FDA Approves New Drug Treatments For Patients With IBS

First Posted: May 28, 2015 05:03 PM EDT

Statistics show that roughly 15 percent of U.S. adults deal with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a health issue that's characterized by intestinal cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea and/or constipation.

Two new therapies have just been approved to treat IBS, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) news release.

"For some people, IBS can be quite disabling, and no one medication works for all patients suffering from this gastrointestinal disorder," Dr. Julie Beitz, director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said a news release. "The approval of two new therapies underscores the FDA's commitment to providing additional treatment options for IBS patients and their doctors."

Viberzi is taken twice daily and stimulates the nervous system receptors, helping to reduce bowel contraction, that keeps common side effects like nausea and abdominal pain under control, according to Health Day.

The drug's approval was based on two clinical trials that included over 2,400 patients and over 26 weeks of treatment. Health officials found that it was more effective for patients than those who received a placebo.

Xifaxan, on the other hand, is taken orally three times daily for 14 days. Then those with reoccurring symptoms take a second 14-day dose as needed. According to the news organization, it was previously approved to treat certain types of "traveler's diarrhea," helping to remove toxins from the blood. However, with IBS, the drug is also believed to potentially affect bacterial content in the gastrointestinal tract.

The drug's approval was based on three clinical trials that included over 1,800 patients and was found to help improve abdominal pain and stool consistency over a placebo.

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TagsHealth, Human, IBD, IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Food, Drug, Treatment, FDA