According to surveyors from both academia and the pharmaceutical industry, the general population experiences a 10% incidence rate of constipation. Such a high incidence means that there is a large market for medications and supplements targeted toward constipation, and that the number of players in the market that supply these treatment agents is correspondingly large.
Many entrepreneurs interested in entering the market for supplying constipation treatments may be discouraged by what may seem to be a mature, stable and saturated market. The real situation however, is both more hopeful and bleak simultaneously. The reason is that there are few if any constipation remedies that are effective for everyone all the time. The market is split into various treatments of varying efficacy, with little diagnostics to distinguish which patients benefit from which treatments.
At the moment, the market for therapeutics is divisible into four categories. These include herbal supplements that are usually not regulated by the FDA unless there are exceptional circumstances, medical laxatives that can be prescribed or bought over counter, nutritional supplements available in health or fitness stores, and a new class of molecular therapies which act in novel ways unless traditional therapies.
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.
By far the most active segment of the constipation treatment market is the over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medication category. The medicines are all quite different in their mode of action, individual efficacy and cost. It's likely that a patient will have to try out a few before finding one that works well. Some examples of these include stimulant laxatives and lubricant laxatives.
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.
Many entrepreneurs interested in entering the market for supplying constipation treatments may be discouraged by what may seem to be a mature, stable and saturated market. The real situation however, is both more hopeful and bleak simultaneously. The reason is that there are few if any constipation remedies that are effective for everyone all the time. The market is split into various treatments of varying efficacy, with little diagnostics to distinguish which patients benefit from which treatments.
At the moment, the market for therapeutics is divisible into four categories. These include herbal supplements that are usually not regulated by the FDA unless there are exceptional circumstances, medical laxatives that can be prescribed or bought over counter, nutritional supplements available in health or fitness stores, and a new class of molecular therapies which act in novel ways unless traditional therapies.
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.
By far the most active segment of the constipation treatment market is the over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medication category. The medicines are all quite different in their mode of action, individual efficacy and cost. It's likely that a patient will have to try out a few before finding one that works well. Some examples of these include stimulant laxatives and lubricant laxatives.
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.
About the Author:
Some of these ideas were generously granted by a site on constipation relief. The site discusses the topic of Resolor.
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