Medications for Child with Chronic Constipation

Constipation is one of the most common symptoms that a child visits pediatrician. The general approach to the child with functional constipation includes the following steps; disimpaction, maintenance and withdrawal of medication. There are many drugs which can be applied to children; osmotic agents (lactulose, sorbitol, magnesium hydroxide/citrate, polyethylene glycol with/without electrolytes, sodium phosphate, glycerin), stimulants (senna, bisacodyl, caster oil), lubricant (mineral oil), bulking agent (psyllium, cellulose, glucomannan). At each stage of treatment, one or some of these drug can be applied to the purpose. The author tries to summarize recent studies on drugs for constipation in child, and finally introduces new dugs for constipation which is under investigation. [Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2009; 12(Suppl 1): 111∼117]