Irritable bowel syndrome: Current therapies and future perspectives

Abstract For years pharmacotherapy in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was based on laxatives or anti-diarrheals accompanied by anti-spasmodics and pain killers. Nowadays, there are several attempts to target the pathways that participate in the proper functioning of the GI tract, i.e. secretagogues (linaclotide or lubiprostone), opioid receptor ligands (eluxadoline), and serotoninergic receptor ligands (alosetron, ramosetron, prucalopride). In this chapter we focus on the efficacy of drugs currently used in IBS. Moreover, we discuss the possible therapeutic options and their future perspectives