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Whorwell P, Lange R, Scarpignato C. Review article: do stimulant laxatives damage the gut? A critical analysis of current knowledge. Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2024; 17:17562848241249664. [PMID: 38887508 PMCID: PMC11181897 DOI: 10.1177/17562848241249664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Stimulant laxatives are well established as first- or second-line treatments for constipation and although they have a reliable therapeutic effect, alleged safety concerns still exist, particularly with long-term use. The potential harmful effects on the gastrointestinal system (including carcinogenicity) of the long-term use of diphenylmethane [bisacodyl, sodium picosulfate (SPS)] and senna stimulant laxatives were assessed in a comprehensive review of the publications identified in literature searches performed in PubMed and Embase up to and including June 2023. We identified and reviewed 43 publications of interest. While stimulant laxatives at supratherapeutic doses have been shown to cause structural alterations to surface absorptive cells in animals and humans, these effects are reversible and not considered clinically relevant. No formal long-term studies have demonstrated morphological changes in enteric neural elements or intestinal smooth muscle with bisacodyl or SPS in humans. Furthermore, there is no convincing evidence that stimulant laxatives are associated with the development of colon cancer, and in fact, chronic constipation itself has been reported to potentially increase the risk of colon cancer, therefore, the use of stimulant laxatives might reduce this risk. Many studies suggesting a possible harmful effect from laxatives were limited by their failure to consider confounding factors such as concomitant neurological disease, metabolic disorders, and age. These findings highlight the lack of evidence for the harmful effects of laxatives on the colon, and thus, the benefits of treatment with stimulant laxatives, even in the long-term, should be reconsidered for the management of patients with constipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Whorwell
- Neurogastroenterology Unit, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | | | - Carmelo Scarpignato
- Department of Health Sciences, United Campus of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
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Bazzocchi G, Corazziari ES, Staiano A, Bassotti G, Bellini M, Chiarioni G, D'Alba L, Scarpato E. Position paper on transanal irrigation in chronic non-organic constipation. Dig Liver Dis 2024; 56:770-777. [PMID: 38461046 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
The practice of recto-colonic water irrigation to treat constipation has been used since ancient times with different, uncontrolled, and variably performing methods which have been considered interchangeably all alike. The use of better-performing devices with a standardized methodology is relatively recent, and the term Trans Anal Irrigation (TAI) defines a methodology performed with devices able to control the timing, volume, and pressure of the water introduced into the rectum and colon utilizing a catheter or a cone through the anus. Such practice has been implemented with favorable responses in patients with refractory chronic constipation secondary to neurological diseases. However, since the role of Trans Anal Irrigation as a therapeutic aid in chronic functional constipation and functional evacuation disorders is not yet fully clarified and standardized, a group of clinical investigators with recognized expertise in these clinical conditions intends to clarify the elements that characterize a TAI procedure that can benefit patients with functional constipation and functional defecation disorders defined according to the lastly updated Rome Diagnostic Criteria. Finally, the paper deals with adherence and practical implementation of TAI.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bazzocchi
- Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola - University of Bologna, Italy
| | - E S Corazziari
- Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milano, Italy.
| | - A Staiano
- Department of Translational Medical Science - Section Of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - G Bassotti
- Gastroenterology & Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine & Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - M Bellini
- Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - G Chiarioni
- Il Centro Med Healthcare, Verona Center, Verona, Italy & UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - L D'Alba
- Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - E Scarpato
- Department of Translational Medical Science - Section Of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
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3
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Kawamata Y, Sugawara N, Sasaki T, Yokoyama S, Okayasu H, Shinozaki M, Takeuchi Y, Sato A, Ishikawa T, Komahashi‐Sasaki H, Miyazaki K, Fukasawa T, Furukori H, Yasui‐Furukori N. Factors associated with the initiation of laxative use in the same patients with schizophrenia over a 20-year period: Retrospective cohort study. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2024; 44:60-66. [PMID: 37698084 PMCID: PMC10932797 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Constipation is a common adverse effect of antipsychotics, but little investigation has been conducted. We aimed to address the factors associated with the initiation of laxative use in the same patients with schizophrenia over a 20-year period. METHODS We enrolled patients with schizophrenia attending each hospital (n = 14) from April 1, 2021, and retrospectively examined all prescriptions as of April 1, 2016, 2011, 2006, and 2001, every 5 years starting in 2021, for this population. 716 participants with complete data were included in the analysis. The Cochran Q test followed by Bonferroni correction and the Cochran-Armitage trend test were used to determine the differences and trends of the frequency of each laxative. