Finding new ways to treat bowel urgency

What is this research looking at? 

Bowel urgency and incontinence affect up to 7 in every 10 people living with Crohn’s and Colitis. 

Urgency is the sudden intense feeling of needing to poo and having to rush to get to the toilet. It can be caused by long-term inflammation of the bowel which damages the nerves and makes them more sensitive.

Researchers believe that by reducing the sensitivity of these nerves with medications used to treat other conditions they should be able to prevent bowel urgency. To do this they will look at sumatriptan, which is used to treat migraines, and cromolyn, which is used to treat asthma. They will look at the ability of these medications to inhibit the sensitisation of the nerves which trigger urgency by inflammation. 

What do researchers think this could mean for people with IBD?  

If successful, researchers think that these medications could offer a new way to treat bowel urgency for people living with Crohn’s and Colitis. 

Who is leading this research: Dr David Bulmer

Our Funding: £149,945.60

Duration: 36 months

Official title of application: Can we inhibit rectal sensation to treat bowel urgency.