Table 1.

Current psychotropic drugs used for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Classes of drugs	Mechanism of action	Therapeutic issues
Antidepressants (SSRIs, TCADs, SNRIs)	Neurotransmitters reuptake inhibitors	Reduction of abdominal pain; limited data about safety and tolerability
Benzodiazepines	Enhancement of GABA inhibitory effect	Limited use; risk of tolerance and rebound withdrawal; lack of reliable antidepressant efficacy
Atypical Antipsychotics (Quetiapine)	Receptorial antagonism with dopaminergic (D2) and serotoninergic (5-HT2) receptors	Possible use only in patients with severe psychiatric comorbidities; lacking data and evidence about efficacy and safety in irritable bowel syndrome

SSRIs: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. TCADs: trycyclic antidepresants. SNRIs: serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. 5-HT: 5-hydroxytriptamine.