Résumé
The issue of intestinal transit has been at the heart of people's concerns for many years. Today in France, laxatives used to accelerate transit and soften stools are among the most sold molecules in pharmacies. These are optional prescription drugs; pharmacists may therefore be required to dispense them as part of a prescription or advice. Among the most commonly used are ballast laxatives and osmotic laxatives that act on transit constipation, as well as local action laxatives such as effervescent or glycerine suppositories that help people with terminal constipation. These specialities are used to treat chronic constipation but also to prevent constipation induced by opioids or by molecules with anticholinergic action such as neuroleptics, certain antidepressants or antiparkinsonians. However, laxatives can be misused and abused, especially when they are used for purgative or weight-loss purposes in people suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia, as well as in athletes wishing to lose weight quickly. The pharmacist, as a local contact and health professional, must have a good knowledge of laxatives, their side effects, their indications and contraindications in order to be able to advise patients and ensure the proper use of these molecules.