A recent systematic review and network meta-analysis (CJ Black, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 18: 1238-39) reviewed the relative efficacy of medications for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. In total, the 14 trials randomized 9113 patients.

Key points:

• All treatments were significantly more effective than placebo
• Linaclotide was ranked most effective; however, indirect comparison of active treatments revealed no significant differences between the individual drugs