Revolutionizing Constipation Treatment: The Role of Oral Vibrating Capsules and Beyond - A Narrative Review

Abstract

Constipation has been a prevalent global problem affecting around 2.5 million people, with 92,000 hospital admissions in the US, with spending amount more than $1 billion annually. It is a significant cause of morbidity, especially in the geriatric population, resulting in extended hospital stays and institutional care settings. In response to this worrying trend, various pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions have been embraced to produce promising outcomes focusing on a multifaceted approach tailored to individual needs. Non-pharmacological measures include dietary and lifestyle changes, such as increasing fiber consumption, staying hydrated, and engaging in regular physical activity with biofeedback therapy and pelvic floor rehabilitation. In addition to the non-pharmacological therapies, over-the-counter laxatives provide momentary relief, while prescription drugs are used for severe cases or underlying disorders. Despite the various available conventional pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies recently, an oral vibrating capsule (VC) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2022 to treat chronic idiopathic constipation in individuals who have not found relief from current laxative medicines for at least a month The vibrating capsule (VC) works on the principle of psychotherapeutics that increases motility and colonic peristalsis and reduces constipation and related symptoms in individuals with Chronic Idiopathic Constipation.