Why IBS-C Treatments Work Differently for Everyone: What Patients Should Know

Why does one IBS-C treatment work for someone else—but not for you?

In this episode of the Gastro Girl podcast, leading gastroenterologist Darren M. Brenner. MD, FACG, of Northwestern Medicine, explains why treating IBS-C (irritable bowel syndrome with constipation) is not one-size-fits-all.

Using a real-world patient scenario, Dr. Brenner breaks down what may actually be happening inside the body—from gut motility and visceral sensitivity to the brain-gut connection—and why different therapies target different symptoms and pathways.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- Why some IBS-C treatments don’t work—or stop working over time
- How over-the-counter and prescription therapies differ
- What newer treatment approaches are designed to do
- Why bloating, pain, and constipation may require different strategies
- The role of diet, pelvic floor therapy, and gut-brain interventions
- How patients can work with their healthcare team to find the right treatment plan

If you’ve ever felt frustrated, stuck, or unsure about your IBS-C treatment journey, this episode offers practical insights to help you better understand your options and feel more empowered in your care.

This episode is part of an educational program made possible by support from Ardelyx.

This episode is made possible by support from:

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Featured Guests in this Episode

Darren M. Brenner, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery in the Division of Gastroenterology at Northwestern University

Dr. Brenner is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery in the Division of Gastroenterology at Northwestern University and serves as Director of the Neurogastromotility and Functional Bowel Programs, Co-Director of the Integrated Bowel Dysfunction program, and Director of the Motts Tonelli GI Physiology Laboratory. He is also an active Irene D. Pritzker Research Scholar. Dr. Brenner focuses his clinical and research pursuits on a wide range of motility topics including IBS, constipation, opioid related constipation, fecal incontinence, gastroparesis and scleroderma. He has published more than 125 articles, abstracts, and online materials on these subjects, and has lectured both nationally and internationally in these areas. He acts as a reviewer and editor for multiple GI peer-reviewed journals and is a current associate editor of the American Journal of Gastroenterology. He was a charter board member of the American Gastroenterological Association Academy of GI and Liver Educators, acts as a member of the advisory board for the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders and serves (research) and has served on multiple ACG committees (education, MOC, digital publications and communications). Dr. Brenner is a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology and American Gastroenterological Association.

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