Although IBS primarily affects the digestive system, it can also affect energy levels. There are several reasons why IBS may leave you feeling drained.

Pain, bloating, and bowel symptoms can disrupt your sleep. Even if you’re in bed for eight hours, inadequate sleep quality can leave you feeling unrefreshed. Stress and anxiety, which often go hand in hand with IBS, also contribute to fatigue by putting your nervous system in a constant state of alert.

Another factor is the gut-brain connection. IBS involves changes in how your brain and gut communicate, which may impact your body’s stress response and energy regulation. Ongoing digestive symptoms can also increase inflammation or alter your microbiome, two factors that may play a role in systemic fatigue.

Dietary restrictions may also play a role. If you’re limiting a wide range of foods to help manage certain symptoms, you could be missing key nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, or magnesium, all of which support energy production. Dehydration from diarrhea can make this worse.

Fatigue can affect your focus, mood, and motivation, making it harder to manage daily life — and, in turn, your IBS. It becomes a cycle: IBS worsens your fatigue, and fatigue makes it harder to cope with IBS.

Take action

If you frequently experience low energy levels, don’t dismiss it as unrelated. Consider making an appointment with a healthcare professional to discuss the potential link. Tracking your sleep, diet, and symptom patterns can help you and your healthcare professional identify the underlying cause.