Whats the evidence for other types of laxatives?
There hasn’t been much research on other types of laxatives for constipation in children. There haven’t been any good-quality studies of bulk-forming laxatives. Examples of this type of laxative are ispaghula husk, methylcellulose and sterculia. And there haven’t been any good studies that have compared taking lubricant laxatives with taking a dummy treatment (known as a placebo). The most common type of lubricant laxative is mineral oil (liquid paraffin). One small, good-quality study compared taking liquid paraffin and senna for chronic constipation.[1] Senna is a type of laxative that helps push stools out. It makes your child’s bowel muscles tighten (contract). • About 9 in 10 children had a bowel movement each day after treatment with liquid paraffin. But only 5 in 10 children given senna passed a stool every day. • Less than 1 in 10 children soiled each day after treatment with liquid paraffin. But almost 5 in 10 children treated with senna still had daily soiling. Soiling happen
