BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuIrritable bowel syndromeIBS; Irritable bowel; Spastic colon; Irritable colon; Mucous colitis; Spastic colitis; Abdominal pain - IBS; Diarrhea - IBS; Constipation - IBS; IBS-C; IBS-DIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to pain in abdomen and changes in bowel movements. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes The reasons why IBS develops are not clear. It can occur after a bacterial infection or a parasitic infection (such as giardiasis) of the intestines. This is called postinfectious IBS. There may also be other triggers, including stress.The intestine is connected to the brain by hormone and nerve signals that go back and forth between the bowel and the brain. These signals affect bowel function and symptoms. The nerves can become more active during stress. This can cause the intestines to be more sensitive and contract more.IBS can occur at any age. Often, it begins in the teen years or early adulthood. It is twice as common in women as in men.It is less likely to begin in people above 50 years of age.About 10% to 15% of people in the United States have symptoms of IBS. It is the most common intestinal problem that causes people to be referred to a bowel specialist (gastroenterologist). Symptoms IBS symptoms vary from person to person, and range from mild to severe. Most people have mild symptoms. You are said to have IBS when symptoms are present for at least 3 days a month for a period of 3 months or more.The main symptoms include:Abdominal pain and cramps Gas Fullness Bloating Change in bowel habits. You can have either diarrhea (IBS-D), or constipation (IBS-C).Pain and other symptoms will often be reduced or go away after a bowel movement. The pain should not occur when you are sleeping, and should not wake you up from sleep. Symptoms may flare up when there is a change in the frequency of your bowel movements.People with IBS may go back and forth between having constipation and diarrhea or have or mostly have one or the other. This is called mixed irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS-M.If you have IBS with diarrhea, you will have frequent, loose, watery stools. You may have an urgent need to have a bowel movement, which may be hard to control. If you have IBS with constipation, you will have a hard time passing stool, as well as fewer bowel movements. You may need to strain with a bowel movement and have cramps. Often, only a small amount or no stool at all will pass.The symptoms may get worse for a few weeks or a month, and then decrease for a while. In other cases, symptoms are present most of the time.You may also lose your appetite if you have IBS. However, blood in stools and unintentional weight loss are not a part of IBS. If you have these symptoms, you should work with your health care provider to find out why. Exams and Tests There is no test to diagnose IBS. Most of the time, your provider can diagnose IBS based on your symptoms. Eating a lactose-free diet for 2 weeks may help your provider identify lactose intolerance that may be due to lactase deficiency.Lactase deficiencyLactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. An enzyme called lactase is needed by the body to digest lactose. Lactose intoler...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following tests may be done to check for other problems:Blood tests to see if you have celiac disease or a low blood count (anemia) Celiac diseaseCeliac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool exam for occult blood (blood that is not visible) Stool cultures to check for an infection Stool test to find excess fat that may be due to a lack of enzyme production by the pancreas Microscopic exam of a stool sample for parasites Stool exam for a substance called fecal calprotectin Breath test to check for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which has similar symptoms to IBSYour provider may recommend a colonoscopy. During this test, a flexible tube is inserted through the anus to examine the colon. You may need this test if:ColonoscopyA colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a sm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms began later in life (age 50 or over) You have symptoms such as weight loss or bloody stools You have abnormal blood tests (such as a low blood count) Other disorders that can cause similar symptoms include:Celiac disease Colon cancer (cancer rarely causes typical IBS symptoms, unless symptoms such as weight loss, blood in the stools, or abnormal blood tests are also present) Colon cancerColorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). It is also sometimes simply called colon ca...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis Crohn diseaseCrohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ulcerative colitisUlcerative colitis is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is a form of inflammatory bowel ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) Exocrine pancreas insufficiency (EPI) Treatment The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms. In some people with IBS, lifestyle changes can help. For example, regular exercise and improved sleep habits may reduce anxiety and help relieve bowel symptoms.Lifestyle changesIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to abdominal pain and bowel changes. Your health care provider will talk about things you ca...