Medicine can be used to treat people suffering from IBS, but only medication will not help, it requires certain lifestyle changes as well. Medicines may be prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain, diarrhea or constipation. You can try out a few home remedies before you take medications. A change in diet also helps relieve the pain.

Although medicines may help to relieve the pain caused by IBS symptoms, it may not be possible to eliminate them. Taking a few medicines will help you perform all your regular activities regularly without pain. In most cases, the choice of medicine depends upon the most prominent symptom faced by the person in that current situation.

Medicines that can be taken for severe diarrhea include:

• Antidiarrheals including atropine and diphenoxylate such as Lomotil and loperamide such as Imodium.
• Bile acid binding agents including cholestyramine such as Prevalite.
• Rifaximin can be used to treat people suffering from diarrhea with bloating as their worst symptom.

Some of the medication prescribed for people suffering from constipation are as follows:

• Osmotic laxatives such as Milk of Magnesia and non-absorbable sugars like Lactulose.
• Polyethylene glycol such as Miralax.
• Stimulant laxatives like Senokot.
• Linaclotide such as Linzess.
• Lubiprostone such as Amitiza.

Medicines that can be taken for pain and cramps are:

• Anticholinergics that include dicyclomine such as Bentyl.
• Antidepressants, including desipramine such as Norpramin which when taken in small doses can cause relief for the symptoms caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Medications for depression include:

• Antidepressants including Fluoxetinesuch as Prozac which is especially helpful if you have both depression and IBS.
• Anti – anxiety agents like Valium.