Abstract
An open multicentre study was conducted at 18 Canadian centres in patients diagnosed as suffering from irritable bowel syndrome ((BS). One hundred and thirty-one (72%, female and 28% male) patients, mean age 44 years, were treated with 200 mg tid trimebutine maleate (Modulon; Jouveinal) for periods of four weeks. Frequency and severity of pain, constipation and diarrhea were analyzed, as were stool frequency and consistency. A statistically significant reduction of frequency and severity was discerned in all symptoms (pain, constipation. diarrhea). Stool frequency foll within normal range (three per week to three per day) in close to 90% of patients as compared to 66% prior to the study. Similarly, stool consistency was normal in over 40% more patients at the end of the study than before treatment. Global evaluation by physicians and patients showed that approximately 70% of patients felt better at the end of the treatment than before the study. Side effects such as nausea, headaches and fatigue were reported in 14 patients.leading to discontinuation of therapy in seven. In conclusion , trimebutine maleate was effective in reducing the frequency and severity of the major symptoms of IBS as well as in normalizing transit disturbances as measured by stool frequency.