Economic Growth Outlook For The Constipation Remedy Market
Research reports from industry and university researchers continue to indicate that constipation affects a broad swathe of the population. The numbers suggest that some 10% of the population has experienced constipation within the last six months and some smaller fraction experience it on a chronic basis. Therefore the demand for constipation treatments remain large but also the industry has responded with a plethora of remedy products.
New entrants into the market may feel some intimidation by the large number of companies already supplying constipation treatments. The underlying situation suggests there’s no need to worry. The reason is that constipation remains an “idiopathic” disease, meaning that there is no clear indicator of its cause. As a result, most people don’t know a priori the most effective treatment and must try a few before hitting upon one that works.
The current state of affairs in the constipation treatment market is that products can be categorized into 4 divisions. The four can be summarized as the following: over-the-counter medications or ones requiring prescriptions, nutritional supplements available to most consumers without prescription, natural herbal agents not in the purview of the FDA, and finally a novel but handful of molecular therapeutics that target root biological causes of constipation.
Supplemental agents encompass brand names like Metamucil which are derived from natural sources of high fiber usually. An example of a natural source are psyllium husks, which are the seed husks of the plantago plant. They are ground into powdered form and mixed with liquids for a high fiber drink. Supplemental agents are usually safe but still need to be taken with plenty of water for the right bulk effect.
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.
The largest class of laxatives in the market of constipation treatments is the one that includes OTC agents found in pharmacies and apothecaries. Such laxatives come in various brand names, have various active ingredients and act in different ways. Patients might consider trying two or three classes before settling on any one. For example, lubricant laxatives help reduce water uptake by coating food in an oily cover. If a patient doesn’t respond to it, he or she might try a stimulant laxative that causes the gastrointestinal tract to contract more often for speeding up movement of contents.
The newest entrants to the market for constipation treatments are the compounds with molecular specificity. This means that these medicines were designed specifically to hit chemical “signalers” or “nerve centers” in the gut. The drug Amitiza (or lubiprostone) is thought to physically interact with a ClC2 receptor that allows passage of calcium ions in and out of the intestinal space. This likely affects water balance which in turn affects how foods move through the colon.
Peruse the latest news in relation to remedies for constipation. Additional resources provided for causes of constipation can be read here.