DOCTOR'S VIEWS ARCHIVE
Topic: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), June 2000
Dr. Lee:
A 60 year old, female viewer has had irritable bowel syndrome for many years.She
wants to know if deodorized tincture of opium is effective and safe long-term for irritable bowel syndrome.
Dr. Marks:
Narcotics such as tincture of opium are not
standard treatments for irritable bowel syndrome. They are habit-forming
and are addictive. Moreover, there are other medications that are not
addictive that work (decrease diarrhea) in a manner similar to narcotics,
for example, Imodium and Lomotil.
Dr. Lee:
You would not use tincture of opium for
long-term treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, right?
Dr. Marks:
No I would not.
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