Korean J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2007 Jun;13(1):45-52.

Use of Constipation Remedies not Prescribed by Physician - A Study of Patients at a Constipation Clinic

• Cheon JH
• Yoon IJ
• Myung SJ
• Byeon JS
• Ko JE
• Jung KW
• Kim B
• Kwon S
• Do MY
• Kim DH
• Ye BD
• Jung HY
• Cho HJ
• Yang SK
• Kim JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Many people with constipation have a tendency to take various self-medications regardless of their prescription by their doctors. However, the relationship between these self-remedies and constipation hasn't been well investigated in Korea. The aim of this study was to identify what kinds of self-remedies were used and also to determine the effectiveness of these remedies.
METHODS
81 patients who visited the Constipation Clinic were enrolled, and they answered a questionnaire at an interview.
RESULTS
Thirty folk remedies were identified. Among these, products containing lactobacilli were the most commonly used remedy. The most commonly used drugs at pharmacy were stimulant laxatives, whereas Korean traditional medicine was less commonly used. Although the overall effectiveness of the remedies was found to be almost nil, the subjects used those drugs recommended by close acquaintances. The people with severe constipation (=3/week) had a tendency to overuse self-remedies, with statistical significance (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Patients had a tendency to take various medications not prescribed by physicians. However, they didn't know much about the side effects of these drugs. Supervision of folk remedies might be needed to improve therapeutic efficacy and prevent side effects.

Keyword

Constipation; Folk remedies; Traditional medicine

MeSH Terms

Constipation*
Friends
Humans
Korea
Laxatives
Medicine, Korean Traditional
Medicine, Traditional
Organization and Administration
Pharmacy
Prescriptions
Surveys and Questionnaires
Laxatives