OBJECTIVES: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and episodic disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Its impact on generic and disease-specific quality of life and self-perceived health status is rarely assessed in the Netherlands. This study assessed the impact of IBS on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: Patients using mebeverine, identified at community pharmacies, were administered a questionnaire regarding ROME-II-criteria to confirm the IBS diagnosis, abdominal complaints, use of medical resources, abdominal pain and discomfort (IGA-P VAS with 0 = no pain and 1 = very severe pain), patient self-perceived health status (VAS with 0 = worst imaginable health state i.e. death and 1 = best possible health state, and SF-6D), generic HRQoL (SF-36) and IBS-specific HRQol (IBSQoL). SF-36 outcomes were compared to a random sample of the Dutch population and other Dutch patients suffering from chronic diseases. The association between HRQol and severity of disease (IGA-P) was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 212 completed questionnaires were received. A total of 169 patients met the ROME-II-criteria for diagnosis of IBS. Of those, 18% suffered from IBS with diarrhea predominance, 19% from IBS with constipation predominance and 51% reported an alternating stool pattern. Severe abdominal pain (IGA-P >60 mm on a 100 mm VAS) was reported by 65%. Sufficient differences between the IBS-population and the Dutch population were measured for all dimensions of the SF-36. SF-36 and IBSQoL outcomes were associated with disease severity. Patients regarded their health state as low: 0.62 (0.2) on a VAS and 0.66 (0.1) using the SF-6D algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: IBS has a significant impact on all dimensions of HRQol. Our findings are consistent with other studies. There is an unmet medical need in patients suffering from IBS in the Netherlands.