1. Co‐danthramer plus poloxamer versus senna plus lactulose.
Outcome or subgroup | Participants | Effect estimate* |
Bowel movements in participants receiving strong opioid analgesia (taking ≥ 80 mg) | 17 | "Lactulose plus senna was associated with significantly higher frequency (regardless of which laxative taken first) (P value = < 0.01)" |
Bowel movements in participants receiving opioid analgesia (< 80 mg) or no opioid analgesia | 21 | "No statistical difference between the trial arms" |
No bowel movement in treatment week | Unclear | While participants were receiving co‐danthramer plus poloxamer, this occurred 11 times versus once in senna plus lactulose group (P value = 0.01) |
Suspension of laxative therapy for 24 hours | Unclear | Occurred more frequently with lactulose plus senna (15 cases) than co‐danthramer plus poloxamer (5 cases) (P value = 0.05) |
Rescue laxatives | Unclear | 14 participants received a rescue laxative only while taking co‐danthramer plus poloxamer but not with senna plus lactulose. 4 participants received rescue laxatives while taking senna plus lactulose but not with co‐danthramer plus poloxamer. 5 participants received rescue laxatives both while taking both trial treatments |
Participant assessment of bowel function | Unclear | The reported mean change in participant assessment of their bowel function was not significant between drugs at the first week prior to cross‐over or in the week following cross‐over |
Participant preference | 58 | "While favourable comments about agents effectiveness and flavour were evenly shared, twice as many patients disliked the flavour of co‐danthramer as that of lactulose with senna" |
Diarrhoea | Unclear | "...diarrhoea resulted in the suspension of laxative therapy occurred more frequently with lactulose and senna compared to co‐danthramer (15 versus 5)" |
Adverse effects | Unclear | 2 participants reported per‐anal soreness and burning on co‐danthramer plus poloxamer |
Overall finding | ‐ | Outcomes were mixed on laxation response |
* If data available and appropriate effect estimate was presented as an odds ratio (OR) or a mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). If not available or appropriate then effect was reported as stated in the trial.