Long-term Use of Bisacodyl in Pediatric Functional Constipation Refractory to Conventional Therapy

Objectives: Standard therapy for pediatric constipation includes osmotic laxatives with stimulant laxatives use only as rescue therapy. Limited information is available on regular and long-term use of bisacodyl in pediatric population despite its common use in adult and pediatric constipation. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with functional constipation refractory to conventional therapy (regular use of osmotic laxatives and intermittent use of stimulant laxatives only as a rescue therapy) referred to tertiary care children's hospital (January 2007–December 2014). Patients had a bowel movement (BM) frequency of ≤2 per week and were treated with bisacodyl regularly for longer than 4 weeks. Demographic variables, bisacodyl dose and treatment duration, number of BM/week before and after treatment, side effects, and length of follow-up were recorded. Response to therapy was successful when frequency of BM increased from baseline to ≥3 BM/wk. Results: A total of 164 patients were included, 52% girls, median age 9.45 years (0.9–21 years). Bisacodyl median dose was 5 mg/day, median duration of treatment was 14 months (1–77 months) with 90% of patients taking the medication for
Source: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original Articles: Gastroenterology Source Type: research