Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS is a set of chronic symptoms associated with the lower gastrointestinal tract. It is usually experienced as abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort. IBS can include constipation with difficult or painful bowel movements (IBS-c) or it can include diarrhea due to excess fluid in the colon (IBS-d). While the causes of IBS-c are still in question, lack of colonic motility is thought to be a primary cause. As with chronic constipation, IBS-c can be targeted with naronapride. An estimated 5.5 million adults in the United States suffer from IBS with constipation while an estimated 28 million adults suffer from IBS with intermittent constipation.