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Review
. 2021 Apr 21:14:1457-1468.
doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S274568. eCollection 2021.

Review of Treatment Options for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation

Sarah Patel  1   2 , Bethany Doerfler  3 , Katerine Boutros  4 , Samson Ng  4 , Machelle Manuel  5 , Elayne DeSimone  6
Affiliations
Review

Review of Treatment Options for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation

Sarah Patel et al. Int J Gen Med. .

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) are two common disorders of gut-brain interaction. Affected patients often first present to their primary care providers seeking care for symptoms of constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating, which have a significant impact on their health-related quality of life. These patients often require extensive counseling and reassurance, and knowledge of reliable diagnostic criteria and treatment options is imperative to managing their conditions. Family medicine practitioners, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are uniquely qualified to provide a diagnosis and safe, effective management of these disorders. This article reviews the latest evidence and provides practical advice related to diagnosis and management of IBS-C and CIC.

Keywords: advanced practice providers; chronic idiopathic constipation; constipation; irritable bowel syndrome; nurse practitioners; physician assistants.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial arrangements of the authors with companies whose products may be related to the present report are listed as follows: Sarah Patel is a consultant for Allergan plc. Elayne DeSimone is a consultant for Allergan plc. Bethany Doerfler has no conflicts to disclose. Katerine Boutros is an employee of AbbVie Inc. Samson Ng is a former employee of AbbVie Inc. and owned stock/stock options at the time of employment. Machelle Manuel is a former employee of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and owned stock/stock options at the time of employment. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Disorders of gut–brain interaction exist on a continuum.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Diagnosing IBS-C and CIC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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