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

Abstract

Sarah Patel,1,2 Bethany Doerfler,3 Katerine Boutros,4 Samson Ng,4 Machelle Manuel,5 Elayne DeSimone6 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; 2Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA; 3Division of Gastroenterology, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; 4Global Medical Affairs Gastroenterology & Hepatology, AbbVie Inc, Madison, NJ, USA; 5Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA; 6Community Volunteers in Medicine, West Chester, PA, USACorrespondence: Sarah PatelDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USATel [phone]Email [email protected]: 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

Keywords

• advanced practice providers
• chronic idiopathic constipation
• constipation
• irritable bowel syndrome
• nurse practitioners
• physician assistants