Based on published guidelines on the management of chronic constipation, secondary causes should be excluded and then patients should be told to increase their dietary fiber intake to 20-25 g per day. If these measures do not improve the symptoms, conventional laxatives are generally the next choice. Although there is limited evidence for the efficacy of these older laxatives due to a lack of well-designed clinical trials, most clinicians agree that they are effective at relieving the symptoms of constipation. Conventional laxatives include bulk-forming, osmotic, and stimulant laxatives. Bulking laxatives consist of fiber such as psyllium, cellulose, and bran. Osmotic laxatives are classified into sugar-based laxatives and polyethylene glycol. Bisacodyl and sodium picosulfate are stimulant laxatives. Understanding their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and side effects might improve the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic constipation.
Bisacodyl ; Cellulose ; Constipation ; Dietary Fiber ; Humans ; Laxatives* ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Psyllium ; Quality of Life ; Sodium

Constipation is one of the most common symptoms that a child visits pediatrician. The general approach to the child with functional constipation includes the following steps; disimpaction, maintenance and withdrawal of medication. There are many drugs which can be applied to children; osmotic agents (lactulose, sorbitol, magnesium hydroxide/citrate, polyethylene glycol with/without electrolytes, sodium phosphate, glycerin), stimulants (senna, bisacodyl, caster oil), lubricant (mineral oil), bulking agent (psyllium, cellulose, glucomannan). At each stage of treatment, one or some of these drug can be applied to the purpose. The author tries to summarize recent studies on drugs for constipation in child, and finally introduces new dugs for constipation which is under investigation.
Bisacodyl ; Cellulose ; Child ; Constipation ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Magnesium ; Phosphates ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Sodium ; Sorbitol

Constipation is one of the most common symptoms that a child visits pediatrician. The general approach to the child with functional constipation includes the following steps; disimpaction, maintenance and withdrawal of medication. There are many drugs which can be applied to children; osmotic agents (lactulose, sorbitol, magnesium hydroxide/citrate, polyethylene glycol with/without electrolytes, sodium phosphate, glycerin), stimulants (senna, bisacodyl, caster oil), lubricant (mineral oil), bulking agent (psyllium, cellulose, glucomannan). At each stage of treatment, one or some of these drug can be applied to the purpose. The author tries to summarize recent studies on drugs for constipation in child, and finally introduces new dugs for constipation which is under investigation.
Bisacodyl ; Cellulose ; Child ; Constipation ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Magnesium ; Phosphates ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Sodium ; Sorbitol

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study compared the efficacy and patient's tolerance between those given a divided dose of a polyethylene glycol solution (PEG) and those given a stimulant laxative plus a reduced dose of PEG. METHODS: 190 consecutive patients for colon cleasing were randomized into 3 groups. In group A, 2 L of PEG was administered on the evening prior to the colonoscopy followed by 2 L of the same solution on the morning of colonoscopy. In group B, 2 L of PEG was administered in the morning only. In group C, 2 bisacodyl tablets (10 mg) were administered on the evening prior to colonoscopy and 2 L of PEG was administered in the morning. The patients completed a questionnaire to assess their tolerance to the bowel preparation before the colonoscopy. The endoscopists scored the adequacy of the bowel preparation using the Ottawa scale along with their satisfaction with the quality of the procedure. RESULTS: While 4 patients (6.7%) could not completely take the recommended dose in group A, all patients in groups B and C could take the recommended dose (p=0.012). The patients in Group B had a better tolerance and fewer side effects than those in Group A (p=0.01). A higher adequacy of bowel preparation was observed in group A than in group B (p=0.000) and there appeared to be a higher adequacy of bowel preparation in Group C than in Group B (p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The 2 L PEG solution only does not appear to be as effective as a bowel cleansing agent for colonoscopy compared with the divided 4 L PEG solution. No statistical difference in the side effects and efficacy was observed between the divided 4 L PEG solution and the combination of bisacodyl 10 mg with 2 L of a PEG solution.
Bisacodyl ; Colon* ; Colonoscopy ; Detergents ; Humans ; Polyethylene Glycols* ; Polyethylene* ; Prospective Studies* ; Tablets ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine whether a mechanical bowel preparation with 2 liters polyethylene glycol solution combined with a Bisacodyl 20 mg (Group II) increases the acceptability of bowel preparation and reduces discomfort compared with 4 liters of polyethylene glycol solution (Group I). METHODS: We conducted a prospective randomized single-blinded study. Eighty patients undergoing an elective colorectal surgery in Severance hospital from April 1999 to September 1999 were included in this study. The patients' tolerance, cleansing ability and surgeon's satisfaction were assessed by a structured questionnaire. Postoperative complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: The patients' tolerance of the group II (2 liters polyethylene glycol solution combined with a Bisacodyl 20 mg) was better than that of the groups I (4 liters of polyethylene glycol solution). The cleaning ability and surgeon's satisfaction were not different between two groups (p=0.225, p=0.322). The incidence of postoperative complications was 2.3 percent in Group I and 2.7 percent in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical bowel preparation with two liters of polyethylene glycol solution with a Bisacodyl 20 mg was more comfortable to patients and equally efficient compared with the mechanical bowel preparation with the 4 liters of polyethylene glycol solution regimen before elective colorectal surgery.
Bisacodyl ; Colorectal Surgery* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Polyethylene* ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Therapeutic Irrigation*

