便秘可能發生於各年齡層，但在老年族群的比例最高。飲食狀況改變、生理功能退化、共 病症較多、藥物使用種類繁多都會造成便秘常見於老年族群。透過臨床診斷標準ROME III 的 描述，臨床醫師在排除其他可能原因後確診為慢性便秘。非藥物治療被視為第一線療法，增加 纖維質與補充足夠水分和提升運動量有助於改善便秘現象。藥物治療包含體積膨鬆劑、滲透型 瀉藥與刺激型瀉藥，可以有效緩解老人便秘的症狀。憂鬱症、帕金森氏症及慢性搔癢為老年族 群常見之疾病，這些病症之用藥也可能誘發便秘症狀，使用該類藥物仍須嚴密觀察病患反應。 根據實證醫學及藥學專家的建議，體積膨鬆劑搭配適量飲水為第一線便秘用藥，刺激型瀉藥仍 無法證實其長期使用之安全性，被列為較後線治療老人便秘藥物。

Geriatric populations are prone to suffer from constipation, though it can occur at every age. Changes on dietary style, degradation on physiological function, higher rate of co-morbidity, and usages in numerous categories of medications can all contribute to constipation. According to the delineation of ROME-III Criteria, constipation can be correctly diagnosed after ruling out other possible causes by clinicians. Among all therapeutic approaches, non-pharmacological treatments remain first-line choice. Increasing absorption of water and fiber and more exercise can alleviate symptoms of constipation. Pharmacological managements are composed of bulk-forming agents, osmotic laxatives, and stimulant laxatives. These agents are proved to be effective on relieving for constipation in elderly people. Depression, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic pruritus are the common co-morbidity among geriatric population. Drugs used to cure those diseases are considered as potential risks to induce constipation. We should apply those medications under close monitoring. Based on recommendation from evidence-based medicine or pharmacy professionals, bulk-forming agents are considered the preferred choice with sufficient water supplementation. The safety profiles of long-term use of stimulant laxatives are not fully established, the ranking of recommendation on stimulant laxatives remains conservative for geriatric constipation.