Case study - customer requesting Senokot
Case study: customer requesting Senokot
Andrew comes to the counter and asks to buy Senokot. In this case, when asked, Andrew says he hasn't used it before and he says he has been taking co-codamol for a bad back.
It would be appropriate to find out more about his symptoms and lifestyle factors that could be contributing.
- Symptom
discussion - Case notes
- Self-care advice
He says it's a bit embarrassing, and he hasn't had this issue before, but he has been constipated for a few days. He's usually pretty regular. He says he has a healthy, varied diet and usually exercises four times a week, but hasn't been as much recently due to a bad back. He has stopped taking the co-codamol now.
Step 1
Lifestyle assessment
From the discussion, the change in activity levels and use of co-codamol could have contributed to his constipation.
Step 2
Lifestyle changes
As his diet is healthy and he is starting to exercise again, he could be reminded to keep drinking plenty of fluids.
Product advice
He says he will keep up the fluids and increase his activity, but he wants something he can take to help him too. Click below for a suggestion.
Step 3
First-line treatment
Bulk-forming laxatives such as ispaghula may be recommended as a first-line treatment.
Advise him to try this and see how he gets on.
Step 4
Second-line treatment
If they do not help, or he is struggling to pass stools, he should come back for advice as there are other options he could try.