Comparison of the laxative efficacy and patient preference of calcium polycarbophil tablets and psyllium suspension

Abstract

The efficacy of calcium polycarbophil, a hydrophilic colloid laxative, was compared with that of various psyllium preparations in an open-label, randomized, crossover study. The efficacy parameters include patient strain at stool, stool consistency, and stool frequency. Patient preference for either product was evaluated at the end of the study. An analysis of data from 68 patients showed that calcium polycarbophil was as effective as psyllium in maintaining the control of the symptoms of chronic constipation. However, patients did select the calcium polycarbophil tablets by a two-to-one margin over psyllium suspensions as the preferred laxative. Apparently the tablet dosage form is the preferred method of self-administering a bulk-forming laxative.