Study of Medication for Functional Abdominal Pain in Children

Recurrent gastro-intestinal complaints constitute one of the most common reasons for medical consultation among daycare and school children. Studies suggest an association between childhood functional abdominal pain and psychiatric disorders. Although most children with mild symptoms are mostly managed by reassurance and simple measures, a large range of interventions such as dietary changes, use of antidepressant and medications are being widely used with little evidence to suggest their effectiveness. In view of the high prevalence of this disorder and the lack of pediatric scientific evidence on extensively used drug therapies there is critical need to develop trials of all suggested pharmacologic interventions in children with functional pain disorders. This study has the potential to fill a critical void in pediatric gastroenterology.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the medication (amitriptyline) on symptoms of patients with abdominal pain of non-organic origin.

Our hypotheses are that amitriptyline results in adequate relief of symptoms in children with functional abdominal pain and that is more effective than placebo in controlling pain.

This is a randomized, double masked placebo controlled study, using standard current measures and diagnostic criteria to address the question whether the treatment with amitriptyline is efficacious, and that leads to an improvement in severity of the symptoms for which the patient sought medical attention.

The study is conducted on a group of children (eight to eighteen years) suffering from functional abdominal pain. The study population is randomly assigned (by chance) into 2 groups (half of the patients receive drug and half of patients receive a non-acting drug-placebo). Each individual will randomly receive the medication or placebo at night time for 4 weeks. In order to qualify for the study the patients have to complete one week on baseline questionnaires to assess their symptoms and have to be diagnosed with a condition associated with functional abdominal pain by the investigators. The patient will complete initial questionnaires and end of the study questionnaires as well as daily questionnaires to assess the symptoms. At the end of the study both groups will be compared to establish differences.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 8 to 17 years
• Diagnosis of functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome made by a pediatric gastroenterologist according to Rome II criteria
• Mean daily intensity of pain of 25 mm in the week prior to the initiation of the study, based on the Word-Graphic Rating Scale continuous score
• Following evaluation in the six months prior to the study: normal EKG and laboratory tests including complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, albumin, serum amylase, lipase, liver enzymes, urine analysis, stool examination for occult blood and ova and parasites. Urinary culture will be obtained if the symptoms or urinalysis suggest the possibility of a urinary infection,
• Normal lactose breath test or history of lack of resolution of symptoms on a lactose-free diet
• Consenting parents
• Patient assent

Exclusion criteria

• Inclusion criteria not met
• Evidence of organic gastrointestinal disease, hepatic disorders, urinary or cardiac disease, seizures, blood dyscrasias, glaucoma
• History of allergic reaction to amitriptyline
• Patients receiving barbiturates, cimetidine, neuroleptics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, sympathomimetic agents or quinidine
• Children below the 5th percentile for weight or height
• Hemoccult positive stools