Picolax - what to expect?

Me again - so my daughter’s ultrasound was clear but an X-ray showed her being considerably backed up. The consultant has prescribed Picolax & Senna in combination for 24 hours (on a non school day) to clear her out. Does anyone have any experience of this mediation for their child?

[Yaleamanda]

All I know is they are both stimulants, why have they not prescribed a stool softener as well? Did you GP prescribe or a gastroentologist?

[Hidden in reply to Yaleamanda]

They have, she also has laxido daily alongside these - these two are just for 24 hours at high doses.

[Skyfullofstars1]

Hi, yes my daughter went into hospital for a week …days only, wee got home at night. She had picolax for three days and we were under observation. She had to wear a pull up and even then at home the explosion came. And a rug was binned. It was a really difficult week. But it really did work. Three years later we’re on 2 movicol and 5ml docusate daily and she sits on the toilet after meals. And she now has a normal poo in the loo each day. It was slow at first with only tiny poos a few times a day and a little restricting to be home to sit on the loo for 5-10 minutes after each meal. But it worked. She was 4 at the time and now 7. Good luck 💕

[Hidden]

Thankyou for your reply, so useful to hear other people's experiences. My daughter is a teenager so am hoping she will be able to manage getting to the loo when needed throughout the 24 hours she is going to take it. Hoping this will clear the best part of the impaction and then we can move to a suitable maintenance programme. Fingers crossed!

[Skyfullofstars1]

Awh yeah she sound be fine. I pad day on the loo. She will feel so much better after it’s all cleared out. Good luck xx

[Hidden in reply to Skyfullofstars1]

Ipad day on the loo - that made me laugh! Sounds a good plan x

[Hidden]

Hi can l ask how many picolax a day & senna l am getting nowhere with movicol

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

This high dose combination was just for one day as a bit of an emergency clear out. It was 60ml senna at breakfast time then two sachets of picolax at 2pm and 6pm. She is now on pico sulphate daily (5-10ml) until we go back to the consultant in a few weeks.

[laurendyer90]

I pampers 8 or Molicare slip maxi might give peace of mind incase she can not get there in time better in a nappy than on the floor and her clothes!!!!

[Jbfs]

Hi Mio2021 how is your daughter getting on?

My 13 year old son also had no sign of disimpaction but significant faecal loading. The NHS completely failed us but I’ve been lucky enough to be able to go private . He is now on 10ml dulocolax and 2 sachets of movicol. I’m worried about keeping him on dulcolax as it says it shouldn’t be used for longer than 5 consecutive days but I have to admit it is working !

[Hidden]

Hi there, good to hear from you. So we had huge success after the ‘clear out weekend’ of Picolax and high dose Senna, my daughter had over 3 weeks of no soiling at all. She has had the odd day (maybe 3 in total) of soiling in the subsequent two weeks. Not really sure why this is although her maintenance meds is supposed to be 15ml Pico Sulphate and 500mg Docusate but she couldn’t manage the tablets (never swallowed tablets before) and the equivalent liquid tasted like nail polish remover!

So, the consultant said this could have been the issue as the PS is a stimulant but she wasn’t getting the softener in alongside this. We’ve now moved to 4 sachets (adult) Laxido alongside the PS until 1st Sept when we see him again for our next appointment so hoping this will keep the soiling at bay. I too worry about the use of long term laxatives but equally am so happy for her to have some relief.

Is the dulcolax a stimulant like the pico sulphate? If so, sounds like we are following a similar programme - we also ended up going private and the scan showed loading rather than impaction. Has cost us a not so small fortune so far (!) but is worth it to see progress x

[Dottieeadie in reply to Hidden]

Hi still struggling did your daughter take 2 picolax at 2 pm then another 2 at 6pm or was it just one thxs

[Hidden in reply to Dottieeadie]

Hello. Our dose was 60ml Senna at 9am then the Picolax at midday and 6pm as I remember. Are you following a similar prescription?

[Dottieeadie in reply to Hidden]

No thinking of giving it a try getting no we’re with movicol thxs for replying

[Jbfs]

Hi thanks for replying. So pleased to hear your daughter has got some support and things are improving. We were lucky to have some help from the grandparents and were able to go down the private route. Our local paediatrics were awful and even refused the initial referral, over a year ago. I feel for those who don’t have the luxury of going private as our experience with the NhS has been worse than awful!

I believe the dulcolax is pico sulfate. We still struggle with getting my son to talk about consistency etc which can be frustrating but things have definitely improved since reducing the movicol and using the PS. I’m wondering though how we will know when the loading has cleared and how long we will need to use the ps. We have another appointment on 27 August but so relieved 1) that we now have professional support 2) we know that there is a physical reason for the incontinence and 3) that we have a treatment plan to hopefully resolve the problem

Wishing you and your daughter all the best

[Hidden in reply to Jbfs]

That’s brilliant you are seeing improvement too and sounds like their treatment plans are v similar. We don’t go back until 1st September so interested to know what you will be told when you go at the end of the month. I too wonder about next steps and how to know if the loading is now cleared - I don’t really want to have to pay for another X Ray but wonder if this will be the only way to know what’s going on now for sure - a physical external examination doesn’t seem so accurate. We will see…

I too struggle to get much detail from my daughter about how things are going, I can judge the soiling (by the washing) but she is reluctant to talk about what goes on in the bathroom so it’s near impossible to know if there are now daily movements and what these are like. Teens!

Has the soiling stopped for your son completely now?

[Jbfs]

When I asked about another X-ray the consultant was reluctant because of radiation. We had the initial x Ray and was then prescribed PS, we explained my son was struggling with taking so much movicol as it was making accidents worse so she said he could just take the dulcolax. When we saw her a week later she carried out a physical examination of his stomach and could still feel significant loading. We were advised to continue with the dulcolax. I’m slightly worried by the length of time he’s been taking these stimulants. Also, he goes on holiday with his dad for a week soon. His dad is very supportive but not great at remembering to give medication and I also expect him to be eating lots of pizza , chips, pasta etc so a bit concerned we might have a setback

Like you we mainly have to try and fathom out what’s going on from washing!!

I’ll let you know how things go at our appointment next week. Thanks for keeping in touch it’s reassuring to know we are not alone

[Hidden in reply to Jbfs]

Hi - I hadn’t thought about that re the x rays but of course it makes sense not to be too exposed. We’re still on the PS 15ml evenings and 4 adults sachets of Laxido - she’s so used to it now she just necks 2 sachets at a time without the cordial we started off with! Poor thing, it’s so vile.

I hear you re holidays, we’re just back from 2 weeks away and I was a bit of a witch about chips, fatty foods and too much sugar - also making sure she has at least five a day of fruit and veg. Hard when you’re not there to keep an eye on things though..

Yes, do keep me posted on next appointment and next steps advised and I’ll do the same - we can try and keep each other sane. I tell myself logically it can’t last forever!