STW 5 (Iberogast) Therapy in Gastrointestinal Functional Disorders

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology
• Herbal Medicine

Background:

• Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are prevalent worldwide, characterized by diverse gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS).
• STW 5 is a well-established herbal preparation with over 50 years of clinical use for FGID management.
• FGIDs often involve overlapping upper and lower digestive system symptoms, typically mild to moderate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of STW 5 in treating FGIDs, including functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• To assess the onset of therapeutic action and long-term tolerability of STW 5.
• To confirm the benefits of STW 5 across different patient populations, including adults and children.

Main Methods:

• Review of 5 controlled, randomized double-blind studies in FD patients and 1 trial in IBS patients.
• Analysis of non-interventional studies involving thousands of adult and pediatric patients (980 children).
• Specific study investigating the time to onset of therapeutic effect for STW 5.

Main Results:

• STW 5 demonstrated high efficacy in managing FD and IBS symptom clusters, as well as individual GIS.
• Beneficial therapeutic effects and safety were confirmed in large-scale non-interventional studies across age groups.
• STW 5 provides rapid symptom relief, is well-tolerated, and safe for repetitive use.

Conclusions:

• STW 5 is a highly effective phytomedication for treating FD and IBS in adults and children.
• The herbal preparation offers significant benefits for symptom clusters and individual GIS.
• STW 5 is a safe, well-tolerated, and rapidly acting option for long-term FGID management in clinical practice.