CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Constipation - Management
Overview of management
- Short duration constipation:
- Give advice about diet, adequate fluid intake, and exercise.
- Offer oral laxatives if dietary measures are ineffective, or while waiting for them to take effect.
- Chronic constipation:
- Relieve faecal impaction, if present.
- Address lifestyle and psychosocial factors:
- Diet, fluid intake, and exercise.
- Behaviour and psychosocial factors contributing to constipation.
- Toileting routines.
- Laxatives are recommended:
- If diet is ineffective, or while waiting for it to take effect.
- For people taking a constipating drug that cannot be stopped.
- For people with other secondary causes of constipation.
- As 'rescue' medicines for episodes of acute constipation
- Adjust dose, choice, and combination of laxatives to balance their purgative, stool softening, and stool bulking actions according to the symptoms, extent of faecal impaction, speed with which relief is required, and response to treatment.
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement