A comparison of sodium picosulphate (Laxoberal) with standardised senna (‘Senokot’) in geriatric patients

A comparison was made between the effectiveness of sodium picosulphate and that of standardised senna in a group of 50 long-stay geriatric patients. Both were found to be equally effective as laxatives, but there were wide variations in the responses of individual patients to these agents. Side-effects were uncommon. They may well have been reduced further if a small starting dose of sodium picosulphate had been used.