Research into IBS treatment wins international award

Promising results for a drug to ease irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have won a new award.

The paper from the ATLANTIS trial has been selected for the Rome Foundation’s Ray Clouse Award.

New research, published in The Lancet, showed that a low dose of amitriptyline can be an effective treatment for IBS.

It is hoped this will give GPs the confidence to prescribe the cheap prescription drug to patients.

The trial was led by researchers at the Universities of Southampton, Leeds and Bristol. Southampton’s Professor Hazel Everitt was Co-chief Investigator.

It was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

What is IBS?

IBS affects around 1 in 20 people worldwide. It causes abdominal pain and changes to bowel movements. The long-term condition, which has no known cure, fluctuates in severity over time.

It can have a substantial impact on quality of life and ability to work and socialise. Most treatments only have a modest effect, and people often have ongoing symptoms.

Improved IBS symptoms

The trial assessed low-dose amitriptyline as a second-line treatment. This means it would be given to people with IBS whose symptoms did not improve after first-line treatments.

Overall, 463 people took part. Those who took amitriptyline were almost twice as likely to report an improvement in symptoms than those taking a placebo.

Amitriptyline is a widely available prescription drug. It is commonly given at low doses for a range of health concerns, including back pain, sleep problems and migraines.

‘Internationally important’

The Rome Foundation supports activities that help improve the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the stomach or intestines.

The 2024 Ray Clouse Award recognises the best research publication in this area.

The ATLANTIS study has already received widespread attention. It featured in both an NIHR and a BMJ alert and the Royal College of General Practitioners’ October Essential Knowledge Update. It also won the NAPCRG (North American Primary Care Research Group) 2023 Distinguished Paper Award.

Professor Everitt, Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Southampton, said:

"We are delighted that the ATLANTIS trial results are being recognised internationally as important.

“They show that low dose amitriptyline is effective and safe for patients with IBS in primary care and should lead to wider use in clinical practice.”