Forlax Mechanism of Action

Pharmacotherapeutic class: Osmotic laxative. ATC code: A06AD15 (A: digestive system and metabolism).
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: High molecular weight (4000) macrogols are long linear polymers which retain water molecules by means of hydrogen bonds. When administered by the oral route, they lead to an increase in volume of intestinal fluids.
The volume of unabsorbed intestinal fluid accounts for the laxative properties of the solution.
Pharmacokinetics: The pharmacokinetic data confirm that macrogol 4000 undergoes neither gastrointestinal resorption nor biotransformation following oral ingestion.
Toxicology: Preclinical safety data: Toxicological studies in different species of animals did not reveal any signs of systemic or local gastrointestinal toxicity of macrogol 4000. Macrogol 4000 had no teratogenic or mutagenic effect. Potential drug interactions studies performed in rats on some NSAIDs, anticoagulants, gastric antisecretory agents, or on a hypoglycaemic sulfamide showed that FORLAX did not interfere with gastrointestinal absorption of these compounds. No carcinogenicity studies have been performed.