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the factors on the initiation of laxative use over a 20-year period. RESULTS Of the patients, 25.1% were treated with laxatives in 2001, and 34.1% were treated in 2021. The numbers of patients treated with any laxatives significantly differed over the 20-year period, with a significant increasing trend. In all laxatives, the numbers of patients treated with magnesium oxide, lubiprostone and elobixibat differed with a significant increasing trend. Female sex, age, the total DZP equivalent dose, and the doses of levomepromazine maleate, olanzapine, quetiapine, zotepine, lithium, and carbamazepine in 2021 were significant factors associated with the initiation of laxative use over the 20-year period. CONCLUSIONS Careful monitoring is needed for patients treated with levomepromazine maleate, olanzapine, quetiapine and zotepine. Optimizing prescriptions according to treatment guidelines could reduce antipsychotic-induced constipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Kawamata
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryKikuchi HospitalTochigiJapan
| | - Norio Sugawara
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryTMC ShimotsugaTochigiJapan
| | - Taro Sasaki
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryAsahi HospitalTochigiJapan
| | - Saaya Yokoyama
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryAoki HospitalTochigiJapan
| | - Hiroaki Okayasu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryFudogaoka HospitalSaitamaJapan
| | - Masataka Shinozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryTakizawa HospitalTochigiJapan
| | - Yoshitaka Takeuchi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryOkamotodai HospitalTochigiJapan
| | - Aoi Sato
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryMuroi HospitalTochigiJapan
| | - Takaaki Ishikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatrySaitama‐Konan HospitalSaitamaJapan
| | - Hazuki Komahashi‐Sasaki
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryKanuma HospitalTochigiJapan
| | - Kensuke Miyazaki
- Department of NeuropsychiatryHirosaki‐Aiseikai HospitalAomoriJapan
| | | | - Hanako Furukori
- Department of NeuropsychiatryKuroichi‐Akebono HospitalAomoriJapan
| | - Norio Yasui‐Furukori
- Department of Psychiatry, School of MedicineDokkyo Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
- Department of PsychiatryTMC ShimotsugaTochigiJapan
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4
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Bassotti G. Relief from behind: enemas, the back door enforcement to help treating chronic constipation in adults. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 17:1081-1087. [PMID: 37804131 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2023.2267968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic constipation is a frequent symptom encountered in the daily clinical practice. The treatment of this condition mainly relies on the use of laxatives. However, patients' satisfaction with this approach is limited, and alternative measures are often added to the treatment. Among these, particularly frequent worldwide is the use of enemas, even though literature data on its scientific validity are scarce. AREAS COVERED In this article, by an extensive online search of Medline (through PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, and the Science Citation Index, the available literature data on the use of enemas in adult patients with chronic constipation, also in the perspective of available guidelines on treatment of this pathological condition, were analyzed. EXPERT OPINION Although the use of enemas remains a frequently employed method and it is considered as useful by many physicians as an adjunctive support for the treatment of chronic constipation in adults, this practice is not substantiated by rigorous scientific data, and some studies are available only for specific instances (fecal impaction, transanal irrigation). Thus, waiting for more robust scientific data, enemas treatment should be carried out on an individual patient's basis, according to the experience of the caring physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrio Bassotti
- Gastroenterology & Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Gastroenterology Unit, Perugia General Hospital, Perugia, Italy
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Andresen V, Becker G, Frieling T, Goebel-Stengel M, Gundling F, Herold A, Karaus M, Keller J, Kim M, Klose P, Krammer H, Kreis ME, Kuhlbusch-Zicklam R, Langhorst J, Layer P, Lenzen-Großimlinghaus R, Madisch A, Mönnikes H, Müller-Lissner S, Rubin D, Schemann M, Schwille-Kiuntke J, Stengel A, Storr M, van der Voort I, Voderholzer W, Wedel T, Wirz S, Witzigmann H, Pehl C. Aktualisierte S2k-Leitlinie chronische Obstipation der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (DGVS) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurogastroenterologie & Motilität (DGNM) – April 2022 – AWMF-Registriernummer: 021–019. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GASTROENTEROLOGIE 2022; 60:1528-1572. [PMID: 36223785 DOI: 10.1055/a-1880-1928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V Andresen
- Medizinische Klinik, Israelitisches Krankenhaus, Hamburg, Deutschland
| | - G Becker
- Klinik für Palliativmedizin, Freiburg, Deutschland
| | - T Frieling
- Medizinische Klinik II, Helios-Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Deutschland
| | | | - F Gundling
- Medizinische Klinik II (Gastroenterologie, Gastroenterologische Onkologie, Hepatologie, Diabetologie, Stoffwechsel, Infektiologie), Klinikum am Bruderwald, Bamberg, Deutschland
| | - A Herold
- Sozialstiftung Bamberg, End- und Dickdarm-Zentrum Mannheim, Mannheim, Deutschland
| | - M Karaus
- Abt. Innere Medizin, Evang. Krankenhaus Göttingen-Weende, Göttingen, Deutschland
| | - J Keller
- Medizinische Klinik, Israelitisches Krankenhaus, Hamburg, Deutschland
| | - M Kim
