SYMPTOM RELIEF WITH AMITRIPTYLINE IN THE IRRITABLE-BOWEL-SYNDROME

Anti-depressants have been reported to be useful in the management of the Irritable Bowel syndrome. We studied the efficacy of amitriptyline for 12 weeks in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. F orty patients who met predefined criteria entered the trial. They rece ived 25 mg amitriptyline for the first week, 50 mg for the second week and 75 mg nightly thereafter until the end of the 12th week. The drug and placebo groups were comparable in all major pretreatment variable s. Amitriptyline was found to be significantly more effective than pla cebo in producing global improvement, increasing feelings of well-bein g, reducing abdominal pain and increasing satisfaction with bowel move ments. Younger age and increasing extroversion predicted a better resp onse to amitriptyline. Severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and other personality variables did not influence outcome.