Movicol - long term use?

[WhoWhoWhoWho]

DS (on the spectrum) has the usual with holding / constipation issues and has been prescribed laxatives by a paediatrician at the hospital.

At first he was on a high dose to clear him out but he now takes one Movicol (half strength) sachet, and 5ml of sodium picosulfate daily.

My question is it was a long while ago he was prescribed these, should I just continue using them indefinitely? Should he have a review now and again? Is it safe for him to take these long term?

I realised when I renewed his prescription the other day that he's been on them a while (going to try and find out how long ago he was prescribed them in a moment) and haven't had a review or follow up appointment or anything, just renewed prescription each month.

[MNPwhooooooooooooooo]

As an adult with bowel probs, i have been using Movicol for 2yrs and at my reveiw last week GP said no probs with long term use.

[WhoWhoWhoWho]

Oh that's reassuring then MNP, I have IBS and I do think it's likely poor DS will have these issues long term.

He's not toilet trained for number 2s yet but I think even if he were toilet trained and out of the withholding cycle, he may still suffer from constipation so his meds are a long term thing in my opinion.

I just had a worried mother moment when I realised he'd been on them such a long time and hadn't had a follow up appointment.

[MNPwhooooooooooooooo]

No worries WhoWhoWhoWho, my eldest DSis with DS is on it to try and prevent soiling at the moment.

[BobLoblaw]

The NICE guidelines now recommend Movicol above other sorts of laxative/suppositories and have ok'd it for long term use.

[Becaroooo]

My friends son (NT) has been on movicol for years....with no probs so far

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

My son has been on it for years.. no problems:)

[WhoWhoWhoWho]

The people who have been on this or there dcs, do you/they have a review?

I feel fairly reassured about the movicol but what about the sodium picosulfate?

[IndigoBell]

(Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but do you know that constipation etc can be caused by gluten intolerence? Read the GAPS diet for a bit of an eye opener link between ASD and constipation...)

[lisad123]

Dd1 was on it for ages but we hated the thought of long term use. We ended up trying yachcult!! Worked really well and now using it for dd2 who also has bowel issues.

[WhoWhoWhoWho]

I used to take yacult daily Lisad123 in my pre dc days and found it worked really well. No chance in hell of getting ds to swallow it though, only a handful of pre-approved things pass his lips and if these are not 100% perfect upon inspection he would rather starve.

Indigobell I will check out your link but feel it would be pretty impossible challenging restricting DS's already very restricted diet. I see where you are coming from as I think I may be intolerant to certain things myself.

[lisad123]

dds like it as it's quite sweet and it's like a mini milkshake.
I'm always reluctant to change their diets too, they are restricted enough as it is.

[shabanakapadia]

Did you get any reply? We are in same position as you

[Moominmamma13]

How do you get your DCs to take Movicol if they refuse to drink it dissolved in water as prescribed??

[Friolero]

Moomin we dissolve it in a bit of water and then fill the rest of the beaker with milk. Have you tried milk / juice / squash?

[albertcampionscat]

GAPS diet - sceptical view: angry-chef.com/blog/want-to-see-something-really-scary

[Moominmamma13]

Thanks for your reply Friolero, DD doesn't like milk but she had it in orange/pear juice, thanks. I was afraid that it wouldn't taste nice, but it didn't change the taste of the juice

[willitbe]

Moomin -My sons paediatrician told us to put movicol in a very small glass of lemonade for taste. We always avoided fizzy drinks, but it did help with getting the movicol into him. Followed by drinking a pint of water.

My son is going to be going for help to work through the psycho-social aspects of soiling, as his constipation was resolved for over a year and no stopping the soiling as part of the ASD. He had been on movicol for three years. He started to refuse to take it, and with no constipation, the doctors have agreed to take him off it and try the alternative options via occupational therapy and psychology.

It is tough dealing with it daily though.