A vibrating oral capsule could help ease chronic constipation.
The pill vibrates as it moves through the digestive tract; the treatment could nearly double the amount of weekly bowel movements in those suffering from constipation conditions such as chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS), a Digestive Disease Week news release reported.
"Despite the widespread use of medication to treat constipation, nearly 50 percent of patients are unsatisfied with the treatment either because of side effects, safety concerns about long-term use, or the fact that it simply doesn't work," Yishai Ron, MD, lead researcher for the study and director of Neurogastroenterology and Motility at Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center's Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology said in the news release.
Twenty-six patients tested the capsules twice a week and reported their bowel movements and constipation patterns. The participants reported an increase in spontaneous bowel movements of two to four times per week.
The participants also reported "a decrease in constipation symptoms, including reduced difficulty in passing stools and incomplete evacuation" with minimal side effects, the news release reported.
A small engine inside the pill is programed to start vibrating between six and eight hours after it is swallowed. The vibrations prompt intestine contractions which improve the movement of stool through the digestive tract.
About 15 percent of the population struggle with constipation disorders.
"Sometimes, drug therapies bring more issues than relief for these patients," Doctor Ron said. "The results of this study point to the potential for an alternative treatment that avoids the typical drug side effects, such as bloating and electrolyte imbalance, by imitating the body's natural physiology."
In the future the team plans to conduct a double-blind study further confirm the promising findings.
The study was titled "Vibrating Capsule for the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) and Constipation Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (C-IBS) - Safety and Efficacy," and was presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW).
