[Pain therapy in irritable bowel syndrome]

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. It is characterized by chronic abdominal pain, typically associated with altered bowel habits that cannot be explained by structural abnormalities in routine diagnostic workup. Based on the predominant symptom, IBS can be divided into different subtypes: IBS with predominant constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or pain. Knowledge about the complex and multifactorial IBS pathophysiology has increased tremendously in recent years, e.g., IBS may be related to alterations in gastrointestinal motility, visceral sensitivity, and the mucosal immune system. It is important, both for the patient and the physician, that IBS diagnosis is made quickly and thoroughly based on the typical symptom complex and exclusion of relevant differential diagnoses and to reassure the patient that IBS is a chronic, but benign disease. These components are the fundamental basis for a good patient-physician relationship and for a successful long-term management of this potentially very compromising disorder. IBS therapy is based on general measures as well as symptom-oriented medical therapy, where improvement of abdominal pain is one of the main goals in treating IBS patients. Several pain treatment options are available, which may be used long-term or on demand and which may be combined with other therapies. General medical approaches include antispasmodics, improvement of bowel function, phytotherapy, and probiotics. Especially in patients with psychological comorbidities, antidepressants may be used. Modern drug treatments include the GC-C agonist linaclotide in IBS with predominant constipation, the locally acting antibiotic rifaximin in IBS with bloating, and 5-HT3 antagonists in IBS with predominant diarrhea. Psychotherapy should be included in an interdisciplinary approach in refractory cases or in psychological comorbidity.