Comparison of a Chinese herbal medicine (CCH1) and lactulose as first-line treatment of constipation in long-term care: A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, and placebo-controlled trial
Journal
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Journal Volume
2012
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Many institutionalized patients and their healthcare providers are dissatisfied with current laxative therapy. This study compared therapeutic efficacy, safety, and laxative cost of an herbal formula (CCH1) and lactulose for long stay patients with constipation. In this double-blind, double-dummy, and placebo-controlled trial, we randomized 93 residents with chronic constipation from two long-term care facilities in Taiwan to receive either CCH1 with lactulose placebo or CCH1 placebo with lactulose for 8 weeks, then followed up for 4 weeks without study medication. Both treatments were effective and well tolerated for patients, but CCH1 produced more spontaneous bowel movements, less rectal treatments, less amount of rescue laxative, and lower laxative cost than lactulose during treatment. No significant differences were found in stool consistency, stool amount, global assessment, and safety concerns. In conclusion, our results suggest that CCH1 may have better efficacy and could be used as an alternative option to lactulose in the treatment of constipation in long-term care. Copyright ? 2012 Chien-Hsun Huang et al.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Aconitum carmichaeli extract; Atractylodes macrocephala extract; ginger extract; ginseng extract; Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract; herbaceous agent; lactulose; magnesium oxide; placebo; Rheum tanguticum extract; unclassified drug; abdominal pain; acute gastroenteritis; adult; aged; article; bloating; cellulitis; chest tightness; constipation; controlled study; coughing; creatine kinase blood level; diaper dermatitis; diarrhea; dizziness; double blind procedure; drug cost; drug dose titration; drug efficacy; drug eruption; drug safety; drug tolerability; erythrocyte; feces analysis; female; flatulence; gastroesophageal reflux; hiccup; human; ileus; intestine motility; leukocyte; major clinical study; male; medicinal plant; nausea; parallel design; pneumonia; priority journal; pruritus; randomized controlled trial; side effect; Taiwan; thrombocyte; upper gastrointestinal bleeding; urea nitrogen blood level; urinary tract infection; vomiting
Type
journal article