Table 2.

Studies examining safety in pregnancy and systemic absorption of commonly used laxatives

DRUG	TYPE OF STUDY	DETAILS	OUTCOMES
Psyllium	Surveillance	100 > N < 199 during first trimester	No increased risk of malformations7
Docusate sodium	Prospective	N = 116 anytime during pregnancy	No increased risk of malformations8
	Surveillance	N = 473 during first trimester	No increased risk of malformations (1/473 = 0.2%)7
	Surveillance	N = 319 during first trimester	No increased risk of malformations (3/319 = 0.9%)9
	Surveillance	N = 232 during first trimester	No increased risk of malformations (9/232 = 3.9%)10
Lactulose	Pharmacokinetics	N = 6 adults given lactulose	Systemic bioavailability < 3%11
Polyethylene glycol	Pharmacokinetics	N = 11 adults given polyethylene glycol	Not absorbed12
Bisacodyl	Pharmacokinetics	N = 12 adults given oral and rectal bisacodyl	Minimal absorption13
	Pharmacokinetics	N = 16 adults given bisacodyl suppository	Systemic bioavailability < 5%14
Senna	Case-control	N = 506 cases (260 during first trimester)	No increased risk of malformations (OR 0.8; 95% CI 0.4–1.4) or adverse pregnancy outcomes15
	Pharmacokinetics	N = 937 control (500 during first trimester); N = 10 adults given senna	Systemic bioavailability < 5%16

OR—odds ratio.

Data from Jick et al,⁷ Heinonen et al,⁸ Aselton et al,⁹ Briggs et al,¹⁰ Carulli et al,¹¹ Wilkinson,¹² Roth and Beschke,¹³ Flig et al,¹⁴ Acs et al,¹⁵ and Krumbiegel and Schulz.¹⁶