Constipation is a common cause of distress. Prevention is better than waiting until treatment is needed.
Constipation should be anticipated in all patients taking opioids or anticholinergics (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants) and those who are either inactive or have a reduced fluid or dietary fibre intake.
Laxatives (1,2,3):
- should be prescribed on a regular basis as soon as weak or strong opioids are prescribed (except those with ileostomy or diarrhoea), with full explanation to the patient
- relatively high doses may be required - the laxative dose may need increasing as the dose of opioid is increased
- study evidence however showed no relationship between opioid dose and optimum dose of sodium picosulphate (4)
- a combination of stimulant laxative with a softening/osmotic agent is a good first choice e.g. co-danthrusate (dantron 50mg, docusate 60mg) - starting dose 1-2 capsules or 5-10mls at bedtime or co-danthramer (dantron 25mg, polxamer '188' 200mg) - starting dose 2 capules or 10ml at bedtime. More details about classification of laxatives in table below:
| | Combined stimulant and softener | |
bisacodyl glycerin senna dantron sodium picosulphate | | co-danthrusate (dantron and docusate) co-danthramer (dantron and poloxamer) | lactulose phosphate sodium citrate movicol |
- 25% of patient on laxatives may still need rectal measures at times
- many ill patients will not tolerate high fibre diet or bulk forming laxatives but the need for good fluid intake, exercise, fruit and fruit juice (especially prune juice) should be explained to the patient
- co-danthrusate and co-danthramer contain dantron which stains urine red (warn patient) and can also may cause perianal skin irritation, especially in incontinent patients. It may be prudent to avoid dantron containing products in patients who are faecally incontinent or have a colostomy
- in general lactulose alone is not effective for opioid induced constipation and should not be used in patients with inadequate fluid intake. Lactulose can cause flatulence and abdominal cramps
- movicol oral powder (macrogol '3350', sodium bicarbonate) - may be preferable to lactulose if additional softener is required. Each sachet is dissolved in 125 ml water and can be mixed with fruit squash. Up to 8 sachets a day may be used in faecal impaction
- patients can be encouraged to become expert at adjusting their own laxatives
Treatment of existing constipation:
Before prescribing laxatives for established constipation
- rule out bowel obstruction. If bowel obstruction is suspected then seek further advice
- consider underlying cause e.g. hypercalcaemia, drugs
In spinal cord compression
- if normal sphincter sensation and function is present, titrate laxatives as normal, avoid excessive softening
- if normal sphincter sensation and function is absent, bisacodyl or sodium acid phosphate (Carbalax) supositories should be prescribed, aiming for a planned bowel action every 2-3 days
| |
Is the rectum impacted? - if so, is stool hard
- if so, is stool soft
- if no success
| If stool hard: - Lubricate using glycerin suppositories or soften with oil enema followed by phosphate enema once softened
- Once disimpacted commence or increase oral stimulant or softener
If stool soft: - Use a rectal stimulant, e.g. bisacodyl suppositories or phosphate enema
- Once disimpacted commence/increase simulant by oral route
If no success: - Commence a Macrogols preparation at faecal impaction dose
- Manual evacuation (consider sedation)
|
| Exclude obstruction. Often suggests high constipation. |
If the rectum is empty, is the colon loaded? - is colic absent or present
| if colic is present then - reduce any simulant laxative and add softener or osmotic agent e.g. Movicol
If colic is absent then - add or increase stimulant laxative +/- softener
|
Reference:
- (1) West Midlands Palliative Care Physicians (2003). Palliative care - guidelines for the use of drugs in symptom control.
- (2) West Midlands Palliative Care Physicians (2007). Palliative care - guidelines for the use of drugs in symptom control.
- (3) West Midlands Palliative Care Physicians (2012). Palliative care - guidelines for the use of drugs in symptom control.
- (4) Twcyross et el. Sodium picosulfate in opioid-induced constipation: results of an open-label, prospective, dose ranging study. Palliat Med 2006;20:419-23