irritable bowel syndrome or dyspepsia?

by Gulam
(j&k[india})

I had a consultation from a doctor and was told that I didn’t have IBS. However, I was given a drug called Rabeprazole to take and I this did give me some relief. I stopped the drug two days ago, but my symptoms have returned and I’m looking for a permanent solution to this. I constantly feel tired and generally unwell. Please help me, I’m 39 years old.

IBS or dyspepsia?

Rabeprazole is a drug called a PPI or proton pump inhibitor. It works by reducing the level of acid in your stomach. The drug is used in indigestion, gastroesophageal reflux and peptic ulcer disease (gastric and duodenal ulceration). If it has an effect on your symptoms then you probably have dyspepsia symptoms, although you dont actually mention your symptoms other than tiredness! Reflux is more common in IBS or the Irritable Bowel Syndrome so this may be why you have found some benefit.

If you have a peptic ulcer then you maybe anaemic and this can cause tiredness. You may need to take the Rabeprazole long term, although there is another option. You may have an infection in your stomach called Helicobacter Pylori. This is known to cause ulcers and can be treated with antibiotics. The commonest drugs we use are a weeks course of Amoxicillin 1G twice a day with Metronidazole 400mg twice a day along with a PPI such as Omeprazole 20mg twice a day. You can use Rabeprazole 20mg twice a day although I havent used this drug in Helicobacter Pylori eradication before. You can have various tests to see if you have this infection including a blood test (H.pylori IgG test), a urea breath test or UBT, occasionally a stool test to look for this or an endoscopy and biopsy of your stomach. I hope this is helpful.