Choice of laxatives and colonoscopic preparation in pregnant patients from the viewpoint of obstetricians and gastroenterologists

Table 1 Comparison of gastroenterologists’ (GI) vs obstetricians’ (OB) preference of 14 common laxative/motility agents prescribed in the pregnant patient

	% of GI physicians who have prescribed in the past or would prescribe in the future	% of OB physicians who have prescribed in the past or would prescribe in future	% of GI physicians who would NOT prescribe	% of OB physicians who would NOT prescribe	Pvalue
Metamucil (psyllium)	96.5	95.6	3.9	2.2	1.000
Citrucel (methylcellulose)	92.9	77.1	7.1	11.4	0.164
Colace (docusate)	89.3	97.7	10.7	2.3	0.293
Glycerin suppository	77.8	82.0	14.8	15.4	0.757
Fleets enema (sodium phosphate enema)	75.0	55.0	25.0	41.7	0.174
Tap water enema	70.4	44.5	22.2	50.0	0.046
Miralax (PEG 3350)	69.2	20.6	23.1	51.7	0.000
Magnesium Citrate	54.2	32.3	45.8	61.8	0.113
GoLytely (PEG solution)	53.8	12.9	46.2	80.6	0.001
Dulcolax (bisacodyl suppository)	50.0	45.8	34.6	54.3	0.799
Mineral Oil	46.2	25.0	42.3	75.0	0.106
Dulcolax (bisacodyl oral)	30.7	38.3	53.8	52.9	0.595
Castor Oil	26.1	37.6	60.9	62.5	0.402
Fleets Phosphosoda (oral sodium phosphate)	7.7	29.1	92.3	71.0	0.051