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Palliative cancer care - constipation - Management
What doses of laxatives may be needed in palliative care?
- Bisacodyl: 20 mg three times a day (off-licence).
- Co-danthramer strong: 3 capsules three times a day or 10 mL twice a day (off licence).
- Co-danthrusate: 3 capsules or 15 mL twice a day (off-licence).
- Docusate: 200 mg three times a day (off licence).
- Lactulose: titrate from 15 mL twice a day, according to need.
- Macrogol 3350:
- For constipation: 3 sachets per day.
- For high faecal impaction/loading: 8 sachets dissolved in 1 Litre of water and drunk within 6 hours. Limit to 2 sachets (250 mL/hour) in heart failure.
- Macrogol 4000: 2 sachets per day.
- Senna: 22.5 mg (3 tablets or 15 mL) three times a day (off licence).
- Sodium picosulfate: 30 mg per day (off licence).
In depth
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