Amitriptyline for the management of IBS in primary care

Family practitioners commonly manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with the use of dietary modifications, antispasmodics, laxatives, or anti-diarrheal drugs. If these first-line therapies fail to improve symptoms, neuromodulators such as amitriptyline are recommended as a second-line treatment. However, amitriptyline is infrequently prescribed for the management of IBS in primary care as its efficacy has not previously been studied in this setting.