Ethosuximide and Irritable Bowel Syndrome–Related Abdominal Pain

What is the therapeutic efficacy of ethosuximide, a Cav3.2 blocker which has demonstrated analgesic activity in animal models of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), in patients with IBS-related abdominal pain?In this randomized clinical trial in 124 patients assessing ethosuximide to improve IBS-related abdominal pain, intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant difference in responder rates between ethosuximide and placebo. Ethosuximide had limited tolerability, with higher discontinuation rates, and induced more adverse events compared with placebo.These findings suggest ethosuximide is not recommended as treatment for IBS-related abdominal pain.

Corresponding Author: Nicolas Kerckhove, PhD, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, service de Pharmacologie Médicale, 58 Rue Montalembert, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France (nkerckhove@chu-clermontferrand.fr).

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