The medical community has not yet determined the cause for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  A combination of treatments may help a sufferer cope with the symptoms; however given the diverse symptoms of IBS sufferers; diarrhea, constipation, pain, bloating, etc.., and it's chronic nature, none of these treatments at present will ultimately cure IBS.

IBS is a non-life threatening illness. It does not progress or increase your risk of developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Cancer. Treatment focuses on the relief of symptoms so you can live your life as normally as possible.

Based on your physician's diagnosis after the appropriate medical tests, treatment, in our opinion, may be different for those suffering from mild, moderate or severe symptoms; however, they may be summarized as follows. 
 

Treatments:

• Role of stress and visceral hypersensitivity
• Role of diet
• Prevention
• Self Care
• Coping Skills
• Complementary And Alternative Medicine

Specific Treatments Now and the Future:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Hypnosis: There is research evidence that IBS symptoms respond favorably to other therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and hypnosis. As IBS is a chronic condition, with an ongoing fluctuating course, these treatments may help the individual to develop skills for managing the condition over the long haul. Many people with IBS also have a co-existing anxiety or depressive disorder, the symptoms of which also benefit from these types of treatments.
• Probiotics: Probiotics (good bacteria) which contain the strain bifidobacterium infantis 35624 have been shown to relieve abdominal pain, bloating, urgency, constipation or diarrhea. Align and VSL#3 are marketed over-the-counter (OTC) with this strain.
• 5-HT3 antagonist: Lotronex (alosetron), is used for the control of pain and diarrhea associated with IBS in women (IBS-D). It was removed from the market at the recommendation of the United States FDA in Nov. 2000 and re-introduced in June 2002.
• 5-HT4 antagonist: These medications help relieve the symptoms of constipation and pain associated with IBS and constipation (IBS-C), and chronic idiopathic constipation in women. Zelnorm/Zelmac (tegaserod) was approved by the FDA in the United States. Effective April 2, 2008 Zelnorm is only available to patients in the U.S. under emergency situations.
• Chloride channel activator: These medications help relieve the symptoms of constipation and pain. Amitiza (lubiprostone) was approved by the FDA in the United States for IBS with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation.
• Antibiotics: There is some research evidence suggesting that IBS symptoms may be caused in part by an abnormal growth of bacteria in the small intestine, referred to as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). A specific regiment of antibiotics, namely Rifaximin (xifaxan), have been investigated to treat this condition.