IBS and Drug Intolerance

Although the strict diagnosis of IBS is related to digestive symptoms, many IBS patients experience a wide range of related non-GI symptoms. An interesting study looked at a common symptom, that of experiencing intolerance to medications. Specifically, the researchers were looking to determine whether this difficulty with drug intolerance in IBS patients was related to psychological factors.

The sample size for this study was quite adequate, with a total number of 234 female participants, comprising three groups: IBS patients, IBD patients, and those very fortunate healthy controls. Data was gathered using self-report questionnaires. The results showed that drug intolerance was experienced significantly more often in the IBS patients, as 41 % reported intolerance, as opposed to 27% of the IBD patients and 7% of the control subjects. With the IBS patients, drug intolerance was related with other physical symptoms, such as fatigue. Drug intolerance in the IBS patients was not associated with psychological factors such as mood or sleep disturbance. This lack of relationship between drug intolerance and psychological factors led the authors to the conclusion that there is a physical and not a psychological factor behind the phenomenon of drug intolerance. See - I keep telling you "its not all in your head!"

_Source:

Poitras, P., Gourgeon, A., Binn, M. & Bouin, M. “Extra Digestive Manifestations of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Intolerance to Drugs?” Digestive Diseases and Sciences 53:2168-2176.