People with fibromyalgia more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome but antidepressants may reduce the risk

The risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) seems to be significantly higher in people with fibromyalgia, according to a large study published in Medicine.
Previous studies have shown that fibromyalgia and IBS coexist but these studies were small and lacked long-term follow-up. So experts identified 33,729 people recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia in Taiwan. They wanted to look at the risk factors associated with IBS and fibromyalgia in a large group of people.
Every person with fibromyalgia was compared to four people without fibromyalgia of the same age and gender.
The researchers followed the patients from 2000 until 2011 and assessed previous comorbidity factors that could underlie a possible association between fibromyalgia and IBS, including chronic liver disease and cirrhosis; chronic kidney disease; depression and anxiety; and sleep disturbances and their associated medications, such as tramadol and antidepressants.
After taking into account age, gender and comorbidities, people with fibromyalgia were found to have a higher risk of IBS (they were 1.54 times more likely to get IBS). Having fibromyalgia and another comorbidity such as chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, depression and sleep disturbances increased the risk for IBS even more.
Interestingly, a correlation was discovered between the use of tramadol or antidepressants… with a reduction in IBS risk in fibromyalgia patients.
The researchers recommend that healthcare professionals should assess people with fibromyalgia every year for the presence and progression of IBS.

Click here to read the original research.

Image credit: Smabs Sputzer