From the Guidelines
Pinaverium bromide should be considered as a treatment option for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to its effectiveness in reducing abdominal pain and abdominal distension, as demonstrated in clinical trials 1. The medication works by selectively blocking calcium channels in the intestinal smooth muscle, which helps reduce intestinal spasms and pain without significant systemic effects.
- Key benefits of pinaverium bromide include:
- Reduction in abdominal pain
- Decrease in abdominal distension
- Minimal side effects, which may include mild digestive discomfort, nausea, or headache
- Targeted action on the intestinal smooth muscle with minimal systemic effects According to a meta-analysis, the global symptom improvement with myorelaxants, including pinaverium bromide, exceeded that of placebo by 22%, with a significant effect on abdominal pain and abdominal distension 1.
- The typical dosage of pinaverium bromide is 50-100 mg taken three times daily with meals, and treatment duration varies based on symptom severity but often continues for several weeks to months. It is essential for patients to take the medication as prescribed and inform their healthcare provider about any other medications they're taking to avoid potential interactions. Pinaverium bromide is not widely available in all countries, including the United States, but is commonly used in Europe, Canada, and parts of Asia.
From the Research
Pinaverium Overview
- Pinaverium is an antispasmodic commonly used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- It has antispasmodic effects on gastrointestinal smooth muscle and can relieve major IBS symptoms 2, 3, 4
Efficacy of Pinaverium
- Pinaverium has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of IBS, including abdominal pain, stool change, and bloating improvement or resolution 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that pinaverium had a beneficial effect on overall IBS symptom relief, with a positive standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.64 and a positive risk ratio (RR) of 1.75 2
- Another study found that pinaverium reduced symptoms of IBS in a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial, with a significantly larger proportion of patients receiving pinaverium meeting the primary endpoints compared to placebo 3
Post-Treatment Therapeutic Effect
- The post-treatment therapeutic effect (PTTE) of pinaverium has been assessed in a randomized controlled trial, which found that the PTTE lasted 9-17 weeks after treatment was discontinued 6
- The study found that the PTTE was similar to other antispasmodics, but markedly depended on the medication class used for treatment and less depended on treatment length 6