Citalopram provides little or no benefit in nondepressed patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Data on the benefit of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are conflicting. The longitudinal relationship between clinical symptoms and sensitivity to barostat-mediated rectal distension in IBS remains unclear. We assessed the benefit of citalopram and explored the relationships between symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and rectal sensitivity to barostat distension in non-depressed IBS patients.

Methods

Patients from primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings were randomly assigned to receive citalopram (20 mg/day for 4 weeks, then 40 mg/day for 4 weeks) or placebo in a study with double-masking and concealed allocation. Symptoms were assessed weekly, and IBS-QOL and rectal sensation by barostat were assessed

SUBMITTER: Ladabaum U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2818161 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature