The goal of a study published in Clinical Drug Investigation compared the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes (PEG+E) to that of ispaghula husk (psyllium) in the treatment of constipation. This randomized, controlled, open-label, parallel-group trial included adults with chronic functional constipation. Group 1 comprising 63 patients received PEG+E 13.8g/sachet dissolved in water twice daily for 2 weeks, while group 2 formed by an equal number of patients was given ispaghula husk 3.5g/sachet dissolved in water twice daily for 2 weeks. All patients were assessed at baseline and 1 and 2 weeks after therapy. The primary outcome measures were weekly defecation rate, stool consistency according to the Bristol Stool Form scale, time to first defecation, and overall efficacy - a combination of defecation rate, stool consistency, and difficulty in defecation. The results showed that treatment was highly effective in 50 out of 63 patients in group 1 compared to 26 out of 63 patients in group 2 - the overall efficacy rates were 92% and 73%, respectively. PEG+E increased the mean weekly defecation rate from 1.18 at baseline to 7.95 after 1 week and 8.48 after 2 weeks. Whereas ispaghula husk increased the mean weekly defecation rate from 1.33 at baseline to 5.33 after 1 week and to 5.71 after 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the treatment differences for defecation rates were all statistically significant. Additionally, 2 weeks of treatment with PEG+E or ispaghula husk normalized stools in 87.3% and 66.7% of patients, respectively. Also, the incidence of adverse effects were comparable between the groups. No major adverse event occurred and none required any treatment. Thus, the findings suggested that low-dose PEG 3350 plus electrolytes is more effective and more rapid in onset of action than ispaghula husk, and is equally well tolerated.