title: Complications of laxative abuse.
abstract: Laxative abuse is an uncommon but clinically important cause of chronic diarrhea, a condition often associated with other gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as with disturbances in electrolyte and acid-base balance. A high index of suspicion, a detailed history, and the detection of laxative in stool and/or urine will establish the diagnosis once routine laboratory, endoscopic, and radiologic investigations have excluded common causes of chronic diarrhea. Confirmation of the diagnosis may rule out the need for more extensive, invasive, and costly investigations. However, management is frequently difficult owing to the laxative abuser's complex underlying psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hope Hospital, University of Manchester, Salford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Sandle
mesh_terms: D002400:Cathartics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012651:Self Medication; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics