Candy, B., Jones, L., Larkin, P.J., Vickerstaff, V., Tookman, A., & Stone, P. (2015). Laxatives for the management of constipation in people receiving palliative care. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5, CD003448.
PHASE OF CARE: End-of-life care
APPLICATIONS: Palliative care
No difference in effectiveness was demonstrated in lactulose compared with senna; senna plus lactulose compared with magnesium hydroxide plus liquid paraffin; misrakasneham compared with senna; and docusate plus senna compared with placebo plus senna.
The best laxatives for this patient population is unclear.
Very few clinical trials effectively evaluated the use of laxatives in this patient population.
More RCTs are needed to help evaluate the effectiveness and improve the quality of care of patients in palliative care.