Docusate is a widely used stool softener. A review of the evidence found that docusate is no more effective than placebo in the prevention or management of constipation and suggests that the drug has very little utility when given alone for opioid-induced constipation. Compared with placebo, docusate did not increase stool frequency or soften the stool. Docusate also failed to alleviate the common symptoms of opioid-induced constipation such as difficulty passing stools, hard stools, abdominal cramping, and incomplete stool passage.
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