Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS, FACG, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and member of the Digestive Health Associates of Texas Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a gastrointestinal disorder, can have a huge impact on quality of life. IBS causes abdominal pain and changes in bowel movement patterns. Depending on the type of IBS you have, you might experience diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of these symptoms.1

Although doctors aren't exactly sure what causes IBS, it's believed to involve signals between the gut and the brain. Treatments, which include lifestyle and dietary changes, medication, and mental health therapy, are designed to help with symptoms.2, 3

Here's what research says about treatments for reducing and controlling IBS symptoms.

Treatments for IBS focus on improving health in the gut—specifically the large intestine, also known as the colon. They also help address mental health conditions. People with IBS often experience depression and anxiety, which may affect the severity of their IBS symptoms.2, 4

No treatment for IBS works for everyone with the disorder.5 Your healthcare provider will help you identify the treatments that might work best for you based on your symptoms.

Here's what might be part of your comprehensive treatment plan.

As a first step, your healthcare provider may recommend making changes to what you eat. These may include:6,7

If you have IBS, consider keeping a food journal. That will help you identify what foods seem to trigger your symptoms. Then you and your doctor or dietitian can work to replace them with foods that ease your symptoms.8

Getting enough sleep each day (most adults need 7 to 9 hours of shuteye, on average), minimizing stress in your life, and increasing your level of physical activity can also be beneficial. One small study found the people who increased their physical activity experienced symptoms improvement.1,9

IBS and mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, often occur together. Research also suggests a link between stress and IBS. Although the exact relationship between each psychological factor and IBS isn't clear, interaction between the gut and the brain is believed to play a role.2, 3 Many of the chemical messengers in the brain are also found in the gut.10

Mental health treatments that might help with IBS include:3,6

Healthcare providers often encourage people with IBS to adopt dietary and lifestyle changes as a first step before recommending medication. However, there are several medicines considered first-line treatments for controlling IBS symptoms. It means that someone with diarrhea will have a different medication than someone with constipation or pain. You should talk to your doctor about what medications are right for you

Here are some of the different types of medications used to treat IBS:6

Medicines that help with abdominal pain and cramping:

Probiotics are live organisms (usually bacteria) thought to benefit the gut. They're naturally found in fermented foods, including yogurt and kefir, and available as nutritional supplements.6

Researchers have been studying whether probiotics may be helpful in treating IBS. Some doctors suggest using probiotics to ease GI symptoms. But the lack of large, rigorous trials makes it difficult to assess the value of probiotic treatment. Questions remain about which types (species and strains) of probiotics are most beneficial and the size of that benefit. Based on current evidence, the American College of Gastroenterology recommends against probiotic use for IBS symptoms.2,9

Navigating treatments for IBS can be challenging, since there are so many different pieces to the puzzle. Dietary changes, lifestyle changes, mental health therapies, and medications can be part of a treatment plan for IBS.

Treatments that work for one person may not work for someone else. If you have IBS, find a trusted general practitioner or gastroenterologist who will work with you on tailoring a plan for managing your IBS.

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