IBS drugs can be killers over time

Drugs that are routinely prescribed for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) can be killers, a major review has concluded.

The drugs, including antidepressants, increase the risk of dying, say researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre who tracked nearly 650,000 Americans with IBS for 20 years.

Many sufferers are diagnosed when they are young, and so are taking a range of medications—including antidepressants, antispasmodics and opioid-based antidiarrheal medications such as loperamide and diphenoxylate—for many years.

Longterm use of antidepressants increase the risk of premature death by 35 percent, while loperamide and diphenoxylate double the risk compared to those not taking the drugs.

What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community