Expert Opinion on the Efficacy and Safety of Antispasmodics with a Focus on Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Abstract
Antispasmodics are commonly used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. They are generally regarded as safe.However, some have been found to be ineffective or not cost-effective. Marked discrepancies in the availability and formulation of antispasmodic agents across countries—ranging from the limitation to only fundamental compounds in regions such as the United States to the marketing of diverse combination products elsewhere—have generated considerable ambiguity and debate within the field. Meta-analyses show varying results on the efficacy of antispasmodics, indicating the need for further analysis. This article aims to evaluate the effectiveness of antispasmodic drugs in relieving symptoms in IBS patients. We conclude that most drugs are considered safe and effective, with pinaverium, otilonium, and peppermint oil having meta-analyses supporting their efficacy. However, there is a lack of high-quality data for drugs like alverine, trimebutine, and cimetropium, and some drugs, such as simeticone or combinations of spasmolytic agents and simeticone, have insufficient research data. Clinicians should prioritize evidence-based medicine when selecting antispasmodic agents.
Cite this article as: Bor S, Özen H, Akyüz F, et al. Expert opinion on the efficacy and safety of antispasmodics with a focus on irritable bowel syndrome. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2025;36(Supp 2):S1-S38.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Altay Çelebi, Hasan Yılmaz, What is proton pump inhibitors unresponsiveness in gastroesophageal reflux disease? How should these cases be managed? , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 28 No. 1 (2017): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Altay Çelebi, Hasan Yılmaz, When proton pump inhibitors are compared, are there specific cases in which a certain proton pump inhibitors should be particularly preferred? , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 28 No. 1 (2017): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Necati BALAMTEKİN, Hülya DEMİR, Gökhan BAYSOY, Nuray USLU, Diclehan ORHAN, Zuhal AKÇÖREN, Hasan ÖZEN, Figen GÜRAKAN, İnci SALTIK-TEMİZEL, Aysel YÜCE, Fecal calprotectin concentration is increased in children with celiac disease: relation with histopathological findings , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 23 No. 5 (2012): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Gökhan BAYSOY, İnci Nur SALTIK TEMİZEL, Nuray USLU, Necati BALAMTEKİN, Hülya DEMİR, Figen GÜRAKAN, Hasan ÖZEN, Yakut AKYÖN, Aysel YÜCE, Ornidazole-based sequential therapy is not effective in Helicobacter pylori eradication in children , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 24 No. 5 (2013): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Damla Hanalioğlu, Hasan Özen, Asuman Karhan, Ersin Gümüş, Hülya Demir, İnci N. Saltık-Temizel, Saniye Ekinci, İbrahim Karnak, Arbay O. Çiftçi, Feridun C. Tanyel, Aysel Yüce, Revisiting long-term prognostic factors of biliary atresia: A 20-year experience with 81 patients from a single center , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 30 No. 5 (2019): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Ferdane Sapmaz, İsmail Hakkı Kalkan, Sefa Güliter, Yasemin Karadeniz Bilgili, Acute cholecystitis complicated by pylephlebitis , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 25 No. 1 (2014): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Dinç Dinçer, Ece Ulukal Karancı, Mete Akın, Haydar Adanır, NSAID, antiaggregant, and/or anticoagulant-related upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Is there any change in prophylaxis rate after a 10-year period? , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 30 No. 6 (2019): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Nurten KOÇAK, Mehmet VARZİKOĞLU, Aysel YÜCE, Hasan ÖZEN, Figen GÜRKAN, Zuhal AKÇÖREN, Celiac disease in childhood: analysis of 41 cases , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 8 No. 2 (1997): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Altay Çelebi, High-resolution manometry versus conventional manometry in diagnosis of patients with nonobstructive dysphagia , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 27 No. 6 (2016): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Nuray USLU, İnci SALTIK-TEMİZEL, Hülya DEMİR, Figen GÜRAKAN, Hasan ÖZEN, Aysel YÜCE, Serum selenium concentrations in cirrhotic children , Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology: Vol. 21 No. 2 (2010): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.