Uses

Situations in which bulk forming laxatives are useful include:

• colostomy and ileostomy
• haemorrhoids and anal fissure
• chronic diarrhoea associated with diverticular disease
• irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis

Rationale:

• only use if fibre cannot be increased in diet
• a balanced diet with adequate fluid intake and fibre should be tried first
• takes some days to improve (patients should be told this)

Bran:

• unprocessed wheat bran with food or fruit juice
• finely ground bran is more palatable but has poorer water-retaining properties (in bran bread or biscuits)
• oat bran may also be used