when do I reduce movicol for DS?

[katechristie]

PRE-WARNING - detailed poo description follows!

DS is 2.9 and has been on movicol for 5 weeks, having been on lactulose for 6months previously.

He's now pooing every day (well, maybe misses one day every now and then) and the poo is fairly soft - not formed into a shape, often a bit sloppy but not runny. So, is it ok to drop his dosage of movicol down now - he's currently on one sachet a day. And if ok, do I give half a sachet every day, or a full sachet every other day???
TIA.

Will be interested in this thread, as just started my dd on movicol today, after being on lactalose for the last 2 months. She is 2.4 and having real problems with constipation.

Hmm, difficult one. If you're under a paediatrician for the problem, I would check with them first but it does sound like the dose is too much. My dd has been on Movicol for 2 years now and what I did recently was rather than try to estimate how much half a sachet was, I used a medicine spoon (the ones with the double end - one 5ml end and one 2.5ml end) and I took out a 2.5ml spoonful (levelled off) and then stuck with this for a week and if she was ok, took out 2 level 2.5ml spoons for the next week etc etc. Take it very slowly though as you don't want them to revert to being constipated. Good luck, it's a minefield I know!

thanks, will do as you suggest 13lucky - the community paed just said "when he's going regularly, gradually reduce his dose" - that was it, so I really don't want to do it too quickly, as he's been pretty bunged up for months as the lactulose was useless for him in the end.
tippytoes, hope your DD clears out soon! it's horrible for them isn't it, - DS had a gradual clear out over a week or so at the beginning and doesn't strain half so much now, but it's messed up potty training as we were just starting, then this became a problem and he's not been interested for the last 6-8 months or so now.

sorry not been on for a while so sorry for late reply...don't worry about the potty training thing...I'd leave it for a while if I were you. I didn't attempt to potty train until my dd was 2.9 years and she got it within a day as she was really ready for it. Boys are often later so don't stress. And I was terrified that the poo issue would make it really hard...but in fact, she is so much better since being trained - it wasn't a problem at all. I'd say use lots of bribes (sorry - rewards!) and treats etc. Good luck.