In surveys conducted by academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies, it has been revealed that constipation is a condition that's estimated to afflict anywhere from 5 to 15% of the general population. The high incidence suggests not only that there exists a very large market for people interested in constipation treatments, but also that in response to the demand a plethora of agents have been developed to combat constipation.
The fact that there are many supplements and medications targeted toward the constipation patient might discourage new entrants into the market, however the truth is that there are fairly few (if any) universally effective treatments. Instead, the product market is fragmented into sectors, none of which can provide complete relief to the average sufferer. The market for constipation treatments can continue to support novel agents, as long as they provide new benefits over existing treatments.
At the moment, the market for therapeutics is divisible into four categories. These include herbal supplements that are usually not regulated by the FDA unless there are exceptional circumstances, medical laxatives that can be prescribed or bought over counter, nutritional supplements available in health or fitness stores, and a new class of molecular therapies which act in novel ways unless traditional therapies.
Nutritional supplements include among them distinguished brands like Metamucil, the main ingredients of which are usually some natural product with exceptionally high fiber. For example, psyllium husks from the Plantago shrub are high in fiber and used in supplements. They are often found in powdered form so as to be mixed with water to make a drinkable source of fiber.
For constipation remedies based on herbs, one will likely find that senna is the biggest contender on the block. There actually are a number of other herbal agents which exert a propulsive effect on intestinal contents such as aloe and cascara. However, safety concerns in recent years mean that manufacturers can no longer indicate on labeling that aloe and cascara are meant for constipation. Many people adhere to FDA guidelines.
Over-the-counter laxative agents make up the largest proportion of constipation treatments. Laxative agents are diverse, operating through different physiological labels such as "stimulant", "lubricant" or "bulk". The stimulant laxatives actually cause greater muscle movement in the large intestine that helps push food along. The lubricant laxative reduce water uptake in the gut which helps keep the food retain fluid and eases its movement.
Finally, a new generation of medicines known as "molecular" medicines await approval from the FDA. The first of these, amitiza, directly fires a protein receptor in sensor cells of the intestine which cause fluid secretion and spontaneous bowel movement. General laxatives operate through unclear mechanisms usually with empirical bases, whereas amitiza and other agents were designed for a specific mechanism. The result is a more targeted medication, and one that has achieved elusive acceptance by the FDA for treating chronic constipation.
The fact that there are many supplements and medications targeted toward the constipation patient might discourage new entrants into the market, however the truth is that there are fairly few (if any) universally effective treatments. Instead, the product market is fragmented into sectors, none of which can provide complete relief to the average sufferer. The market for constipation treatments can continue to support novel agents, as long as they provide new benefits over existing treatments.
At the moment, the market for therapeutics is divisible into four categories. These include herbal supplements that are usually not regulated by the FDA unless there are exceptional circumstances, medical laxatives that can be prescribed or bought over counter, nutritional supplements available in health or fitness stores, and a new class of molecular therapies which act in novel ways unless traditional therapies.
Nutritional supplements include among them distinguished brands like Metamucil, the main ingredients of which are usually some natural product with exceptionally high fiber. For example, psyllium husks from the Plantago shrub are high in fiber and used in supplements. They are often found in powdered form so as to be mixed with water to make a drinkable source of fiber.
For constipation remedies based on herbs, one will likely find that senna is the biggest contender on the block. There actually are a number of other herbal agents which exert a propulsive effect on intestinal contents such as aloe and cascara. However, safety concerns in recent years mean that manufacturers can no longer indicate on labeling that aloe and cascara are meant for constipation. Many people adhere to FDA guidelines.
Over-the-counter laxative agents make up the largest proportion of constipation treatments. Laxative agents are diverse, operating through different physiological labels such as "stimulant", "lubricant" or "bulk". The stimulant laxatives actually cause greater muscle movement in the large intestine that helps push food along. The lubricant laxative reduce water uptake in the gut which helps keep the food retain fluid and eases its movement.
Finally, a new generation of medicines known as "molecular" medicines await approval from the FDA. The first of these, amitiza, directly fires a protein receptor in sensor cells of the intestine which cause fluid secretion and spontaneous bowel movement. General laxatives operate through unclear mechanisms usually with empirical bases, whereas amitiza and other agents were designed for a specific mechanism. The result is a more targeted medication, and one that has achieved elusive acceptance by the FDA for treating chronic constipation.
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