Efficacy and optimal dose of daily polyethylene glycol 3350 for treatment of constipation and encopresis in children

Objective: To determine efficacy, safety, and optimal dose of a laxative, p olyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350, in children with chronic constipation. Study design: Children with chronic constipation (n = 24) were treated with PEG for 8 weeks at an initial dose of I g/kg/d. The dose was adjusted ever y 3 days as required to achieve 2 soft stools per day. A diary was kept to monitor dose, stool frequency and consistency, soiling, and other symptoms. Stool consistency was rated from I (hard) to 5 (watery). Subjects were exa mined for fecal retention. The Student I test and the Fisher exact test wer e used Cor data analysis. Results: All 20 children who completed the study found PEG to be palatable and were satisfied with the treatment. There were no significant adverse ef fects. Weekly stool frequency increased from 2.3 +/- 0.4 to 16.9 +/- 1.6 (P < .0001) during treatment and stool consistency from 1.2 +/-0.1 to 3.3 +/- 0.1 (P < .0001). In 9 children with soiling, weekly soiling events decline d from 10.0 +/- 2.4 to 1.3 +/- 0.7 (P = .003). The mean effective dose was 0.84 g/kg/d (range, 0.27 +/- 1.42 g/kg/d). Conclusion: Daily administration of PEG at a mean dose of 0.8 g/kg is an ef fective, safe, and palatable treatment For constipation.