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Constipation in geriatrics

Management with dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate

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The American Journal of Digestive Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

1. Constipation in geriatric patients is a special therapeutic problem differing in some aspects from the condition as found in the general population.

2. Constipation in such patients is generally of the atonic type. Loss or suppression of the anorectal reflex may be a complicating factor. The customary treatment is especially difficult and often unsuccessful.

3. Fecal softening produced by dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate seems to be one of the most rational physiologic approaches yet found to the problem of constipation in geriatries. In the majority of patients fecal softening alone enabled the existing weakened peristaltic action of the bowel to move the fecal mass more normally.

4. Fifty-one per cent of the patients derived excellent results from the use of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate. The optimum daily dose varied from 120 to 180 mg. In an additional 20 per cent results were good. Unsatisfactory results were observed in approximately 1 out of 4 patients despite fecal softening. Although an occasional enema was required, the need for such adjunctive measures was markedly reduced or even eliminated during therapy.

5. Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate produced no evidence of toxicity or undesirable side effects in the dosage used.

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References

  1. Best, C. H., andTaylor, N. B. The Physiological Basis of Medical Practice (ed. 6). Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins, 1955.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Department of Therapeutics, Ann Lee Home, Watervliet, N. Y.

    Raymond Harris M.D.

  2. St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, N. Y.

    Raymond Harris M.D.

Authors
  1. Raymond Harris M.D.
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Additional information

Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (Doxinate) for this study was provided through the courtesy of Lloyd Brothers, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, in the form of soft gelatin capsules containing 20 mg. or 60 mg. of the drug.

The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. John J. Phelan, medical director, Mrs. Polly Hinds, and Miss Harriet Harris of the Ann Lee Home for their assistance in making the observations on which this study is based.

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Harris, R. Constipation in geriatrics. Digest Dis Sci 2, 487–492 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02231320

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02231320

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