How to Treat IBS
There is no known cure for IBS, but some treatments can reduce and manage symptoms. These treatments include combinations of diet, medications, fiber supplements, lifestyle modifications, and therapies for mental health conditions. Talk to your medical provider about the various available treatments to see plan might work for you.
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IBS Diet
Changes to your diet, eating patterns, and nutrition may help reduce your IBS Symptoms. Different dietary changes may work for different kinds of IBS. Talk to your provider before making serious changes to your diet.
Eat More Fiber
Fiber can help both diarrhea and constipation symptoms. You should try to eat about 25–30 grams of fiber every day. Food high in fiber includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. Plants have different types of fiber that help with different IBS symptoms. Talk with your provider to learn which foods work best for your symptoms.
Fiber supplements, such as psyllium husk and methylcellulose, can help you reach the recommended daily fiber goals. Start fiber supplements at the lowest dose once a day. You can increase the dose after one week. Stay well hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day if you add a fiber supplement routine. This helps you avoid abdominal discomfort and bloating.
Eat Smaller Meals More Often
You can eat smaller meals more often throughout the day to help ease GI symptoms such as bloating.
Low FODMAP Diet
You may want to avoid certain types of sugars called FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols short-chain carbohydrates). Many high FODMAP foods are healthy foods. But these sugars can cause abdominal upset, diarrhea, and bloating.
Patients with IBS may have trouble breaking down certain FODMAP sugars in the small intestine. As a result, you may experience more diarrhea. Bacteria eats sugars your body doesn’t break down, which can cause more bloating and abdominal discomfort.
How Does a Low FODMAP Diet Work?
The Low FODMAP diet can help identify your specific food triggers. Not all high FODMAP foods will cause problems. Because the diet eliminates certain healthy foods at first, make sure your provider recommends this diet for you.
The low FODMAP diet can be challenging. Keep a food journal to help you track and identify specific food triggers. A dietician can help guide you through the Low FODMAP diet. Consider asking your provider for a referral to a dietician, especially if you have a history of an eating disorder.
You should complete the low FODMAP diet in three stages for the best results:
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Stop eating High FODMAP foods. Continue to eat food listed as Low FODMAP.
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Slowly introduce HIGH FODMAP foods. Identify and track which specific foods cause IBS symptoms.
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Avoid eating the trigger FODMAP foods that caused problems for you.
Foods to Avoid With IBS (High FODMAP)
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Vegetables such as cauliflower, artichoke, and asparagus
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Beans and lentils
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Garlic and onions
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Cereals and grains including wheat and rye
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Sugars (fructose, high fructose corn syrup, sugar alcohols), artificial sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame), and sauces such as honey, sorbitol, and pesto
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Soy milk (from soybeans), cow’s milk, ice cream, and yogurt
Foods to Eat With IBS (Low FODMAP)
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Meat, poultry, and fish
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Soy milk (from soy protein), firm tofu, and tempeh
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Eggs, butter, and oils
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Hard cheeses, brie or camembert cheeses, and almond milk
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Dark chocolate, table sugar, and maple syrup
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Quinoa, sourdough bread, and rice cakes
Ask your provider for a more detailed list of FODMAP foods.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Medication
Your provider may help you find a medicine that helps reduce your IBS symptoms. Ask your provider about side effects.
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Fiber supplements may help with diarrhea and constipation.
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Laxatives can reduce constipation.
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Loperamide can relieve diarrhea.
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Antispasmodics may reduce diarrhea episodes, ease abdomen pain, and control muscle spasms in your colon.
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Other medications like Lubiprostone (Amitiza), Linaclotide (Linzess), Plecanatide (Trulance), Tenapanor (IBSrela) can help with abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation.
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Coated peppermint oil tablets may ease general symptoms.
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Neuromodulators and medications that treat anxiety and depression may also help reduce IBS-related abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation.
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Antibiotics, such as Xifaxan, may treat diarrhea.
Managing Anxiety & Mental Health
Your IBS symptoms might improve when you treat any mental health issues. Consult with a health professional about mental health treatments for IBS.
Reduce Stress in Your Everyday Life
Less stress may reduce abdominal cramping, pain, and discomfort. Managing stress may also allow you to focus more on finding treatments for IBS symptoms. A full night’s sleep, regular exercise, and avoiding situations which might increase your stress may help you manage daily stress levels.
Talk Therapy
Mental health professionals (psychotherapists) may help treat IBS by reducing anxiety with two types of talk therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on your thoughts and actions. Psychodynamic, or interpersonal, therapy focuses on the link between your emotions and IBS symptoms.
Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
A hypnotherapist may use hypnosis directed at your gut to help relax muscles related to IBS symptoms.
Mindfulness Training
Mindfulness and meditation are techniques which train your brain to focus on the present moment. This focus often leads to less stress, anxiety, and worry.
Why Choose University of Utah Health?
U of U Health has year-after-year exceptional rankings as offering the best health care in the nation. It's not a surprise. We believe collaboration throughout our system—from physicians, researchers, biologists, and more—leads to the most innovative care.
Working together in a rich, diverse clinical environment means our advances have a direct impact on the health of our patients. U of U Health isn't satisfied with just offering health care. We want to transform it.
Request an Appointment
Call 801-213-9797 or fill out our form to request an appointment with a GI specialist.