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Transplantations-, Gefäß- und Kinderchirurgie (Chirurgische Klinik I) des Universitätsklinikums, Zentrum Operative Medizin (ZOM), Würzburg, Deutschland
| | - P Klose
- Universität Duisburg-Essen, Medizinische Fakultät, Essen, Deutschland
| | - H Krammer
- Sozialstiftung Bamberg, End- und Dickdarm-Zentrum Mannheim, Mannheim, Deutschland
| | - M E Kreis
- Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefäßchirurgie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | | | - J Langhorst
- Knappschafts-Krankenhaus, Essen, Deutschland
| | - P Layer
- Medizinische Klinik, Israelitisches Krankenhaus, Hamburg, Deutschland
| | | | - A Madisch
- Klinik für Gastroenterologie, interventionelle Endoskopie und Diabetologie, Klinikum Siloah-Oststadt-Heidehaus, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - H Mönnikes
- Klinik für Innere Medizin, Martin-Luther-Krankenhaus, Berlin, Deutschland
| | | | - D Rubin
- Klinik für Innere Medizin Schwerpunkt Gastroenterologie, DRK Kliniken Berlin Mitte, Berlin, Deutschland.,Klinik für Innere Medizin mit Schwerpunkt Gastroenterologie, Vivantes Klinikum Spandau, Spandau, Deutschland
| | - M Schemann
- Lehrstuhl für Humanbiologie, TU München, Freising, Deutschland
| | - J Schwille-Kiuntke
- Innere Medizin VI Psychosomat. Medizin u. Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Deutschland.,Institut für Arbeitsmedizin, Sozialmedizin und Versorgungsforschung, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Deutschland
| | - A Stengel
- Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Psychosomatik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - M Storr
- Zentrum für Endoskopie, Starnberg, Deutschland
| | - I van der Voort
- Klinik für Innere Medizin Gastroenterologie und Diabetologie, Jüdisches Krankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | | | - T Wedel
- Anatomisches Institut, Universität Kiel, Kiel, Deutschland
| | - S Wirz
- Cura Krankenhaus Bad Honnef, Bad Honnef, Deutschland
| | - H Witzigmann
- Klinik für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie, Krankenhaus Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Deutschland
| | - C Pehl
- Medizinische Klinik, Krankenhaus Vilsbiburg, Vilsbiburg, Deutschland
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Bassotti G, Usai Satta P, Bellini M. Chronic Idiopathic Constipation in Adults: A Review on Current Guidelines and Emerging Treatment Options. Clin Exp Gastroenterol 2021; 14:413-428. [PMID: 34712055 PMCID: PMC8547593 DOI: 10.2147/ceg.s256364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) is a common functional bowel disorder characterized by difficult, infrequent, and/or incomplete defecation. It has a great impact on the quality of life and on health care system and represents a heavy economic burden. The diagnosis is based on symptoms, classified by the Rome IV criteria. The aim of this review was to evaluate the current therapeutic guidelines for adult CIC and highlight new emerging treatments. In detail, European, French, Spanish and Korean guidelines have been identified and compared. Osmotic laxatives, and in particular polyethylene glycol, represent the first-line therapeutic approach. Stimulant laxatives are recommended as a second-line therapy. Pelvic floor rehabilitation is recommended in patients with ano-rectal dyssynergia. In patients who fail to improve with pharmacological therapies sacral nerve stimulation is considered as last chance before surgery. Surgical approach has however limited indications in selected cases. Inertia coli refractory to any approach and obstructed defecation are two subtypes which can benefit from surgery. Among emerging agents, prucalopride, a prokinetic agent, is recommended as a second-line treatment in refractory CIC patients. In addition, the secretagogues linaclotide and plecanatide and the bile acid transported inhibitor elobixibat can be effective in patients not responsive to a second-line therapeutic regimen, although they are not worldwide commercially available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrio Bassotti
- Gastroenterology & Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Bellini
- Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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The severity of symptoms is insufficient to predict major alterations to quality of life of patients with fecal incontinence or chronic constipation. Int J Colorectal Dis 2020; 35:2041-2048. [PMID: 32627072 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-020-03685-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Evaluate the impact of fecal incontinence (FI) and chronic constipation (CC) on the quality of life (QoL) in a large population and determine if a threshold of symptom scores was associated with alterations to QoL. METHODS A total of 422 outpatients with FI (n = 186), CC (n = 186), and mixed FI-CC (n = 50) referred for anorectal manometry were included prospectively. All patients completed a set of questionnaires to evaluate the severity of FI and CC (respectively Jorge and Wexner and KESS scores) and their impact on QoL (Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI)). RESULTS The study population included 81.8% women. The QoL was altered to the same degree for both FI and CC, with significant more marked impairments in patients with mixed FI-CC (median GIQLI: 91 (71-108) vs. 91 (73-108) vs. 81 (57-97) respectively, p = 0.05). The symptom severity significantly but weekly correlated with the GIQLI score (r2 = - 0.454 for FI and r2 = - 0.483 for CC, p < 0.001). Thus, the large dispersion of the data flawed the identification of a threshold for symptom severity that could predict major impairment to QoL. CONCLUSION The QoL was equally altered for FI and CC. Although the symptom score severity was slightly but significantly associated with alterations to QoL, it was not possible to determine a threshold for symptom scores that predict an alteration to QoL. Therefore, the evaluation of QoL in parallel to the assessment of the symptom score is required to endorse the entire spectrum of the severity of CC or FI.
