TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiology of Constipation in Elderly Patients
T2 - Drug Utilisation and Cost-Containment Strategies
AU - Lederle, Frank A.
PY - 1995/6
Y1 - 1995/6
N2 - Constipation is a common complaint among elderly people, resulting in large amounts of money being spent on laxatives. Strategies for improving patient care while reducing this expenditure include: (a) counselling patients that daily bowel movements and purging are not essential to good health, (b) greater use of non-pharmacological measures such as hydration, exercise and dietary fibre, and (c) considering safety, effectiveness and cost in the selection of a laxative. Generic preparations of psyllium and sorbitol can be recommended in this regard. The widespread use of stool softeners, magnesium hydroxide (‘milk of magnesia’) and stimulant laxatives is difficult to justify from the available data.
AB - Constipation is a common complaint among elderly people, resulting in large amounts of money being spent on laxatives. Strategies for improving patient care while reducing this expenditure include: (a) counselling patients that daily bowel movements and purging are not essential to good health, (b) greater use of non-pharmacological measures such as hydration, exercise and dietary fibre, and (c) considering safety, effectiveness and cost in the selection of a laxative. Generic preparations of psyllium and sorbitol can be recommended in this regard. The widespread use of stool softeners, magnesium hydroxide (‘milk of magnesia’) and stimulant laxatives is difficult to justify from the available data.
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U2 - 10.2165/00002512-199506060-00006
DO - 10.2165/00002512-199506060-00006
M3 - Review article
C2 - 7663066
AN - SCOPUS:0029314793
SN - 1170-229X
VL - 6
SP - 465
EP - 469
JO - Drugs & Aging
JF - Drugs & Aging
IS - 6
ER -