side effects
Drowsiness Sleepiness 10 more
How many evaluations
42
Tried for
Anxious mood (42) Insomnia (5)
1 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Xanax)
Perceived effectiveness
for Anxious mood (14 evaluations)
Side effects
Blurry vision Daytime tiredness 7 more
How many evaluations
15
Tried for
Anxious mood (41) Depressed mood (1)
1 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 34
20s 453
30s 992
40s 1,431
50s 1,342
60s 619
70+ 104

Sex

Distribution of sex

89% Female
11% Male
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 1,120
20-29 years 873
30-39 years 717
40-49 years 378
50-59 years 146
60-69 years 13
70+ years 9
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 3,609
Not Diagnosed 414
These charts show data from IBS patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: