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. 2015 May 13;2015(5):CD003448. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003448.pub4

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.