NICE recommends constipation drug

In final guidance, NICE recommended prucalopride (Resolor, Movetis) be used to treat some women with chronic constipation, for whom laxatives have not provided adequate relief.

The institute recommends prucalopride should only be offered to women who have tried without relief at least two different types of laxatives from different classes for at least six months, and for whom invasive treatment is being considered.

Professor Peter Littlejohns, clinical and public health director at NICE, said: ‘Chronic constipation, although not life-threatening, can have a significant effect on quality of life, often accompanied by a host of unpleasant symptoms, like irritability, lethargy and painful bloating.

‘We are pleased, therefore, to be able to recommend prucalopride as a clinically and cost effective treatment for some women whose chronic constipation has not been managed with standard laxatives.’