Paroxetine may help with irritable bowel

Pittsburgh researchers have found paroxetine, a drug commonly used to treat depression, can improve symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome.

Pittsburgh researchers have found paroxetine, a drug commonly used to treat depression, can improve symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome. In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that the drug relieved some symptoms of IBS and improved the well-being of people with IBS. Their work is summarized in the May issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology. “This study points out the benefits of this drug as a potential new and improved treatment for IBS, a disease that is very difficult for physicians to manage,” said George Arnold, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that affects 14-24 percent of women and 5-19 percent of men in western populations and is characterized by abdominal pain, altered bowel habits and abdominal bloating. It generally has been treated with high-fiber diet, drugs or both. The study found that the percentage of participants experiencing an improvement in overall well-being was significantly greater (63.3 percent) in the paroxetine group than the placebo group (26.3 percent). (Source: United Press International, May 2004)