Korean J Neurogastroenterol Motil.
2009 Dec;15(2):100-106.
Optimal Pharmacologic Treatment of Chronic Constipation: Review and Recent Developments
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. dreun1028@yahoo.co.kr
Abstract
- Constipation is a common clinical problem that can be difficult to manage. Typical pharmacologic recommendations for patients with chronic constipation begin with bulking agents and then add osmotic agents followed by stimulants laxatives. However, almost half of all constipated patients were dissatisfied with their treatment for chronic constipation. Thus, there is a clinical need for new, more potent drugs particularly for patients who are not satisfactorily treated by conventional therapies. Lubiprostone, chloride channel activator acting on intestinal secretion, which is not available in Korea, may be an alternative option for patients with chronic constipation. And the new 5-HT receptor agonists are currently under investigation with the goal to improve the selectivity for their receptors and to minimize the incidence of cardiac side effects.
