Systematic reviews of effectiveness of laxatives in adult patients
| Author | Inclusion criteria | Main results |
|---|---|---|
| NHS HTA review2 | RCTs in any language were included if all participants were 55 years or older, and were treated for chronic constipation with any oral laxative | Laxatives improve bowel movement frequency, consistency and symptoms in older adults. There is little evidence of differences in effectiveness between laxatives, and no good research evidence to support current NHS trends towards prescribing the more expensive stimulant laxatives |
| Tramonte et al3 | English language RCTs of laxative or fibre therapies in constipated adults (all ages) | Laxatives and fibre increased frequency by overall weighted mean of 1.4 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.8) bowel movements per week, decreased abdominal pain and improved consistency. No clear evidence found as to superiority of various treatments |