Table 5.

Pharmacotherapeutic Agents for Chronic Constipation: ACG Grade Recommendations^*[2]

Agent	Efficacy	ACG Grade Recommendation
Fiber
Psyllium	Increases stool frequency in patients with chronic constipation	Grade B
Calcium polycarbophil Methylcellulose Bran	Data are insufficient to make a recommendation about the efficacy of these agents in patients with chronic constipation	Grade B
Laxatives
Polyethylene glycol	Effective at improving stool frequency and stool consistency in patients with chronic constipation	Grade A
Lactulose	Effective at improving stool frequency and stool consistency in patients with chronic constipation	Grade A
Magnesium hydroxide	Data are insufficient to make a recommendation about the efficacy of these agents in patients with chronic constipation	Grade B
Stimulant laxatives	Data are insufficient to make a recommendation about the efficacy of these agents in patients with chronic constipation	Grade B
Novel agents
Tegaserod	Effective at improving the frequency of CSBMs, straining, stool frequency, and stool consistency in patients with chronic constipation	Grade A

CSBM = complete spontaneous bowel movement

^*Note: Lubiprostone was not FDA approved at the time that these recommendations were published. This agent is therefore not included in this table.