Drug upon drug upon drug is no way to cope with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Gas Mileage and Herbal Therapy

Okay…now they’re just messing with us.

Seriously. I’ve seen some baffling studies, but this one goes up there near the top of the list.

Most HSI members will probably recognize St. John’s wort as the herbal supplement that’s been proven to be just as effective as antidepressant drugs in treating mild to moderate depression.

But now a new study from the Mayo Clinic blows the lid off the whole scam and shows that SJW is ineffective in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Yes. You read that correctly. St. John’s wort does not relieve nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and other IBS symptoms.

Sound odd? It does to HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., too. His comment: “It’s like showing that vitamin C is useless in improving your car’s gas mileage.”

So IBS patients can put away the St. John’s wort (unless mild depression is also an issue, as it sometimes is with IBS). But please think twice before reaching for the Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil.

Playing the game

We can find a clue to the logic behind the Mayo Clinic study from the Mayo website: Antidepressant drugs “inhibit the activity of neurons that control the intestines.”

Okay…seems like a long shot. But we’ve seen this before. Mainstream medicine types often encourage drug experimentation with only the flimsiest notion of how patients might react.

For instance, the WebMD website claims that low doses of antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft can help relieve intestinal spasms, bloating, etc. Yeah, just a couple of drawbacks: “Some antidepressants may worsen constipation; others may worsen diarrhea.”

As usual, it’s always an infuriating game of “good news/worse news” with these guys.

In the case of constipation from antidepressants, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (part of NIH) has a solution: “Some doctors will also prescribe medications that relax muscles in the bladder and intestines, such as Donnapine and Librax. These medications contain a mild sedative, which can be habit forming.”

So let’s recap: You’ve got IBS. You’re not depressed, but you’re taking an antidepressant, which may cause a side effect that happens to be an IBS symptom, which you can relieve with a muscle relaxant that might be addictive.

Nice!

But watch how this one makes a complete circle: According to WebMD, Librax may cause constipation and abdominal bloating (again, IBS symptoms). And: “To prevent constipation, eat a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise.”

And we’re right back where we were before you started taking all the drugs because those three actions – fiber, water, exercise – JUST HAPPEN to be three ways you can relieve IBS symptoms without drugs.

But don’t stop there. As I’ve mentioned before, fructose is a common symptom-trigger for many IBS patients. Other triggers include alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and inferior fats in processed foods. Laxatives should also be avoided because repeated use can weaken your intestines.

Dr. Spreen has a few more items (well, not so few, actually) to add to the “must avoid” list: gluten, milk and other dairy products, corn, soy, peanuts, chocolate (in fact, all refined sugar), white flour, aspartame (along with other artificial sweeteners), lunchmeats, and any foods with artificial colors or flavors. Also, foods that are craved may signal a food sensitivity.

But IBS care isn’t all about avoidance. Acupuncture, yoga, and massage have been shown to improve IBS symptoms in some patients. Peppermint supplements may relieve cramping and spasms. Dr. Spreen also recommends probiotic supplements and suggests that doctors of IBS patients test for hidden, systemic yeast problems (also known as candidiasis).

Of course, our attorneys would implode if I didn’t add that IBS patients should talk to their doctors before trying new therapies or making significant dietary changes.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson

Sources:
“A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of St John’s Wort for Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome” The American Journal of Gastroenterology, Published online ahead of print 10/6/09, nature.com
“Antidepressants for Irritable Bowel Syndrome” WebMD, webmd.com
“What is the Treatment for IBS?” National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, digestive.niddk.nih.gov