When to reduce maintenance dose?

[Frank4321Time]

Hi everyone,

After 3 years of on and off constipation, and last year having a really stubborn withholding episode, and one almighty disimpaction, we have now got a nearly 5 year old daughter who is on 3 sachets of cosmocol a day, and pooing regularly.

This is such a huge achievement as this time last year we were at our wits end and did not know where to turn!

My question is - when do I start to reduce the maintenance dose?

She has been taking 3 sachets for about 9 ish months now and she does what I would consider a 'normal' toothpaste consistency poo most days or every other day. She is not withholding anymore, but every now and again I can see she's holding it in and have to remind her to go to the toilet. I'm worried that if I start to reduce the laxatives that it's going to cause issues again.

Will she be on this dose forever?

We have a good toilet routine so don't want to spoil any good habits or everything we have achieved so far.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

[Yaleamanda]

If there are still episodes of withholding I wouldn't reduce just yet, is she on a stimulant laxative as well? When you do reduce do so extremely slowly ie half a sachet each month. My daughter is 13 and still on movicol daily and probably will be for a long time yet. Unfortunately her diet is terrible due to sensory issues and drinking isn't much better,but every now and then we try and reduce the doses a little and it works for a while.

[Ejcrossman1]

Hey, I was told by my doctor that it’s best to keep younger children on a regular dose for a couple of years at least xx