Mueller-Lissner, S., Kamm, M.A., Wald, A., Hinkel, U., Koehler, U., Richter, E., & Bubeck, J. (2010). Multicenter, 4-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of sodium picosulfate in patients with chronic constipation. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 105, 897–903.
To evaluate the effectiveness of sodium picosulfate for constipation.
Patients were randomized to receive either sodium picosulfate or matching placebo drops as treatment. If the study treatment was not effective, 10 mg bisacodyl was used as rescue medication. Patients were allowed to titrate the number of study drug drops to best meet their bowel function needs.
This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial.
The use of laxative with sodium picosulfate in patients with chronic constipation may improve complete spontaneous BMs.
Nurses need to be aware of other agents for the treatment of constipation, as well as the pharmacodynamics in which these agents work.