RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Comparison of a low dose polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution with lactulose for treatment of chronic constipation
JF Gut
JO Gut
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology
SP 226
OP 230
DO 10.1136/gut.44.2.226
VO 44
IS 2
A1 A Attar
A1 M Lémann
A1 A Ferguson
A1 M Halphen
A1 M-C Boutron
A1 B Flourié
A1 E Alix
A1 M Salmeron
A1 F Guillemot
A1 S Chaussade
A1 A-M Ménard
A1 J Moreau
A1 G Naudin
A1 M Barthet
YR 1999
UL http://gut.bmj.com/content/44/2/226.abstract
AB Background Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 is a non-absorbable, non-metabolised osmotic agent used in lavage solutions for gut cleansing.Aims To compare the efficacy of PEG and lactulose in chronic constipation.Methods A total of 115 patients with chronic constipation entered a multicentre, randomised, comparative trial. They initially received two sachets containing either PEG (13 g/sachet) or lactulose (10 g/sachet) and were given an option to change the dose to one or three sachets/day, depending on response.Results Ninety nine patients completed the trial. After four weeks, patients in the PEG group (n=50) had a higher number of stools and a lower median daily score for straining at stool than patients in the lactulose group (n=49). Overall improvement was greater in the PEG group. Clinical tolerance was similar in the two groups, but flatus was less frequently reported in the PEG group. The mean number of liquid stools was higher in the PEG group but the difference was significant only for the first two weeks. There were no serious adverse events and no significant change in laboratory tests in either group. At the end of the study, the number of sachets used by the patients was 1.6 (0.7)/day in the PEG group and 2.1 (0.7)/day in the lactulose group. Sixty one patients completed a further two months open study of one to three sachets PEG daily; there was no loss of efficacy and no serious toxicity.Conclusion Low dose PEG 3350 was more effective than lactulose and better tolerated.PEGpolyethylene glycol