DOI: https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.309 Review articles The role of antispasmodics in managing irritable bowel syndrome Valeria Atenea Costa Barney,1* Alan Felipe Ovalle Hernández.1 1 Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology specialist Abstract in San Ignacio University Hospital, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia. Although antispasmodics are the cornerstone of treating irritable bowel syndrome, there are a number of an- tispasmodic medications currently available in Colombia. Since they are frequently used to treat this disease, *Correspondence:
[email protected] we consider an evaluation of them to be important. ......................................... Received: 26/10/18 Keywords Accepted: 11/02/19 Antispasmodic, irritable bowel syndrome, pinaverium bromide, otilonium bromide, Mebeverin, trimebutine. INTRODUCTION consistency. The criteria must be met for three consecutive months prior to diagnosis and symptoms must have started Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most fre- a minimum of six months before diagnosis. (3, 4) quent chronic gastrointestinal functional disorders. It is There are no known structural or anatomical explanations characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with of the pathophysiology of IBS and its exact cause remains changes in the rhythm of bowel movements with either or unknown. Nevertheless, several mechanisms have been both constipation and diarrhea. Swelling and bloating are proposed. Altered gastrointestinal motility may contribute frequent occurrences. (1) to changes in bowel habits reported by some patients, and a IBS is divided into two subtypes: predominance of cons- combination of smooth muscle spasms, visceral hypersen- tipation (20-30% of patients) and predominance of dia- sitivity and abnormalities of central pain processing may rrhea (20-30% of patients).