The benefits of current pharmacological therapy are minimal. Tricyclic antidepressants have strong clinical support, although antispasmodics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants have weaker clinical evidence. Due to potential hazards, serotonin subtype targeting drugs are not frequently used. Both alosetron and tegaserod, which are not approved for usage in Canada, are linked to cardiovascular events and ischemic colitis, respectively. It is not surprising that nearly 50% of IBS patients seek out Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies given their low levels of satisfaction with therapy they receive. The national center for complementary and alternative medicine defines Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as medical procedures that are not currently regarded as a part of mainstream medicine. It must be noted right away that this definition is rather arbitrary and that what is and is not considered CAM will depend on a variety of circumstances, including cultural, racial, social, religious, educational, economic, and other considerations, as well as the attitude of the local medical community. As an illustration, the use of aromatherapy as a support for pharmaceutical analgesia in the post-operative patient illustrates how complementary medicines or medical practices are, by definition, administered or used in addition to traditional medicines. Alternative medications or medical procedures are utilised instead of standard medicines or procedures; an illustration of this would be the decision to treat cancer with a particular diet rather than surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. An approach to patient treatment known as integrative medicine mixes "mainstream" and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) methods and/or therapies. This approach has been shown to be safe and effective in a number of different contexts.
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