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DRUG USAGE IN THE IRRITABLE COLON SYNDROME
Author(s) -
Goulston Kerry
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1972.tb116604.x
Subject(s) - irritable bowel syndrome , medicine , abdominal pain , disease , drug , colonic diseases , intensive care medicine , organic disease , gastroenterology , psychiatry
The irritable colon syndrome is a symptom‐complex of abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel habits, in the absence of evidence of organic disease (Goulston, 1972). Because there are no objective signs, evaluation of treatment in this condition has to be based solely on subjective response of the patient. The irritable colon syndrome is the commonest diagnosis in patients referred to a consultant physician because of colonic symptoms (Goulston, 1971). This paper details some aspects of current drug treatment of the irritable colon syndrome. A survey of general practitioners and gastro‐enterologists was carried out, in order to examine their prescribing preferences. The relevant literature was reviewed with particular respect to proof of clinical efficacy of available drugs. Some estimation of the cost of these drugs is attempted.