What is the role of lubiprostone in IBS?
Lubiprostone is a chloride channel activator that increases secretions in the intestines, thereby increasing bowel transit. It acts locally on the epithelial cells that line the intestines and is rapidly metabolized, which leads to low systemic bioavailability. At a dose of 8 mcg twice daily, lubiprostone has been shown to improve bowel symptoms in women with IBS-C. The overall response to lubiprostone does not appear to be driven by one particular symptom; rather, improvement was associated with improvement in multiple symptoms.
