Eluxadoline, a new drug for IBS-D (irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea)

What is it about?

The current review summarizes the benefits of a new drug, eluxadoline, on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea in adults. Eluxadoline works on special receptors of the gut slowing the gut transit time. All studies comparing eluxadoline with placebo were searched in the scientific literature. Mathematical analysis of the available studies showed that patients who received eluxadoline had better stool consistency, quality of life, pain, and adequate relief. Patients’ irritable bowel syndrome symptoms were less and also less serious. Its main disadvantages were difficulty passing stools, throwing up, feeling sick, and tummy pain. Care should be taken and specialist advice should be sought when using eluxadoline, because it can interact with certain medications and should not be used on patients at risk of pancreatitis.

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Why is it important?

This work adds first time reported forest plots and meta-analyses for outcomes related to this drug. It also touches on number needed to treat. Number needed to treat (NNT) for eluxadoline from the current review was 9 [95% CI: 7–13] at 12 weeks, 17 [95% CI: 11–32] at 26 weeks to achieve adequate relief.

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