I haven't tried meds yet other than laxatives and stool softeners like Senokot and Colace. All these meds did was help me have a BM while I was taking them. Once I stopped taking the meds - I got my symptoms back. Like you I'm trying to do the diet and exercise thing to hopefully control my ibs-a. I'm also taking Acacia which seems to have helped much more than the Metamucil I used to take!