No abstract

Background : No currently available treatment provides consistent relief of irritable bowel syndrome. Colonic sensory and motor function are modulated partly through 5HT3‐receptors. Aim : To evaluate effects of the 5HT3‐receptor antagonist, alosetron, in irritable bowel syndrome. Methods : Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, dose‐ranging (1, 2, 4, 8 mg b.d. alosetron), 12‐week trial in 370 patients with diarrhoea‐predominant or alternating constipation and diarrhoea irritable bowel syndrome. Weekly measurement of adequate relief was the key end‐point; other irritable bowel syndrome symptoms were collected daily using an electronic phone system. Results : Alosetron (1 mg or 2 mg b.d.) significantly (P < 0.05 vs. placebo) increased the proportion of females, but not males, reporting adequate relief. Stool consistency, frequency and percentage days with urgency improved over placebo (P < 0.05) within the first month with all doses of alosetron, and persisted throughout the trial with all doses in female patients. With 1 mg b.d. alosetron, females had improved stool consistency and urgency within the first week, and adequate relief and improved stool frequency within the first 2 weeks. There was no consistent improvement in bowel function among male patients. Conclusion : In female irritable bowel syndrome patients with predominant diarrhoea or alternating constipation and diarrhoea, alosetron is effective in treatment of abdominal pain and discomfort and bowel‐related symptoms.

Intolerance occurs frequently during EN in critically ill patients and is associated with poorer nutrition and clinical outcomes.

Alosetron hydrochloride, 1 mg twice daily for 12 weeks, is effective in relieving pain and some bowel-related symptoms in diarrhea-predominant female patients with IBS.

SUMMARY BackgroundAnxiety, depression and nongastrointestinal symptoms are often prominent in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but their relative value in patient management has not been quantitatively assessed. We modified the Patient Health Questionnaire 15 (PHQ-15) by excluding three gastrointestinal items to create the PHQ-12 Somatic Symptom (PHQ-12 SS) scale.