Polycarbophil

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Polycarbophil, also Calcium Polycarbophil is the International Nonproprietary Name of a synthetic polymer the calcium salt of polyacrylic acid cross-linked with divinyl glycol.

Clinical uses

It is used as stool stabilizer to treat constipation, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. Bulk laxatives absorb liquid in the intestines and swell to form a soft bulky stool. The bulky mass stimulates the intestinal muscles, speeding stool transit time through the colon. Results usually occur within 12 to 72 hours. Calcium Polycarbophil will not work without increased fluid intake.

Calcium polycarbophil has been marketed as an over-the-counter agent used for treating functional bowel disorder and as a bulk-producing agent

A study published in the journal "Hepato-Gastroenterology" (Chiba T, Kudara N, Sato M, Chishima R, Abiko Y, Inomata M, Orii S, Suzuki K) looked at the effects of calcium polycarbophil on general IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) symptoms. Fourteen patients with IBS-diarrhea and 12 with IBS-constipation were given calcium polycarbophil for eight weeks, and their colon transit times were measured with radiopaque markers in the colon. The patients with diarrhea reported fewer bowel movements, more solid stools, and reduced abdominal pain. Patients with constipation reported more frequent bowel movements, looser stools and less pain.

The human stomach presents a mild acidic environment (due to the presence of HCl). Polycarbophil absorbs about 10 times its own weight of water under acidic conditions, but the swelling ratio markedly increases at above pH 4.0, and reaches 70 times the initial weight under pH-neutral conditions. The swelling of polycarbophil is not affected by non-ionic osmolarity, but is affected by ionic strength, showing a decrease with increase of ionic strength. Monovalent metal ions such as sodium and potassium ions in gastrointestinal fluid do not reduce the equilibrium swelling of polycarbophil, but divalent ions such as calcium and magnesium ions do. However, calcium ions only slightly reduce the equilibrium swelling under sodium-rich conditions. [Digestive Diseases and Sciences, Volume 52, Number 6, June 2007 , pp. 1423-1426(4)]

Presentations

*Chewable tablet containing Calcium Polycarbophil 625mg

References

* [http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/finechem/products/Osy/Calcium+Polycarbophil.pdf Boehringer-Ingelheim]
*Takaharu Saito, Fujie Mizutani, Yuji Iwanaga, Kouji Morikawa and Hideo Kato. 2002. Laxative and Anti-diarrheal Activity of Polycarbophil in Mice and Rats. [http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjp/89/2/89_133/_article/-char/en . "Jpn.J. Pharmacol." 89, p. 133]
*Akira Torii, and Gotaro Toda. 2004. Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. [http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/internalmedicine/43/5/43_353/_article "Internal Medicine" 43, p. 353 ]

External links

*Shibata C. 2007. [http://www.springerlink.com/content/k088860214w02030/fulltext.pdf Dig. Dis. Sci. 52:1423–1426]
*Paterson W G et al. 1999. [http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/161/2/154 Recommendations for the management of irritable bowel syndrome in family practice. CMAJ July 27, 161]