Low-dose amitriptyline for irritable bowel syndrome: a qualitative study of patients' and GPs' views and experiences.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause troublesome symptoms, which impact patients' quality of life and incur considerable health service resource use. Guidelines suggest low-dose amitriptyline for IBS as second-line treatment, but this is rarely prescribed in primary care.

Aim

To explore patients' and GPs' views and experiences of using low-dose amitriptyline for IBS.

Design and setting

Qualitative interview study with patients and GPs in England, nested within the ATLANTIS trial of low-dose amitriptyline versus placebo (ISRCTN48075063).

Method

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 42 patients at 6 months post-randomisation, with 19 patients again at 12 months post-randomisation, and with 16 GPs between April 2020 and March 2022

SUBMITTER: Teasdale EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11920899 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature