Central Neuromodulators in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Why, How, and When.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is responsive to treatments using central neuromodulators. Central neuromodulators work by enhancing the synaptic transmission of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenalin, and dopamine, achieving a slower regulation or desensitization of their postsynaptic receptors. Central neuromodulators act on receptors along the brain-gut axis, so they are useful in treating psychiatric comorbidities, modifying gut motility, improving central downregulation of visceral signals, and enhancing neurogenesis in patients with IBS. Choosing a central neuromodulator for treating IBS should be according to the pharmacological properties and predominant symptoms. The first-line treatment for pain management in IBS is using tricyclic antidepressants. An alternative for pain management is the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are useful when symptoms of anxiety and hypervigilance are dominant but are not helpful for treating abdominal pain. The predominant bowel habit is helpful when choosing a neuromodulator to treat IBS; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors help constipation, not pain, but may cause diarrhea; tricyclic antidepressants help diarrhea but may cause constipation. A clinical response may occur in 6-8 weeks, but long-term treatment (usually 6-12 months) is required after the initial response to prevent relapse. Augmentation therapy may be beneficial when the therapeutic effect of the first agent is incomplete or associated with side effects. It is recommended to reduce the dose of the first agent and add a second complementary treatment. This may include an atypical antipsychotic or brain-gut behavioral treatment. When tapering central neuromodulators, the dose should be reduced slowly over 4 weeks but may take longer when discontinuation effects occur.

[Brain gut microbiota axis. Importance in clinical practice]. / Eje cerebro intestino microbiota. Importancia en la práctica clínica.

The brain-gut-microbiota axis is a bidirectional complex that connects the central nervous system with the digestive system. Alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota have been linked to the presence of digestive and extradigestive diseases such as neuropsychiatric diseases. Dysbiosis predisposes to the appearance of alterations in intestinal permeability, which facilitates the release of neurotransmitters and cytokines that generate favorable conditions for the appearance of a state known as neuroinflammation, which seems to be key in the physiopathogenesis of neuropsychiatric diseases. Based on these data, the modulation of the microbiota through changes in diet, antibiotics and probiotics could be a useful alternative, not only for the treatment of digestive diseases but also extra-digestive disorders such as neuropsychiatric diseases.

Eje cerebro intestino microbiota. Importancia en la práctica clínica

El eje cerebro-intestino-microbiota es un complejo bidireccional que comunica al sistema nervioso central con el aparato digestivo. Las alteraciones en la composición de la microbiota intestinal se han relacionado con la presencia de enfermedades digestivas y extradigestivas tales como las enfermedades neuropsiquiátricas. La disbiosis predispone a la aparición de alteraciones en la permeabilidad intestinal, lo cual facilita la liberación de neurotransmisores y citoquinas que generan las condiciones propicias para que aparezca un estado conocido como neuroinflamación, que parece ser clave en la fisiopatogenia de las enfermedades neuropsiquiátricas. En virtud de estos datos, la modulación de la microbiota a través de cambios en la dieta, antibióticos y probióticos, podría ser una alternativa útil, no sólo para el tratamiento de enfermedades digestivas sino también de trastornos extra digestivos como las enfermedades neuropsiquiátricas.

The brain-gut-microbiota axis is a bidirectional complex that connects the central nervous system with the digestive system. Alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota have been linked to the presence of digestive and extradigestive diseases such as neuropsychiatric diseases. Dysbiosis predisposes to the appearance of alterations in intestinal permeability, which facilitates the release of neurotransmitters and cytokines that generate favorable conditions for the appearance of a state known as neuroinflammation, which seems to be key in the physiopathogenesis of neuropsychiatric diseases. Based on these data, the modulation of the microbiota through changes in diet, antibiotics and probiotics could be a useful alternative, not only for the treatment of digestive diseases but also extra-digestive disorders such as neuropsychiatric diseases.