Abstract
Background Tricyclic antidepressants have good efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), but their clinical use is limited by considerations of tolerability. Tianeptine, another antidepressant, acts as a selective serotonin reuptake enhancer. We compared tianeptine with amitriptyline for the treatment of patients with IBS-D. Methods We undertook a multicenter, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority clinical study that compared tianeptine with amitriptyline, each in combination with probiotics, for the treatment of IBS-D. Subjects were randomized to receive tianeptine (37.5mg)/probiotics (Bacillus subtilis + Streptococcus faecium) or amitriptyline (10mg)/probiotics (Bacillus subtilis + Streptococcus faecium) for 4weeks. A total of 228 patients were analyzed by the intention-to-treat approach. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who had global relief of IBS symptoms at week 4. The secondary efficacy endpoints were intensity of abdominal pain/discomfort, stool frequency/consistency, quality of life, and overall satisfaction with treatment. Key Results At week 4, non-inferiority of the tianeptine group to the amitriptyline group (treatment difference -15.1%; 95% CI -26.6% to -3.8%) was shown, with 81.1% (99 of 122 patients) of the patients in the tianeptine group and 66.0% (70 of 106 patients) in the amitriptyline group reporting global relief of IBS symptoms. The secondary endpoints also demonstrated non-inferiority of the tianeptine group to the amitriptyline group. Adverse events such as dry mouth and constipation were significantly lower in the tianeptine group than the amitriptyline group (P<0.05). Conclusions & Inferences Tianeptine is not inferior to amitriptyline for treating IBS-D in terms of both efficacy and tolerability.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 860-e398 |
Journal | Neurogastroenterology and Motility |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 Sept |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Amitriptyline
- Antidepressant
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Tianeptine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
- Gastroenterology