IBS antispasmodic treatment, assessed and dispensed online

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, long-term condition affecting the digestive system. It causes the intestines to be more sensitive and the muscle contractions that move food through the gut to be stronger or weaker than normal — leading to cramping pain, bloating, and a bowel habit that alternates between loose stools and constipation, or stays consistently one or the other.

IBS is not associated with inflammation or damage to the gut lining, which is what distinguishes it from conditions such as Crohn's disease or colitis. It can be diagnosed only after other causes have been ruled out, which is why a proper history matters before any treatment is started.

What causes IBS?

The exact cause is not fully understood, but IBS appears to involve a heightened sensitivity between the gut and the brain, often referred to as the gut-brain connection. Triggers differ between people but commonly include stress and anxiety, certain foods (fatty meals, dairy, gluten-containing foods, and certain vegetables are frequent culprits), caffeine, alcohol, and hormonal changes — which is one reason IBS is more common in women and can worsen around periods.

IBS sometimes develops after a bout of food poisoning or gastroenteritis, and there is evidence of a modest genetic component. For many people, symptoms fluctuate with no obvious trigger at all.

How is IBS treated?

Lifestyle and diet changes are the first step: keeping a food diary to identify personal triggers, eating regular meals, reducing high-gas foods, staying hydrated, and managing stress. Soluble fibre (such as oats and linseeds) can help regulate bowel habit. Regular gentle exercise and, for those with significant anxiety around symptoms, talking therapy or gut-directed hypnotherapy are all evidence-based approaches.

When cramping pain is the main problem, prescription antispasmodic tablets — which work by relaxing the gut muscle — can offer significant relief. We do not list specific medicines on this page; which antispasmodic is suitable for you is decided by the prescriber inside the consultation.

Treating IBS with NewGen

NewGen Pharmacy is a GPhC-registered community pharmacy at 245 High Street, Stratford, and our online clinic is run by the same registered team. If antispasmodic treatment is appropriate, your prescription is dispensed and delivered in discreet, plain packaging — or you can collect from our Stratford branch.

How the online consultation works for IBS

The consultation asks about your symptoms — the type of pain, how long it has been happening, your bowel pattern, and whether you have already had a diagnosis of IBS from a doctor. It also covers any red-flag symptoms that would require a GP appointment rather than online treatment. The whole process takes around five minutes.

When to see your GP instead

An online IBS consultation is suited to adults who already have a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of IBS based on typical symptoms, with no red-flag features. See your GP if you have not yet had a proper assessment, if you notice blood in your stools, if you have lost weight without trying, or if your symptoms have recently changed significantly. If the prescriber identifies anything in your answers that needs investigation, they will tell you clearly.