Objectives : Laxative abuse is associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with eating disorders. Therapists frequently struggle to manage bowel movements in such patients. This study examined the effects of laxatives with novel mechanisms of action on the treatment of eating disorders.

Methods : Data of patients hospitalized with eating disorders were collected from Kohnodai Hospital, encompassing two distinct periods : July 2016-June 2017 (before the introduction of new laxatives) and July 2021-June 2022 (after the introduction of new laxatives). The study compared the prevalence of laxative abuse, self-reported quantity of abused stimulant laxatives prior to hospitalization, and diversity of laxatives prescribed at discharge.

Results : Among the 165 and 156 patients hospitalized during these periods, 33 and 38 reported laxative abuse, respectively. The self-reported quantity of abused stimulant laxatives significantly decreased from 63.5±80.0 tablets to 34.5±81.0 tablets per day (p＝0.002). The number of patients prescribed stimulant laxatives at discharge decreased from 5 to 2, and the variety of prescribed laxatives at discharge significantly increased from 1.9±1.2 to 3.6±2.3 (p＝0.001).

Conclusion : The approval of laxatives with new mechanisms may reduce laxative abuse in patients with eating disorders before hospitalization and broaden pharmacotherapy options for inpatient treatment.