My father has irritable bowel syndrome. Can probiotics help him?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am asking about my father, aged 52, who has frequent watery motions four to five times daily with cramping pain, diagnosed as IBSD. He also has diabetes and takes Metformin.

His stool tests and ultrasound were normal. So, my concerns are:

Could Metformin be making IBSD worse?
He was prescribed Loperamide (Imodium), which controls diarrhea, but then he feels bloated and uncomfortable. Is it okay to use it regularly or only as needed?
Should probiotics really help in IBSD, or are they mostly overrated?

We are confused because his symptoms keep fluctuating without a clear reason.

Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Your father’s symptoms are consistent with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea predominance (IBSD), especially since his stool tests and ultrasound are normal.

IBS often results in symptoms that wax and wane, which include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and times of exacerbation without any obvious cause.

As far as drug use, Metformin (a drug prescribed to treat diabetes) may occasionally aggravate diarrhea or induce stomach problems.

If these signs have developed or gotten worse while using Metformin or an increased dose of it, then his doctor could adjust the dose or prescribe him an extended-release drug that is more tolerable.

Imodium (Loperamide) slows the bowel movement and is a harmless medication to take as needed, before any traveling or important events. There are cases of some people suffering from bloating or constipation due to its regular use.

Probiotics can be effective for some IBS patients since they will help to restore the balance of bacteria in the colon and reduce flatulence and diarrhea. However, it is not a remedy for the illness and only brings a small relief from the symptoms.

Among other useful steps to take are having proper meals, reducing intake of caffeine and fatty foods, trying out a low-FODMAP diet for a while, dealing with stress, and proper hydration.

If symptoms remain troublesome, a gastroenterologist may consider other IBS-specific treatments tailored to his pattern of symptoms.

I hope this helps.

For more queries, you can reach out to me anytime. I will be happy to help you.

Thank you.