Always ask a patient exactly what he means by 'constipation'. There are
various formal definitions of constipation but the infrequent passage of
stool (<_3 xmlns:eg="urn:x-prefix:eg" times="times" weekly="weekly" or="or" difficulty="difficulty" in="in" defecation="defecation" is="is" a="a" reasonably="reasonably" practical="practical" definition.="definition." i="i" have="have" seen="seen" elderly="elderly" patients="patients" on="on" narcotic="narcotic" analgesics="analgesics" eg:codiene="eg:codiene" for="for" arthritis="arthritis" which="which" the="the" main="main" culprit="culprit" constipation.="constipation." p="p"/>Hospitals and other adverse environments like lack of privacy, immobility,
being forced to use a bed pan, unable to obey calls to stool, dehydration,
diet deficient in roughage are the common causes for constipation.
I would prefer looking at these things rather than prescribing laxatives.
Rapid Response:
Think before prescribing Laxatives
Dear Sir,
Always ask a patient exactly what he means by 'constipation'. There are
various formal definitions of constipation but the infrequent passage of
stool (<_3 xmlns:eg="urn:x-prefix:eg" times="times" weekly="weekly" or="or" difficulty="difficulty" in="in" defecation="defecation" is="is" a="a" reasonably="reasonably" practical="practical" definition.="definition." i="i" have="have" seen="seen" elderly="elderly" patients="patients" on="on" narcotic="narcotic" analgesics="analgesics" eg:codiene="eg:codiene" for="for" arthritis="arthritis" which="which" the="the" main="main" culprit="culprit" constipation.="constipation." p="p"/>Hospitals and other adverse environments like lack of privacy, immobility,
being forced to use a bed pan, unable to obey calls to stool, dehydration,
diet deficient in roughage are the common causes for constipation.
I would prefer looking at these things rather than prescribing laxatives.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests