Do rehabilitation patients continue prescribed bowel medications after discharge?

An exploratory descriptive study was conducted to address the use of bowel medications 1 month after discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation center and the rationale for making changes from bowel medications prescribed at discharge. At discharge, 66% of the 114 participants took bowel medications, but 1 month later, 42% did. Stimulant laxatives accounted for nearly half the medications taken at each point. Most of the patients who made medication changes reduced the prescribed dose or altogether discontinued taking the prescribed medication. In response to open-ended questions about changes, participants gave reasons related to physiology and personal preference. Anticipating that many patients will change their bowel medications after discharge, practitioners need to consider patients' preferences and teach patients how to adjust their medications correctly.