Pharmacology of Antispasmodic Drugs Used in Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Objective of the Review: To describe and compare some pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters of antispasmodic drugs used in complex management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the Russian Federation. Key Points. IBS is a chronic recurrent disease associated with abdominal pain and bowel disorders. The key factors of IBS pathogenesis include intestinal motility disorders and visceral hypersensitivity. Both processes are controlled by endocrine and neural systems. In a target cell, voltage-operated calcium channels mediate neuronal signals for unstriped muscles to contract and for glands to start secreting. Antispasmodic drugs are a group of products that have been used for IBS management for decades. The review describes contemporary idea of molecular mechanisms to control contraction of GIT muscle cells and a comparison of antispasmodic drugs used in complex therapy of IBS in the Russian Federation. Their key pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics are discussed. Conclusion. The fundamental difference of mebeverine (Duspatalin) is its ability to normalise bowel motility in patients with IBS without the need in complete motility suppression. Also, its inability to block muscarinic receptors and stimulate opioid receptors is another advantage in improving the quality of life of patients. Keywords: pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, antispasmodic drugs, therapy of irritable bowel syndrome, mebeverine.