IBS: Tincture of opium safe and effective for IBS?

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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