Pharmacologic management of chronic constipation.
Chronic constipation is a common digestive problem in North America, with significant psychosocioeconomic implications. Dietary and lifestyle measures and low-cost traditional over-the-counter laxatives are usually the first line of therapy but help only half of the patients. Several newer agents that act by increasing colonic peristalsis, altering colonic secretion, and/or antagonizing enteric opioid receptors have been developed that are effective in treating constipation and its related symptoms as well as improving quality of life. This article focuses on the pharmacology of traditional and newer agents for the treatment of constipation.
Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 4612 JCP, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Siddharth
S
Singh
Satish S C
SS
Rao
D000527:Alprostadil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068238:Lubiprostone; D009037:Motilin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000074261:Receptors, Enterotoxin; D050705:Receptors, Guanylate Cyclase-Coupled; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000819:agonists; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D054368:Laxatives; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D056692:Prebiotics; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D009037:Motilin; D000068238:Lubiprostone; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D000074261:Receptors, Enterotoxin; D050705:Receptors, Guanylate Cyclase-Coupled; D000527:Alprostadil; D003078:Colchicine