Results of prifinium bromide therapy in irritable bowel syndrome.

An open clinical trial with prifinium bromide, an anticholinergic agent, was carried out in 21 patients with irritable bowel syndrome showing clear psychosomatic characteristics. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by comparing the symptomatic severity before, during, and after treatment with prifinium bromide, 90 mg/day for four weeks. Of these 21 patients, 18 patients were allowed to take antacids or lactobacillus preparations concomitantly only when necessary. As a result, marked or moderate improvement in symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation was seen in 43% after two weeks and 86% after four weeks. Prifinium bromide's efficacy in the treatment of abnormal bowel movements was most evident in patients with diarrhea and slightly less evident in patients with alternation of diarrhea and constipation, and in constipated patients. Side effects attributable to the drug were encountered in four (19%) of the patients. None were serious enough to require that use of the drug be discontinued. All laboratory test values were within normal ranges before and after therapy. Overall, prifinium bromide was judged to be useful in 14 (67%) of the 21 patients studied.