Has you DC been on Movicol long term? How long and have you tried to cut it down?

[ilovehugs]

DD has been on laxatives since babyhood due to a bowel defect which has been surgically repaired. I've been told that she will most likely be on laxatives until she is allot older. She's been on between 1-3 sachets a day since the age of a bout 2. She's 4.5 now. She moved on it from lactulose and it improved her constipation massively!!! I give her lots of fluids, wholemeal, fruit & veg etc and that seems to help, but she is still very dependant on the Movicol.
I worry about the long term use, as there haven't apparently been studies into it. It smells like glue/plastic and the longer she's on it, the more I worry about it damaging her in some way. Are there any other long term Movicol users out there. Have you had any success in weaning your child off Movicol or at least onto a smaller amount?

Bump!

Dd2 had movicol from about age 4.6yo.

She started on 2 a day, and we didn't alter it until she was consistantly fine. We then cut down after about 18 months down to 1 most days, but if she hadn't gone that day then 2.

Once she was down to 1, we then looked at cutting to 1 every other day. the first time we tried we had to up it again for about a month. Then we had about 6 months on 1 every other day with occasionally every day, before we spent about a month on 1 every 3 days, and then she stopped at about age 8yo, and has been fine since.

Thanks DeWe that's really reassuring and useful. Can I ask, did you do anything different with her diet at the same time?

Not much with diet. Made sure she was eating plenty of fruit, but not bananas generally. She always drank plenty so we didn't struggle that way.

My DS will be 3 next month. I've been to the GP several times over the past two years because of constipation. They gave me lactulose, and I found it worked, but took a while to be effective. I spoke with a friend who is a surgeon with a son the same age. She had recommended Movicol - said she uses it for her son as a maintenance solution. She assured me there are no long-term effects/consequences and that it's perfectly safe. Fast foward to this past March when we ended up in A&E with suspected appendicitis. Turns out DS had tonsilitis which was causing swelling in the nodes in his groin which were pushing on an already impacted intestine. They FINALLY gave me the movicol to give to him. Just saw the GP because we were running low on the supply that the hospital gave to us and she said she's happy to put him on repeat prescription for it as it's the most effective way to manage his constipation. DS is a picky eater and has a limited diet to begin with - he loves his bananas and peanut butter, which I suspect are both culprits, but I'm really reluctant to cut them out because he will eat them.

Anyway, we only give it to him when I notice his poo becoming firm, but are pretty confident about using it on a regular basis as and when needed.

Good luck!

My dd has been on it for about 6 months, going from 12 initially (disimpaction) to 2 now (maintenance). We've tried to drop further but there has been an adverse reaction!
The consultant has assured us that it's something that is perfectly safe long term as it dosnt affect the bowel itself, the action is all on the stool which we found reassuring.
It will probably feature as part of our breakfast routine for the next few years!

DD has been on it for four years but we are down to one every other day now, then more if needed. Any time I have left it longer than that she has then needed a clear out again.

I find if she is ill or the weather is hot she needs extra so tend to play it by ear.

my daughter, aged 6 has been on movicol since she was 2, paed. has recommended we come off it completely , as she has been on it too long, I thought reduction would have been better option, she is going to see psychologist to try and stop her withholding but from 2 movicol a day to nothing is terrifying me as she will be back in the corner withholding. any advice