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dietary changes can be helpful. However, no specific diet can be recommended for IBS because the condition differs from one person to another.The following changes may help:Avoiding foods and drinks that stimulate the intestines (such as caffeine-containing drinks, tea, or colas) Eating smaller meals Increasing fiber in the diet (this may improve constipation or diarrhea, but make bloating worse) Talk with your provider before taking over-the-counter medicines.No one medicine works for everyone. Some that your provider may suggest include: Anticholinergic medicines (dicyclomine, propantheline, belladonna, and hyoscyamine) taken about a half-hour before eating to control intestinal muscle spasms Loperamide to treat IBS-D Alosetron (Lotronex) for IBS-D Eluxadoline (Viberzi) for IBS-D Probiotics Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants to help relieve intestinal pain Lubiprostone (Amitiza) for IBS-C Bisacodyl to treat IBS-C Rifaximin (Xifaxan), an antibiotic Linaclotide (Linzess) for IBS-C Plecanatide (Trulance) for IBS-CPsychological therapy or medicines for anxiety or depression may help with the problem. Outlook (Prognosis) IBS may be a life-long condition. For some people, symptoms are disabling and interfere with work, travel, and social activities.Symptoms often get better with treatment.IBS does not cause permanent harm to the intestines. Also, it does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of IBS or if you notice changes in your bowel habits that do not go away.Open ReferencesReferencesAronson JK. Laxatives. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:488-494.Chang L. Irritable bowel and functional upper gastrointestinal syndromes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 123.Ford AC, Talley NJ. Irritable bowel syndrome. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 122.Waller DG. Constipation, diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome. In: Waller DG, ed. Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 35.AllVideoImagesTogDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationSelf Care Low FODMAP dietLow-fiber dietRelated Information Abdominal pain(Symptoms)Dehydration(Condition)Malnutrition(Condition)Constipation - what to ask your doctor(Doctor Questions) Review Date: 4/21/2025 Reviewed By: Todd Eisner, MD, Private practice specializing in Gastroenterology in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida at Gastroenterology Consultants of Boca Raton. Affiliate Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Irritable bowel syndromeIBS; Irritable bowel; Spastic colon; Irritable colon; Mucous colitis; Spastic colitis; Abdominal pain - IBS; Diarrhea - IBS; Constipation - IBS; IBS-C; IBS-DIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to pain in abdomen and changes in bowel movements. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes The reasons why IBS develops are not clear. It can occur after a bacterial infection or a parasitic infection (such as giardiasis) of the intestines. This is called postinfectious IBS. There may also be other triggers, including stress.The intestine is connected to the brain by hormone and nerve signals that go back and forth between the bowel and the brain. These signals affect bowel function and symptoms. The nerves can become more active during stress. This can cause the intestines to be more sensitive and contract more.IBS can occur at any age. Often, it begins in the teen years or early adulthood. It is twice as common in women as in men.It is less likely to begin in people above 50 years of age.About 10% to 15% of people in the United States have symptoms of IBS. It is the most common intestinal problem that causes people to be referred to a bowel specialist (gastroenterologist). Symptoms IBS symptoms vary from person to person, and range from mild to severe. Most people have mild symptoms. You are said to have IBS when symptoms are present for at least 3 days a month for a period of 3 months or more.The main symptoms include:Abdominal pain and cramps Gas Fullness Bloating Change in bowel habits. You can have either diarrhea (IBS-D), or constipation (IBS-C).Pain and other symptoms will often be reduced or go away after a bowel movement. The pain should not occur when you are sleeping, and should not wake you up from sleep. Symptoms may flare up when there is a change in the frequency of your bowel movements.People with IBS may go back and forth between having constipation and diarrhea or have or mostly have one or the other. This is called mixed irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS-M.If you have IBS with diarrhea, you will have frequent, loose, watery stools. You may have an urgent need to have a bowel movement, which may be hard to control. If you have IBS with constipation, you will have a hard time