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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Other Laxatives

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Other Laxatives

Laxatives are primarily used to alleviate constipation, a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stools. They work by various mechanisms to increase the volume or frequency of bowel movements. The primary modes of action of laxatives include increasing stool bulk, softening the stool, stimulating intestinal motility, and osmotically drawing water into the intestines.
Osmotic or saline laxatives, like magnesium hydroxide or milk of...

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives

Laxatives enhance bowel movements and alleviate constipation. They augment the stool's bulk, stimulate intestinal muscle contractions, draw water into the intestines, or soften the stool. There are five key types of laxatives: bulk laxatives, stimulant laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stool softeners, and lubricant laxatives.
Bulk-forming laxatives, such as psyllium, methylcellulose, and polycarbophil, absorb water in the intestine, increasing stool bulk and promoting bowel movement. This makes...

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

Pharmacological therapies for IBS-C are designed to alleviate abdominal discomfort and enhance bowel function. In patients with IBS-C, fiber supplements may help soften stools and decrease straining, but may also lead to increased gas production and bloating. Osmotic laxatives like milk of magnesia are frequently used to soften stools and increase stool frequency in IBS-C patients. In addition, two drugs approved for use in severe IBS-C adult cases are linaclotide (Linzess) and lubiprostone...

Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting

Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting

Documentation in long-term care facilities and home healthcare settings is crucial for ensuring continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care for patients. Each setting has its specific documentation processes and tools:
Long-Term Care Facilities

Restorative Care

Restorative Care

Restorative care is provided once a patient has been discharged from a healthcare facility and requires additional services. The additional services include home care, rehabilitation programs, and extended care. Restorative care centers help the patient regain their previous level of functioning or acquire a new level of functioning due to the incapacitating effects of a disease or a disability. It aims to assist patients in enhancing their quality of life by encouraging independence,...

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a subtype of IBS characterized primarily by frequent, loose, or watery stools, abdominal pain, and abdominal discomfort. Therapeutic approaches to managing IBS-D include dietary changes, stress management techniques, and pharmaceutical interventions.
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...

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Chinese Herbal Retention Enema for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

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Published on: May 16, 2025

Laxative use in care homes.

Heather Gage¹, Claire Goodman, Sue L Davies

¹Heather Gage BA MSc PhD Reader in Health Economics Department of Economics, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. h.gage@surrey.ac.uk

Journal of Advanced Nursing

|June 16, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Older adults in care homes frequently take laxatives, with increased use linked to taking more medications, female sex, and dementia. Care home routines, not just clinical factors, influence this prevalence.

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Geriatric Medicine
Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

Constipation is a prevalent issue in care home residents, causing significant discomfort and morbidity.
Laxative use is widespread among older adults residing in care facilities.
Variations in constipation prevalence may stem from care practices rather than solely demographic or clinical characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the factors associated with regular laxative use in older individuals living in care homes.
To identify demographic, clinical, and care-related variables influencing laxative consumption.

Main Methods:

A study involving 168 residents across seven London care homes (without on-site nursing) conducted between 2003-2004.
Backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was employed to determine factors associated with regular laxative intake.
Data collected from care records included age, sex, dependency level (Barthel index), comorbidity count, medication count, constipating medication use, length of stay, and dementia diagnosis.

Main Results:

Over half (58.9%) of residents were routinely taking laxatives.
Increased medication use (per category) was strongly associated with a threefold higher likelihood of laxative use.
Female residents (2.9 times) and those with dementia/Alzheimer disease (2.6 times) showed significantly higher odds of regular laxative intake.
Statistical analysis revealed significant variations in laxative-taking rates between two of the participating care homes.

Conclusions:

Laxative consumption among older care home residents is variable and may not always align with rational prescribing criteria.
Care home nurses and staff play a crucial role in establishing and implementing appropriate bowel care protocols for elderly residents.
Further research into care routines and their impact on bowel management in institutionalized older adults is warranted.