Method for treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome
View Patent ↗The present invention provides methods for treating constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome comprising administering to a patient in need thereof, a polymeric proanthocyanidin composition from a Croton species or Calophyllum species in an amount sufficient to treat constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (c-IBS). Treatment of c-IBS includes the treatment of the constipation component of c-IBS as well as the pain and abdominal discomfort associated with c-IBS. In one embodiment, the polymeric proanthocyanidin compound is crofelemer. The present invention in an alternative embodiment also provides methods for treating alternating constipation-predominant/diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
1. A method of treating alternating constipation-predominant/diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (a-IBS), comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment, an amount of an extract or latex isolated from Croton spp. or Calophyllum spp. effective to treat a-IBS, wherein said amount is bioequivalent to an orally administered dose of about 50 mg per day to about 500 mg per day of crofelemer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extract or latex comprises crofelemer.
3. A method of treating alternating constipation-predominant/diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (a-IBS), comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment, an amount of a polymeric proanthocyanidin composition isolated from Croton spp. or Calophyllum spp. effective to treat a-IBS, wherein said amount is bioequivalent to an orally administered dose of about 50 mg per day to about 500 mg per day of crofelemer.
4. The method of claim 3 , in which the polymeric proanthocyanidin composition is crofelemer.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the polymeric proanthocyanidin composition comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of catechin, epicatechin, gallocatechin and epigallocatechin.
6. The method of claim 1 or 3 , wherein the treatment comprises reducing one or more symptoms of a-IBS.
7. The method of claim 6 , in which the symptom is pain or abdominal discomfort.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pain or discomfort is reduced by at least 10%.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the symptom is constipation or less than normal stool frequency.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein stool frequency is increased by at least one additional bowel movement per week.
11. The method of claim 4 or claim 2 , wherein the crofelemer is orally administered in an amount of 125 mg twice per day.
12. The method of claim 4 or claim 2 , wherein the crofelemer is orally administered in an amount of 250 mg twice per day.
13. The method of claim 4 or claim 2 , wherein the crofelemer is enteric coated crofelemer.