Patterns of laxative use in the Yeoville area
Date
2008-03-11T12:00:27Z
Authors
Lutz, Steven
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Abstract
Laxatives appear to be one of the most common group of drugs sold in retail pharmacy
presently. Use of these drugs appears to be by all patients regardless of age, gender, race,
education level and income group. Reasons for ingestion of laxatives also appear to vary
among patients.
This study investigated patients wishing to purchase laxatives from a suburban pharmacy
in Johannesburg located near the inner-city. It clarified the patient’s own perception of
what constipation is, why he or she ingested this formulation and for how long this
product had been used.
The study also reviews adverse effects that patients experienced using these products.
Following the exclusion criteria, the sample size totaled 197. Data was collected over a
period of ten weeks from February 2006 until April 2006, in which patients wishing to
purchase laxatives were asked to complete a confidential questionnaire regarding their
use of laxatives.
Results obtained revealed that there is widespread misuse of laxative products amongst
the patients questioned. A large percentage of patients (66%) were not in their own
opinion constipated and were using laxatives for purposes other than for which these
products are indicated. Many patients (71%) are ignorant as to normal frequency of
bowel habits, and 81% of patients were using laxatives to treat conditions other than
constipation.
An encouraging aspect of this study showed that with appropriate education and drug
control, many patients could be taught to treat their medical conditions more correctly
than by using a laxative as a generalized detoxification product to cure all illnesses.
Description
Keywords
laxative use, laxative misue or abuse