Medications			Treatment side effects and comments
Oral administration
Lubricant			Softens stool and eases passage
	Mineral oil: 1 to 3 mL per kg per day given once daily or in divided doses twice daily		Chill or give with juice.
			Risk of lipoid pneumonia
			Adherence problems
			Leakage may occur if dose is too high or impaction is present.
Osmotic laxatives			Retain water in stool, which adds bulk and softness
	Lactulose (concentration: 10 g per 15 mL): 1 to 3 mL per kg per day given in divided doses twice daily		Abdominal cramping, flatus
			Lactulose is a synthetic disaccharide.
	Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia; concentration: 400 mg per 5 mL): 1 to 3 mL per kg per day given in divided doses twice daily		With overdose or renal insufficiency: risk of hypermagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, or secondary hypocalcemia
	Magnesium hydroxide (concentration: 800 mg per 5 mL): 0.5 mL per kg per day given in divided doses twice daily
	Polyethylene glycol powder (17 g per 240 mL of water or juice): 1 g per kg per day given in divided doses twice daily (approximately 15 mL per kg per day)		Titrate dosage at three-day intervals to achieve mushy stool consistency.
			Solution may be prepared in advance for administration over one to two days.
			Excellent adherence
	Sorbitol: 1 to 3 mL per kg per day given in divided doses twice daily		Less costly than lactulose
Stimulants			Short-term use only; improves effectiveness of colonic and rectal muscle contractions
	Senna syrup (8.8 g sennoside per 5 mL)		Risk of idiosyncratic hepatitis, melanosis coli, hypertropic osteoarthropathy, analgesic nephropathy, abdominal cramping
		Age two to six years: 2.5 to 7.5 mL per day given in divided doses twice daily
		Age six to 12 years: 5 to 15 mL per day given in divided doses twice daily	Melanosis coli improves after medication is stopped.
			Tablets and granules are available.
	Bisacodyl (5-mg tablets): one to three tablets given once or twice daily		Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, hypokalemia
Rectal administration
Glycerine suppository			No side effects
Bisacodyl suppository (10 mg): one-half to one suppository administered once or twice daily			Abdominal cramping, diarrhea, hypokalemia