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.