Treatment Algorithm for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation and Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Derived from a Canadian National Survey and Needs Assessment on Choices of Therapeutic Agents

Figure 1

Types of treatment patients would ideally receive based on the type of chronic constipation (the Appendix: Question ()). Osmotic laxatives were ranked as first-line treatment for both CIC and IBS-C, followed by fibre supplements/bulking agents being second-line treatment for CIC and GCC agonist being second-line treatment for IBS-C. (CIC: chronic idiopathic constipation; IBS-C: constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome; GCC: guanylyl cyclase C).