Abstract

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT, DIETARY STRATEGIES, AND PHARMACIST COUNSELING

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, which is marked with repeated abdominal pain and bowel movements that influence the quality of life of patients to a great deal. IBS pathophysiology is characterized by complicated interactions between the gut and brain such as visceral hypersensibility, biased intestinal motility, microbiota imbalance in the gut, and psychosocial factors. The management process should be patient-centered and integrated through the pharmacological therapy, diet changes, and professional consultation. Pharmacotherapy is mainly symptomatic and consists of antispasmodics, laxatives, secretagogues, antidiarrheal agents, gut-directed antibiotics like rifaximin, and neuromodulators with the effects of controlling pain perception and bowel movement. Eating plans, especially, the low FODMAP diet, proved to be effective in decreasing the symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain, and irregular bowel movements. The community pharmacists are also involved in the management of the IBS, which involves the evaluation and prescription of the right over-the-counter drugs, dietary and lifestyle counseling, and the red flag symptoms that may require medical care. The integrated strategy can be used to enhance the control of the symptoms, adherence to treatments, and overall patient outcomes.