Help Needed plzzzzz....

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Hi everyone I will be doing a research on laxatives given to patients in the hospital and nursing homes. I know this question really depends on every individual, but how many laxatives are patients scheduled to take on a normal routine? Can 4 or 5 laxatives be scheduled in any case to be given at once? Thank you all for the help!

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Patients usually aren't scheduled to take laxatives just because. Usually used when constipated, and first would want to try I high fiber diet and stool softeners because the elderly are at higher risk of electrolyte imbalances and dehydration. It isn't common to take 4 to 5 laxatives at a time that I know of.

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Specializes in Hospice/Mental Health/LTC/Home Health.

A few residents where I work who have constant constipation issues take miralaax every other day in the morning. A few also take stool softners like Colace and others take fiber supplements like Benefiber or Metamucil. All depends on the independent resident and doctor.

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I've seen Colace a few times a day, Senekot-S's at HS x2, miralax at night, and a neuro bowel routine (MOM Day 1, Ducolax Day 2, Day of rest Day 3), but I don't think I've seen a person on all of them at once.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

If a patient were on that many laxatives, I'd give them at the end of my shift! Seriously, are you sure about the assignment?

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Almost all of my patients that colace plus senna or senna-s (which is colace plus senna in one pill).

More than a few take Miralax, colace and senna every day.

One I can think of takes lactulose, colace and senna every day.

Another takes miralax, metamucil, colace, senna and a fiber cap every day and still requires a fleet enema a couple times per week.

We have a paraplegic on a regimen (based on his home regimen, he's in for rehab) of miralax daily, he takes a shot of mineral oil I think daily, then he gets a suppository and a fleet every other day.

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Many docs will write an order for "laxative of choice" every third day if no BM. Miralax and MOM are common. If pt is difficult to take meds PO, suppositories can be ordered.

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Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.

I've seen this question before but it was asked by a family member of patient, not a nurse or a student. I'm wondering if this is the same person gathering information because they think something was done incorrectly while patient was admitted?

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