Bezoars are accumulated foreign material that forms concretions in the gastrointestinal tract, inducing abdominal pain, constipation, obstruction, and even peritonitis. This case report describes a rare rectal bezoar in a healthy young woman who had recently consumed large quantities of sunflower seeds. A 21-year-old healthy woman was admitted with abdominal pain, rectal pain, and constipation ...

Due to their natural origin, apparent low oral toxicity, effectiveness, and accessibility without a medical prescription, the anthranoid laxatives are a popular remedy for constipation and are frequently used abusively. Therefore, it is important to characterize its harmful and/or toxic effects. The sennosides, main active metabolites of senna, exhibit a very low toxicity in rats, and its genot...

Older people, particularly those with underlying health problems, commonly experience constipation, which is a distressing symptom that can adversely affect quality of life. Assessment of constipation is vital to exclude treatable and underlying conditions and a step-wise approach should be taken to managing chronic constipation in older people. Lifestyle modification and laxatives remain the m...

PURPOSE Laxative-refractory opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is defined as OIC despite using 2 laxatives with a different mechanism of action (based on the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System level 4 term [contact laxatives, osmotically acting laxatives, softeners/emollients, enemas, and others]). OIC has a significant impact on the treatment and quality of life of patients w...

OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness and cost of laxatives in the prevention and treatment of constipation in the elderly. HOW THE RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of treatment or prevention of constipation were included in the review. INTERVENTIONS The four classes of laxatives, bulk, osmotic, stimulant laxatives and faecal softeners, were covered by the revi...

BACKGROUND Prucalopride is a 5-HT4 receptor agonist with gastrointestinal prokinetic activities. This integrated analysis of data from three 12-week, double-blind trials evaluated the effect of prucalopride 2 mg q.d. on common constipation symptoms in women in whom laxatives had failed to provide adequate relief. The effect of prucalopride on bowel function was outside the scope of the analysis...

OBJECTIVE To assess prospectively the relation of peer and media influences on the risk of development of purging behaviors. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING One year follow-up of 6982 girls aged 9 to 14 years in 1996 who completed questionnaires in 1996 and 1997 and reported in 1996 that they did not use vomiting or laxatives to control weight. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Self-report of...

BACKGROUND Constipation is a common complaint in adults. Lactitol is an osmotic disaccharide laxative that increases fecal volume and stimulates peristalsis. In this paper, we present the first meta-analysis on the efficacy and tolerance of lactitol for adult constipation. METHODS We searched MEDLINE(®) and Embase, with no date or language restrictions, for studies of lactitol supplementation...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of bulk-forming, stimulant and osmotic laxatives, and also of adding a second type of laxative agent in the treatment of patients whose constipation is not resolved by a single agent. Additionally, to define the meaning of constipation in older people from the perspective of GPs and older patients, and to investigate th...