• Used to soften impacted feces in the management of constipation.

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity
• Children <6 yr (oral)
• Children <2 yr (rect).

Use Cautiously in:

• Children or debilitated patients (increased risk of lipid pneumonia)
• OB: Chronic use during pregnancy decreases absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and may cause hypoprothrombinemia in newborn
• Geri: Appears on Beers list. ↑ risk of aspiration in older adults. Avoid use in older adults.

GI: diarrhea, anal irritation, rectal seepage of mineral oil.

Resp: lipid pneumonia.

Drug-Drug:

• ↓absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).
• Concurrent use with stool softeners may increase absorption of mineral oil or produce more diarrhea.

Drug-Food:

• ↓absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).

(Generic available)

• Liquid: 30-mL, 180-mL, pint, and gallon containers^OTC;
• Rectal enema: 480-mL containers^OTC;

• PO (Adults and Children >12 yr): 5–45 mL as a single dose.
• PO (Children 6–12 yr): 5–15 mL as a single dose.
• Rect (Adults and Children >12 yr): 60–150 mL as a single dose.
• Rect (Children 2–11 yr): 30–60 mL as a single dose.

Fleet Oil, Milkinol

• Coats surface of stool and intestine with lubricant film to allow passage of stool through intestine.
• Improves water retention of stool.

• Softening of fecal mass and subsequent passage.

Therapeutic Classification: laxatives

Pharmacologic Classification: lubricant laxatives

Absorption: Minimally absorbed following oral administration.

Distribution: Distributes locally into the intestinal mucosa.

Metabolism/Excretion: Action is primarily local; unabsorbed mineral oil is passed with fecal mass.

Half-life: Not applicable.

(laxation)

• Advise patients that laxatives should be used only for short-term therapy. Long-term therapy may interfere with absorption of nutrients and vitamins A, D, E, and K.
• Advise patients not to take this medication within 2 hr of food or other medications.
• Encourage patients to use other forms of bowel regulation, such as increasing bulk in the diet, increasing fluid intake, and increasing mobility. Normal bowel habits are variable and may vary from 3 times/day to 3 times/wk.
• Instruct patients with cardiac disease to avoid straining during bowel movements (Valsalva maneuver).
• Advise patients that large doses of mineral oil may cause leakage of mineral oil from the rectum; protection of clothing may be necessary. This may be prevented by reducing or dividing the dose or by administering in emulsified form.
• Advise patients not to use laxatives when abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or fever is present.