Intravenous urography is very important in the detection of pathological conditions of the urinary tract, but the presence of intestinal gas shadows may be very confusing in the interpretation of urograms. There is considerable difference of opinion regarding the desirability of preparing patients for excretory urography. we obtained clinical impression and statistical results that intestinal gas was increased with prolonged duration after last diarrhea, also with sleeping after last diarrhea. So we attempted one new method of preparation in which employed 30cc, of castor oil for catharsis two times at night before examination and next morning 6:00 a. m. and result was compared with other methods. A total of 300 cases, for the most in-patients, consisted of 6 groups, were studied in this report. All patients had nothing by mouth after midnight until the X-rays were completed and pyelograms usually were taken in the morning. Following methods of preparation were studied. Group 1 : 60 cc. castor oil at bed time. Group 2 : 60 cc. castor oil at 4:00 a. m. Group 3 : 30 cc. castor oil at bed time and 30 cc. at 6:00 a. m. Group 4 : 60 cc. castor oil at bed time and enema in the morning. Group 5 : No cathartics and enema. Group 6 : Dulcolax 2 tablets at bed time. The X-ray films were graded as A) excellent B) good C) fair D) poor by three or more examiners. Group 3. afforded best result. We believed that result was due to prevention of intestinal fermentation by ingestion of castor oil at bed time and passage of swallowed air before X-ray examination by repeated ingestion at 6:00 a. m. A larger series of cases over a longer period of time, for more accurate statistical study, is warranted.
Bisacodyl ; Castor Oil ; Catharsis ; Cathartics ; Diarrhea ; Eating ; Enema ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Mouth ; Statistics as Topic ; Tablets ; Urinary Tract ; Urography* ; X-Ray Film

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although bisacodyl is a widely administered laxative, its underlying mechanism of action remains generally unknown. This study focuses on investigating the effects of bisacodyl on the human colon muscle contraction, and elucidating its mechanism of action. METHODS: Sigmoid colon muscle strips (20 longitudinal and 18 circular muscles) were obtained from 20 subjects who underwent colectomy for colon cancer. Isometric force measurements were calculated in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS, 0.3 milliseconds in trains of 10 Hz for 20 seconds, 150 V). Peak and nadir (tone) during and after EFS, were measured in a controlled state, and after sequential addition of bisacodyl (1 μM), atropine (1 μM), N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 100 μM), MRS2500 (1 μM), and tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 μM) to the organ bath. RESULTS: Transient phasic contractions were observed during EFS, and after cessation of EFS. In the longitudinal muscles, nadir during EFS, and tone after EFS, significantly increased after addition of bisacodyl, and persisted after sequential addition of atropine, L-NNA, MRS2500, and TTX, indicating a direct action of bisacodyl on the smooth muscle. In the second experiment, pretreatment of TTX abolished EFS-induced phasic contractions. Although no phasic contraction was produced after perfusion of bisacodyl, tone was increased, thereby supporting evidence of a direct mechanism of action of bisacodyl on the colon smooth muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Bisacodyl increases the tone of longitudinal muscle in the human sigmoid colon through a direct action on the smooth muscle. Further study is warranted to investigate the neural mechanism of action of bisacodyl.
Atropine ; Baths ; Bisacodyl ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscles ; Perfusion ; Physiology ; Tetrodotoxin

