The Effect of Long-Acting Mesalamine on Post-Infective Irritable Bowel Syndrome- A Pilot Study

Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion Criteria 1. Men and women age 18-75 years 2. Rome III criteria for IBS 3. Symptom onset after apparent acute gastroenteritis 4. Symptoms of 6 months or greater duration 5. Normal gross appearance of the colonic mucosa other than erythema 6. Negative markers for celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease 7. Normal thyroid function and serum calcium 8. Stable medication regimens for other medical conditions. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Age \<18 or \>75 years 2. Previous diagnosis of or history compatible with IBS 3. Constipation-predominant IBS. 4. Clinically significant chronic cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal dysfunction or HIV 5. History of/or presence of malignancy 6. Current evidence of any gastrointestinal disorder such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, scleroderma, HIV, small bowel or colonic resection, paraplegia or quadriplegia. . 7. Current evidence of drug or alcohol abuse as judged by the investigator 8. Allergy to mesalamine or aspirin 9. Investigator perception of patient's inability to comply with the study protocol 10. Unstable psychiatric disease 11. Recent change in gastrointestinal medications