Macrogol (Movicol) for child - experiences

[Strawbee]

DS(8) has just been prescribed Macrogol for chronic constipation after we have had 5 soiling accidents in the last three weeks. We were advised to start in the Easter break as urgent spiking is likely and obviously we don’t want this happening at school. We have had lots of personal advice from ERIC too.

Can I ask for people’s experiences of this medication with children please? Does this drug cause such urgency that DC don’t regularly make it to the toilet on time? Did you stay home or still go and out about but just carry plenty of changes of clothes and stuff to clean DC up with? We will obviously stay home if necessary but it seems a shame that the Easter break for DS will be dominated by staying home.

• soiling not spiking

My daughter was much younger (3) when we did this. Honestly I would just stay at home and make it as fun as possible. It’s hopefully just a one off.

Also it meant trying to get a lot of liquid into her so it was useful staying at home.

You could start the initial doses while at school still as it builds up gradually.

Has he been put on a disimpaction regime? This is when you do several sachets a day for several days and then tail off. Or a lower dose? That will make a difference to how it’s going to go.

FWIW, if he’s having overflow, which is what those soiling accidents are, he’ll need disimpaction.

If you're doing disimpaction then you'll need to be near toilet facilities as you up the sachets everyday until they're cleared out then reduce. I did this with my 2yo who was toilet trained and she managed to get to the potty/toilet everytime so it didn't create an urgency but they do go lots so couldn't be away from toilet/potty. And yes to pp you need to give a lot of fluids too so maybe easier to stay home.