Constipation is a prevalent, often chronic, gastrointestinal motility disorder. Bisacodyl, a stimulant laxative, is widely used to treat constipation in adults and children. This drug is usually safe, but it has some side effects including diarrhea, abdominal pain, colitis, and proctitis. There have been reports that rectal administration of bisacodyl could cause injury to the rectal mucosa by mechanical and chemical mechanisms. However, there has been no report of severe proctitis with rectal ulcers in patients taking oral bisacodyl. In this report, we describe the case of an 80-year-old woman with severe rectal ulcers and proctitis after taking oral bisacodyl for several days, and review the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Administration, Rectal ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bisacodyl* ; Child ; Colitis ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Proctitis* ; Rectum ; Ulcer*

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine whether a mechanical bowel preparation with 90 ml of sodium phosphate (NaP) solution (Group II) increased the acceptability of bowel preparation and reduced discomfort compared with 2 liters of polyethylene glycol (PEG) combined with a bisacodyl 20 mg (Group I). METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study. Forty-four patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in the National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital from March 2002 to November 2002 were included in this study. We assessed the patients' tolerance and cleansing ability, as well as the surgeon's satisfaction, by using a structured questionnaire. Postoperative complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: Patient tolerance to NaP was higher than it was to PEG (P=0.034). The cleansing ability and the surgeon's satisfaction were not different between the two groups (P=0.217, P=0.349). There is no significant postoperative complication except for 1 case of wound infection in both group. CONCLUSIONS: Both oral solutions proved to be equally effective and safe. However, patient tolerance to the small volume of NaP demonstrated a clear advantage over the traditional PEG solution.
Bisacodyl ; Colorectal Surgery* ; Humans ; National Health Programs ; Polyethylene Glycols* ; Polyethylene* ; Postoperative Complications ; Preoperative Care ; Prospective Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sodium* ; Therapeutic Irrigation* ; Wound Infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to prospectively compare low-volume PEG plus 20 mg bisacodyl with the standard 4 L PEG with regards to the adequacy of bowel preparation, patient compliance and the side effects. METHODS: From September 2007 to January 2008, 59 patients who had previously undergone screening colonoscopy with 4 L PEG and had been diagnosed with colonic polyps were admitted for polypectomy. The colonoscopists, who were unaware of the preparation that was administered, evaluated the adequacy of the bowel cleansing. Detailed questionnaires were also used to assess patient compliance, the difficulty of bowel preparation, side effects and patient preference. RESULTS: The physician's evaluation of the colon cleansing showed better adequacy with 4 L PEG than with 2 L PEG plus bisacodyl (p<0.05). There was no difference in patient compliance between the 2 bowel preps. The patients in the 2 L PEG plus bisacodyl group tolerated the bowel preparation more easily than the patients in the 4 L PEG (81.4% vs. 15.3%, respectively). Moreover, the scores of the visual analog scale for the difficulty of bowel preparation were 5.8+/-2.3 in the 4 L PEG group and 3.2+/-1.9 in the 2 L PEG plus bisacodyl (p<0.01). The majority (89.8%) of the patients preferred 2 L PEG plus bisacodyl (p<0.001). The 2 L PEG plus bisacodyl group revealed less nausea, vomiting and sleep discomfort (p<0.05), but they had more abdominal pain (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 2 L PEG plus bisacodyl is not as effective as the standard 4 L PEG for colon cleansing. However, 2 L PEG plus bisacodyl can be used for patients who have difficulty drinking a large amount of PEG.
Abdominal Pain ; Bisacodyl ; Colon ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Drinking ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nausea ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Preference ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Prospective Studies ; Tablets ; Vomiting ; Surveys and Questionnaires