Ethosuximide and Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Related Abdominal Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

T-type calcium channels, particularly the Cav3.2 subtype, are involved in pain transduction. Experimental studies and human data suggested that increased T-type channels activity or expression contributes to visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and that their inhibition alleviates pain.

Objective

To evaluate the therapeutic potential of ethosuximide, a T-type calcium channel blocker, for IBS-related abdominal pain.

Design, setting, and participants

This proof-of-concept, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial started in February 2018 and completed in February 2022, with analyses performed between October 2023 and December 2024. Participants were adults meeting Rome IV criteria for IBS, treated in 10

SUBMITTER: Kerckhove N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12784227 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature