Constipation

The patient should try each class of drug for a minimum of 6 weeks, and then return for a review to evaluate the response to therapy. The patient should be asked to keep a prospective stool diary for 7 days prior to the follow-up visit. If there is no satisfactory clinical response, or if there are troublesome side effects, the patient should be switched to another class of drugs. Routine laboratory tests are not needed during follow-up visits unless there is concern about potential electrolyte abnormalities as a side effect of therapy, especially with osmotic laxatives.