passing stool, as well as fewer bowel movements. You may need to strain with a bowel movement and have cramps. Often, only a small amount or no stool at all will pass.The symptoms may get worse for a few weeks or a month, and then decrease for a while. In other cases, symptoms are present most of the time.You may also lose your appetite if you have IBS. However, blood in stools and unintentional weight loss are not a part of IBS. If you have these symptoms, you should work with your health care provider to find out why. Exams and Tests There is no test to diagnose IBS. Most of the time, your provider can diagnose IBS based on your symptoms. Eating a lactose-free diet for 2 weeks may help your provider identify lactose intolerance that may be due to lactase deficiency.Lactase deficiencyLactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. An enzyme called lactase is needed by the body to digest lactose. Lactose intoler...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following tests may be done to check for other problems:Blood tests to see if you have celiac disease or a low blood count (anemia) Celiac diseaseCeliac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool exam for occult blood (blood that is not visible) Stool cultures to check for an infection Stool test to find excess fat that may be due to a lack of enzyme production by the pancreas Microscopic exam of a stool sample for parasites Stool exam for a substance called fecal calprotectin Breath test to check for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which has similar symptoms to IBSYour provider may recommend a colonoscopy. During this test, a flexible tube is inserted through the anus to examine the colon. You may need this test if:ColonoscopyA colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a sm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms began later in life (age 50 or over) You have symptoms such as weight loss or bloody stools You have abnormal blood tests (such as a low blood count) Other disorders that can cause similar symptoms include:Celiac disease Colon cancer (cancer rarely causes typical IBS symptoms, unless symptoms such as weight loss, blood in the stools, or abnormal blood tests are also present) Colon cancerColorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). It is also sometimes simply called colon ca...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis Crohn diseaseCrohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ulcerative colitisUlcerative colitis is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is a form of inflammatory bowel ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) Exocrine pancreas insufficiency (EPI) Treatment The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms. In some people with IBS, lifestyle changes can help. For example, regular exercise and improved sleep habits may reduce anxiety and help relieve bowel symptoms.Lifestyle changesIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to abdominal pain and bowel changes. Your health care provider will talk about things you ca...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dietary changes can be helpful. However, no specific diet can be recommended for IBS because the condition differs from one person to another.The following changes may help:Avoiding foods and drinks that stimulate the intestines (such as caffeine-containing drinks, tea, or colas) Eating smaller meals Increasing fiber in the diet (this may improve constipation or diarrhea, but make bloating worse) Talk with your provider before taking over-the-counter medicines.No one medicine works for everyone. Some that your provider may suggest include: Anticholinergic medicines (dicyclomine, propantheline, belladonna, and hyoscyamine) taken about a half-hour before eating to control intestinal muscle spasms Loperamide to treat IBS-D Alosetron (Lotronex) for IBS-D Eluxadoline (Viberzi) for IBS-D Probiotics Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants to help relieve intestinal pain Lubiprostone (Amitiza) for IBS-C Bisacodyl to treat IBS-C Rifaximin (Xifaxan), an antibiotic Linaclotide (Linzess) for IBS-C Plecanatide (Trulance) for IBS-CPsychological therapy or medicines for anxiety or depression may help with the problem. Outlook (Prognosis) IBS may be a life-long condition. For some people, symptoms are disabling and interfere with work, travel, and social activities.Symptoms often get better with treatment.IBS does not cause permanent harm to the intestines. Also, it does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of IBS or if you notice changes in your bowel habits that do not go away.Open ReferencesReferencesAronson JK. Laxatives. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:488-494.Chang L. Irritable bowel and functional upper gastrointestinal syndromes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 123.Ford AC, Talley NJ. Irritable bowel syndrome. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 122.Waller DG. Constipation, diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome. In: Waller DG, ed. Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 35.
