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Clinical Observation with Padma Lax - preliminary data
Authors: A. Gabryelewicz,M.D.
Source: Personal Communication, A. Gabryelewicz,M.D., January 8, 1979 Gastroenterology Clinic, Medical School, Bialystok, Poland
Padma Lax was applied in patients with obstipation lasting longer than one year. The patients were suffering from obstipation for 3-4 days with unsatisfactory results after previously using laxative drugs.
Our preliminary observations are based on hospitalized (group A) and ambulatory patients (group B). Group A patents were divided into 2 groups:
1. Habitual obstipation in patients over 60 years old
2. Patients with obstipation in the course of peptic ulcer (gastric or duodenal).
Group A1
In 9 patients with habitual obstipation diagnosed after elimination of organic cause of obstipation, Padma Lax was applied in the dose of 2 tablets per night. Good results were obtained in 7 patients who take Padma Lax at home as a lone treatment. In 2 patients in this group the drug was not successful and after 8 days of treatment was discontinued.
Group A2
In all ulcer patients the hyper acidity of gastric secretions was found. Patients were suffering from obstipation before they were admitted to the hospital. It is necessary to underline that the obstipation evidently increased after including anti-secretory treatment of the ulcer (atropine, daricon). X-ray examination showed the spastic or mainly paralytic origin of obstipation. Padma Lax was applied in the dose of 1 or 2 tablets per night. In 9 out of 10 patients the drug was successful. After 5 days treatment the number of tablets was reduced to 1 per night. The felling of our patients evidently improved and anti-secretory therapy of the ulcer was continued. The observation in this group continued for 2.5 to 3 months. Before and during the treatment with Padma Lax the level of K and NaCl in the serum was measured every 3-4 weeks (Table 1).
Group B
The ambulatory observation were carried out on two groups of patients;
1. Habitual obstipation (n=10)
2. Patients with cholelithiasis and concomitant obstipation (n=10)
In patients with habitual obstipation, only in two cases the drug was without any effect. In cholelithiasis group the normalization of stools was noted in every patient. The electrolytes were measured in the same way as in hospitalized patients (Table 2 and 3).
No side effects were observed in any of the subjects.
Preliminary Conclusions:
a) Padma Lax is very useful drug in treatment of habitual obstipation. I works as well in hospital situations as it does in ambulatory practice.
b) Padma Lax is very indicated in the treatment of obstipation as a concomitant syndrome in peptic ulcer or cholelithiasis.
c) 2.5-3.0 months treatment with Padma Lax does not evidently disturb the balance of K and NaCl in the serum.
d) Further observations are needed:
1. The number of patients in each group should be increased to 30 in each group.
2. Observation time in each patient should be prolonged to 4-6 months.