Table 2.
Seven patients with diarrhea due to surreptitious laxative intake∗
| Age | Sex | Duration of diarrhea (y) | BMs per day | Stool weight(g/day) | Laxative |
| 26 | F | 1.5 19 | 993 | Phenolphthalein | |
| 58 | F | 7 | 17 | 2301 | Phenolphthalein |
| 33 | F | 7 | † | 2561 | Anthraquinone‡ |
| 25 | F | 1.5 11 | 391 | Phenolphthalein | |
| 48 | F | 4 | 3 | 427 | Anthraquinone‡ |
| 53 | F | 3 | 8 | 325 | Phenolphthalein and anthraquinone‡ |
| 28 | F | 10 | 11 | 783 | Phenolphthalein and milk of magnesia |
∗From reference 20.
†This patient had had a colectomy
‡Melanosis coli was found on rectal biopsy in the three patients taking anthraquinones. BM indicates bowel movement.