IBS.........this really sucks!!?!

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IBS does NOT typically some of the symptoms you describe so you either have a different problem than IBS or you have multiple problems.

Just because you don't have health insurance does not mean you can't get some effective medication. Most medications that help IBS are old and cheap.

Here are a number of medications that are used for IBS- some are better known for IBS use, some are not.

Antispasmodic/anxiolytic should help with abdominal cramps and may have an effect on all other symptoms. HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Donnatal (belladonna alkaloids/phenobarbital) ($ 4-6 USD)
Librax (chlordiazepoxide/clidinium) ($ 20-30 USD)

Antispasmodic- unlike Donnatal or Librax these medications don't contain an anxiolytic.
Bentyl (dicyclomine) ($ 12-15 USD)
NuLev (hyoscyamine ODT) ($ 20 USD)

Antidepressants- shown to help with nearly all aspects of IBS
Elavil (amitriptyline) ($ 10-15 USD)
Tofranil (imipramine) ($ 15-18 USD)
Prozac (fluoxetine) ($ 12-25 USD)

Antidepressant/anxiolytic- combination of two drugs both of which can help with IBS symptoms.
Limbitrol (chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline) ($ 30-40 USD)

Anti-diarrhoeal
Imodium (loperamide) ($ 7-12 USD)- this may be more beneficial for other symptoms in addition to diarrhoea
Lomotil (diphenoxylate/atropine) ($13-25 USD)- this may also help with abdominal cramping

Ultram (tramadol) ($15-20 USD)- this is a mild opioid analgesic (it is NOT a controlled substance) that can reduce diarrhoea and reduce pain. It may also provide some of the benefits the antidepressants do.
codeine ($ 20 USD)- a very strong anti-diarrhoeal that also provides significant pain relief. A medication like this may be used but typically only intermittently for more severe flare ups.

These are benzodiazepines that are mostly used as anxiolytics and/or muscle relaxants. The benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide is found in Librax and Limbitrol. These may help since anxiety is commonly a contributing factor and they may reduce pain. Typically only used intermittently although if effective long-term use may be appropriate, especially at a low dose.
Serax (oxazepam) ($ 17-21 USD)
Valium (diazepam) ($ 12-19 USD)
Librium (chlordiazepoxide) ($ 18 USD)
Ativan (lorazepam) ($ 20 USD)
Xanax (alprazolam) ($ 11-13 USD)

Over-the-counter medications or supplements won't help you. Also a large number of these medications are NATURAL. It is common to think of pharmaceuticals as synthetic but often they are not. No OTC medication or supplement has any significant evidence it provides any benefit aside from a potential placebo effect.

M.D., C.M. psychiatry, internal medicine (Québec)
Hons. BSc pharmacology

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