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 Picolax for 'clearing out'		  New Topic  Reply to Topic
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James Collier
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United Kingdom
849 Posts
Posted - 06 Jul 2006 :  10:53:11  Show Profile  Visit James Collier's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I have an anorexic girl patient who is doing really well and sticking to her eating plans. However she is getting major bloating and her gastroenterologist has tried numerous medications to no avail. One suggestion he has made is a dose of Picolax once per month to clear her out.

As we all know Picolax is primarily used to empty the bowel for investigative procedures and is then accompanied by a very simple diet. Obviously she needs her nutrition and a day of no nutriiton would be very significant. Her gastroenterologist said that because it isn't for investigations just 'clearing out' that it is ok to eat normally.

Is this the case? Can she eat normally on Picolax? And secondly is a Picolax clear out effective for bloating?

Experience and comments appreciated

JAMES COLLIER BSc (Hons) RNutr
Nutrition Consultant
Healthy Action

Professional Nutritional Advice

Chris Flatt
Moderator

United Kingdom
326 Posts
Posted - 12 Jul 2006 :  12:17:51  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Never heard of that from any of our gastro patients?!

Would be good to hear anyone else's thoughts / experiences...

cflatt
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tamsin
New Member

United Kingdom
18 Posts
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 :  22:10:36  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I had a patient in the last hospital i worked who used Picolax to clear out her bowels.
Basically, she presented to the surgical team with a long history of constipation. Laxatives, Benefiber, enemas were all unsuccesful and intestinal transit studies showed that she had a prolonged bowel emptying time.
She was underweight and although it was never discussed, I got the impression that she had an underlying eating disorder as she had used laxatives extensiviely prior to her admission. This had probably caused them to stop functioning effectively.
Anyway, the Picolax worked, although i think she nearly passed out in the toilet, so you might want to introduce it gradually rather than give the full dose!
I believe she ate a normal diet whilst using the Picolax.
Hope this helps!
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