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Dai L, Zhong LLD, Ji G. Irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation management with integrative medicine: A systematic review. World J Clin Cases 2019. [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i21.3469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
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9
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Dai L, Zhong LLD, Ji G. Irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation management with integrative medicine: A systematic review. World J Clin Cases 2019; 7:3486-3504. [PMID: 31750331 PMCID: PMC6854423 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i21.3486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional constipation (FC) are two commonly encountered functional gastrointestinal disorders in clinical practice and are usually managed with Western medicines in cooperation with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions. Although clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been developed to assist clinicians with their decisions, there are still gaps in management with regard to integrative medicine (IM) recommendations.
AIM To comprehensively review the currently available CPGs and to provide a reference for addressing the gaps in IBS and FC management.
METHODS We searched mainstream English and Chinese databases and collected data from January 1990 to January 2019. The search was additionally enriched by manual searches and the use of publicly available resources. Based on the development method, the guidelines were classified into evidence-based (EB) guidelines, consensus-based (CB) guidelines, and consensus-based guidelines with no comprehensive consideration of the EB (CB-EB) guidelines. With regard to the recommendations, the strength of the interventions was uniformly converted to a 4-point grading scale.
RESULTS Thirty CPGs met the inclusion criteria and were captured as data extraction sources. Most Western medicine (WM) CPGs were developed as EB guidelines. All TCM CPGs and most IM CPGs were identified as CB guidelines. Only the 2011 IBS and IM CPG was a CB-EB set of guidelines. Antispasmodics and peppermint oil for pain, loperamide for diarrhea, and linaclotide for constipation were relatively common in the treatment of IBS. Psyllium bulking agents, polyethylene glycol and lactulose as osmotic laxatives, bisacodyl and sodium picosulfate as stimulant laxatives, lubiprostone and linaclotide as prosecretory agents, and prucalopride were strongly recommended or recommended in FC. TCM interventions were suggested based on pattern differentiation, while the recommendation level was considered to be weak or insufficient.
CONCLUSION WM CPGs generally provide a comprehensive management algorithm, although there are still some gaps that could be addressed with TCM. Specific high-quality trials are needed to enrich the evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Dai
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Linda LD Zhong
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guang Ji
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
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Cao Y, Liu SM. Lactulose for the treatment of Chinese children with chronic constipation: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e13794. [PMID: 30593164 PMCID: PMC6314691 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000013794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of lactulose for the treatment of Chinese children with chronic constipation. METHODS A total of 100 children with chronic constipation were included in this randomized controlled trial. They were equally and randomly allocated to a treatment group (n = 50) and a placebo group (n = 50). The participants in the treatment group received lactulose, while the subjects in the placebo group received placebo intervention. The children in both groups were treated for a total of 6 weeks. The primary outcome was daily stool frequency. The secondary outcomes consisted of stool consistency, measured by the Bristol Stool Form Scale, abdominal pain, flatulence, as well as the adverse events. All outcomes were measured at baseline and after 6-weeks treatment. RESULTS After 6 weeks treatment, lactulose showed better outcomes in daily stool frequency (P < .01), and stool consistency (P < .01), except the abdominal pain (P = .24), and flatulence (P = .44), compared with the placebo. Additionally, no significant differences regarding all adverse events were detected between 2 groups. CONCLUSION The results of this study found that lactulose is efficacious for Chinese children with chronic constipation after 6-weeks of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Yulin No. 2 Hospital, Yulin
| | - Shi-ming Liu
- Department of Health Materials, Yan’an People's Hospital, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
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