Colon irritabile risponde a diverse terapie

Fibre, peppermint and antispasmodic drugs are effective in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Traditionally, these patients were recommended to increase their daily intake of fibre, due to its potential beneficial effects on intestinal transit time, but when this strategy failed, patients had to resort to various kinds of muscle relaxants and antispasmodic drugs in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms, in particular pain and bloating. More recently, peppermint, which has proven antispasmodic properties and has been used in the treatment of this disease, has become available. Based on evidence in literature, all these strategies are still effective, but with the advent of new and more expensive drugs, they are often forgotten. Further extensive studies on the use of these three agents in patients with irritable bowel syndrome are required, but in the meantime, the guidelines on the management of the disease should be modified, taking this data into account. It is important to remember to take into account the physical, psychological and social characteristics of individual patients in order to plan an integrated and personalised approach to treatment.

(source: BMJ online pubblicato il 14/11/2008)