Tillotts Pharma specialises in one area of therapy, diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
The products that Tillotts is responsible for treat two disease conditions:

* inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
* irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

SALES & MARKETING
Tillotts markets two brands:

* Asacol®, which through the efforts of licensees and distributors has become the leading product worldwide for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), consisting of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and
*
Colpermin®, a naturally based remedy for the treatment of symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

5-ASA
Asacol
Colpermin
Crohn's disease
Epanova
IBD
IBS
Inflammatory bowel disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Mesalazine
Peppermint oil
Tillotts
Ulcerative Colitis
Topasa

Tillotts is a small, fast growing pharmaceutical company based near Basel, in Switzerland.

  DISEASE INFORMATION  
     
  SYMPTOMS OF IBS
CAUSES OF IBS
DIAGNOSING OF IBS
EXCLUSION CRITERIAS
ROME II CRITERIA




SYMPTOMS OF IBS
IBS is characterized by a group of recurring symptoms. Although abdominal pain, bloating and bowel habit disturbances are the main symptoms; heartburn, dyspepsia, early satiety (a feeling of fullness when eating), fatigue, headache and backache are symptoms often associated with IBS. Patients may experience one or more of these symptoms at the same time.

  • Abdominal pain and spasms: Many IBS patients suffer from painful abdominal spasms, the intensity and frequency of which can fluctuate significantly, spasms are often experienced just after eating or within a couple of hours. Abdominal pain may be felt as dull or sharp, or steady and cramp-like. Pain usually occurs on the lower left side of the abdomen, caused by spasm of the muscles in the walls of the colon (large bowel).
  • Abdominal distension, bloating and flatulence: Excess gas in the intestine which may be present as gastrointestinal foam results in distension and bloating which aggravates the pain. This symptom is generally relieved when wind is passed (flatulence).
  • Changes in bowel habit: diarrhoea or constipation: Altered bowel habits associated with IBS include diarrhoea, constipation and alternating cycles of both conditions. A feeling of incomplete bowel emptying is also frequent in this patient group. Urgency (a need to empty the bowel) is an occasional and distressing feature of IBS though frequently affected patients may not be able to pass stools.

CAUSES OF IBS

The causes of IBS are not yet completely understood. Research suggests that people with IBS have a more sensitive and reactive colon than healthy people. The first IBS attack is often registered in adolescence or young adulthood. It is known to affect more women than men (female to male ratio, reported in studies, ranges from 1:1 to 2:1). Often patients have suffered IBS symptoms for a number of years before a severe 'attack' causes them to seek professional help.


Stress and anxiety are thought to be the main factors to set off an IBS attack. Although abdominal pain may be triggered by emotional stress, the symptoms of IBS usually result from the improper functioning of the intestinal tract. Most experts agree that IBS is part of a vicious cycle of events.

 

With today’s busy lifestyle, it is often difficult to avoid stress and too much stress can bring on the symptoms of IBS.

 

DIAGNOSING OF IBS

IBS is diagnosed by a process of excluding other diseases that may present with similar symptoms. These other diseases may involve structural or biochemical abnormalities of the gut. With IBS patients, the gut when examined by colonoscopy, looks just like that of a healthy person.

EXCLUSION CRITERIAS/SYMPTOMS AND DISEASE OF OTHER ORIGIN

Symptoms

  • nausea or vomiting
  • Paleness and tiredness
  • Severe constipation
  • Fever
  • Blood passing from the bowel
  • Abnormal vaginal discharging or bleeding
  • Difficulty or pain passing urine
  • Age 40 years or over
  • Recent foreign travel
  • Pregnancy

 

Diseases

  • Dietary factors (lactose intolerance)
  • Laxative abuse
  • Medication for other diseases
  • Infections
  • Chronic inflammatory disease
  • Colorectal cancer and endocrine tumors

 

Medical tests for IBS

  • Physical exam
  • Blood tests
  • X ray of the bowel
  • Endoscopy

 

ROME II CRITERIA

These criteria, developed in Rome in 1988 and revised in 1999 by a group of specialists, now form the standard among Manning and Rome I for the diagnosis of IBS for the medical profession.

 

Rome II symptom criteria for IBS

At least 12 weeks, which need not be consecutive, in the preceding 12 months of abdominal discomfort or pain that has two of three features:

  • Relieved with defecation, and/or
  • Onset associated with a change in the frequency of stool, and/or
  • Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool

The second group of Rome II symptoms cumulatively support the diagnosis of IBS and can be used to sub-classify patients:

  • Fewer than three bowel movements a week
  • More than three bowel movements a day
  • Hard or lumpy stools
  • Loose (mushy) or watery stools
  • Straining during a bowel movement
  • Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)
  • Feeling of incomplete bowel movement
  • Passing mucus (white material) during a bowel movement
  • Abdominal fullness, bloating or swelling
    
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