Common Side Effects of Prescription IBS Drugs
The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) and it's members sponsored a quantitative research study among U.S. adults from their patient database. All respondents (350) reported having an IBS diagnosis and participated in the survey.
Research shows that participants are dissatisfied with their medications. Fewer than one-third of these IBS sufferers reported satisfaction with the drugs and remedies they currently use to treat their IBS symptoms. Less than half (45%) of respondents described the prescription drugs they currently use as "effective." Prescription medications were rated as “not effective”
by 22% of those who currently take them and 33% describe prescription drugs as only “somewhat effective” in treating IBS symptoms.
Of those taking prescription drugs, 62% report side effects. Almost half (45%) reported the side effects as severe or moderate. The most frequently cited side effects of current prescription
drugs were dry mouth (mentioned by a full one-third of those currently using prescription drugs) and drowsiness (mentioned by one-quarter).
Those respondents reporting side effects also reported adverse events.
- 12% had to visit an ER
- 7% were hospitalized
- 29% had to call their health care provider and 24% had to visit their health care provider.
- 22% had to stop driving
- 18% reported missing work or school
