Need of the ideal drug for the treatment of chronic constipation.

Bulking agents are not always effective and are not well tolerated by many patients. Non-bulking laxatives are not devoid of side-effects. A satisfactory treatment for functional constipation is not yet available and an ideal drug to efficiently treat these patients is needed. Unlike commonly used laxatives, low doses of polyethylene glycol solutions have few side-effects and appear to be beneficial to the patients.