Table 2.

Pharmacological management of functional constipation in children [6, 8]

	Dosage
Oral laxatives
PEG 3350/4000	Maintenance: 0.2–0.8 g/kg/day in 1–2 doses Fecal disimpaction: 1–1.5 g/kg/day (maximum 6 days)
Lactulosea	0.7–2 g/kg/day, in 1–2 doses
Lactitol	1–6 years: 0.5–1 g/kg/day in 2–3 doses 6–12 years: 10–30 g/day in 2–3 doses 12–18 years: 20–60 g/day in 2–3 doses
Bisacodyla	3–10 years: 5 mg/day, in 1 dose/day (at night) 10–11 years: 5–10 mg/day, in 1 dose/day (at night) 12–18 years: 5–15 mg/day, in 1 dose/day (at night)
Sennaa	Syrup 8.8 mg sennosides/5 mL or tablets 8.6 mg sennosides/tablet 2–6 years: 2.5–3.75 mL, 1 or 2 doses/day 6–11 years: 5–7.5 mL (or 1–2 tablets), 1 or 2 doses/day 12–18 years: 5-15 mL (or 1–3 tablets), 1 or 2 doses/day
Magnesium hydroxide	2–5 years: 0.4–1.2 g/day, in 1 or more doses 6–11 years: 1.2–2.4 g/day, in 1 or more doses 12–18 years: 2.4–4.8 g/day, in 1 or more doses
Sodium picosulfate	1 month to 4 years: 2.5–10 mg/day, in 1 dose/day 4–18 years: 2.5–20 mg/day, in 1 dose/day
Rectal laxatives/enemas
Bisacodyl	2–10 years: 5 mg/day, in 1 dose/day (at night) >10 years: 5–10 mg/day, in 1 dose/day (at night)
Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate	1 month to 1 year: 2.5 mL/dose (= 0.5 enema) 1–18 years: 5 mL/dose (= 1 enema)
Sodium docusatea	2–11 years: 100 mg/5 mL or 283 mg/5 mL, in 1 dose/day 12–18 years: 283 mg/5 mL, one to three times daily
Sodium phosphatea	2–4 years: 29 mL, in 1 dose/day 5–11 years: 59 mL, in 1 dose/day 12–18 years: 118 mL, in 1 dose/day
Lubricants
Mineral oil/liquid paraffin	Oral: 3–18 years: 1–3 mL/kg/day, 1 or more doses/day (maximum 90 mL/day) Rectal: 2–11 years: 30–60 mL, in 1 dose/day > 11 years: 60–150 mL, in 1 dose/day

PEG polyethylene glycol

^aDosages were updated based on the information available on UpToDate, 29 November, 2022