Constipation Treatment Market

Global Constipation Treatment Market Size (2024 to 2029)

The global constipation treatment market size is valued at USD 6.3 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach USD 8.35 billion by 2029 with a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period.  

Constipation is a problem with passing stool, generally passing fewer than three stools a week or needing help passing stool. The causes of constipation include lack of dietary fiber, fluids, and exercise, resulting in dry, hard, and often painful stools, making it difficult to pass. Constipation can occur as a side effect of other medications, which is not considered a severe indication as it clears with completion of the medication course.

Global Constipation Treatment Market Drivers:

The growing geriatric population worldwide with chronic illness is enhancing the usage of medications like analgesics, which show adverse effects like constipation, which majorly contribute to the expansion of the global constipation treatment market. According to World Health Organization Facts of 2021, the proportion of the global population aged 60 and up will nearly double from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050. It also stated that by 2030, one out of every six people would be 60 years old. There is an enormous demand for constipation drugs by the geriatric population due to frequent disturbances in their digestive system. The rising number of patients being triggered by opioid drugs is increasing the Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC) prescriptions, which is boosting the global constipation treatment market growth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, OIC prescriptions increased by 153.3 million in 2019 and 142.8 million in 2020. The growing number of patients using opioid medications is increasing OIC ailments, which are expected to fuel the global market revenue during the forecast period. The increasing cases of chronic constipation are increasing the demand for the constipation treatment, which propels the global market expansion. According to the National Library of Medicine, in July 2023, approximately 14% of the population is suffering from chronic constipation. 

The growing advancements in the healthcare industry are rising, and the development of innovative drugs with high efficacy and safety are escalating the global constipation treatment market revenue. The availability of effective medications for treating constipation is expected to drive the global market in the upcoming years.

The growing awareness among people and healthcare professionals regarding the health conditions that support early diagnosis and treatment methods is expected to create market growth opportunities. The increasing R&D activities due to investments by the market players in developing novel products and the supporting government regulations are expected to augment global market growth during the forecast period. The growing healthcare expenditure by developing countries due to emerging market economies and rising disposable incomes are all expected to increase market growth. The rising pharmaceutical industries worldwide are enhancing distribution and increasing global market revenue. 

Global Constipation Treatment Market Restraints:

The high cost of novel medications for opioid-induced constipation is the primary factor restraining the global constipation treatment market expansion. Another factor hampering the market growth is the growing side effects associated with opioid-induced constipation medications. For Instance, methyl naltrexone, when administered subcutaneously, possesses serious side effects such as cardiac-related adverse events, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which restrains the adoption of the drugs by impacting the market expansion. People are becoming more aware and showing interest in natural remedies, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle changes for managing constipation, reducing the demand for constipation treatment drugs and limiting the market growth.

The significant challenges in expanding the global constipation treatment market are the high usage of OTC medications by people for constipation rather than a course of treatment. The competition from OTC medicines and generic medicines is expected to limit the market growth expansion. The need for more awareness among people, especially in low and middle-economic countries, leads to underdiagnosis and undertreatment, mainly in the elderly population, which hampers the adoption of constipation treatment.

Impact of COVID-19 on the constipation treatment market:

The Pandemic greatly impacted the constipation treatment market due to stringent lockdown regulations, which reduced the patient visits for the constipation treatment. The supply chain disruptions, distribution delays, and production also impacted the market growth. Due to the complete focus of healthcare only on emergency COVID-19 patients, the government funding for the R&D activities of constipation treatment is reduced, impacting market expansion. However, the post-pandemic market has observed an increase, which is expected to have steady growth during the forecast period.

REPORT COVERAGE:

This market research report on constipation treatment market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on the following categories.

Global Constipation Treatment Market - By Therapeutics:

• Laxatives 
• Chloride Channel Activators 
• Peripherally Acting Mu-Opioid Receptor Antagonists
• GC-C Agonists
• Others

The peripherally acting Mu-Opioid receptor antagonists segment dominated the global constipation treatment market with a significant share. The growing prevalence of opioid-induced constipation worldwide is enhancing the adoption of opioid antagonists for the treatment of constipation. Compared to laxatives, these antagonists have shown high efficacy in the treatment of opioid-induced constipation and chronic constipation. The increasing availability of the Mu-Opioid antagonists, which can be used in various indications like advanced cancer pain and non-cancer patients, is expected to drive segment growth. 

The laxatives segment is expected to have prominent growth during the forecast period due to the increasing adoption of these medications, commonly in cases of constipation. 

Global Constipation Treatment Market - By Disease Type:

• Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
• Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation 
• Opioid-induced constipation 

The chronic idiopathic constipation segment held the largest share of the global constipation treatment market revenue and is expected to maintain domination during the forecast period. Chronic idiopathic constipation is a common bowel disorder that involves difficult, infrequent, and incomplete defecation for a longer period. The increasing cases of chronic constipation are boosting the segment growth.

The opioid-induced constipation segment is projected to have significant growth during the forecast period due to an increasing number of patients with opioid medications. The growing geriatric population leads to the usage of opioid medications, which is showing the adverse effect of constipation in patients, which is expected to increase in the forecast period. 

Global Constipation Treatment Market - By Distribution Channel:

• Hospital Pharmacies
• Retail Pharmacies 
• Online Pharmacies 

The retail pharmacies segment held the dominant share in the global market and is expected to maintain the domination in the forecast period. People mostly prefer retail pharmacies due to their wide availability across the region and cost-effective medications. 

Online pharmacies are estimated to have the fastest growth during the forecast period due to the wide adoption of digital platforms worldwide. The Pandemic has influenced people to adopt online pharmacies due to their prominent discounts and offers, which attract people. 

Global Constipation Treatment Market - By Region:

• North America

• Europe

• Asia Pacific 

• Latin America 

• Middle East and Africa 

The North American region dominated the global constipation treatment market with a significant share due to the increasing prevalence of chronic constipation and opioid-induced constipation across the region. According to data published by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in 2021, constipation affects people of all ages and populations in the United States. It also stated that constipation affects 16 out of 100 people and 33 out of 100 persons aged 60 and above. The growing geriatric population in the region is estimated to increase the chances of constipation, which is why constipation treatment is needed. All these factors are enhancing the growth of the global market. The United States holds the largest market share in the North American region due to the presence of major market players and advanced R&D institutes in the country, which boosts global market expansion. 

The Asia Pacific region is projected to grow significantly in the forecast period due to increasing healthcare expenditure, pharmaceuticals, and R&D institutes. The increasing prevalence of constipation cases, growing product approvals and launches, investments by the market players, and emerging markets in developing countries are expected to augment the global market revenue during the forecast period.

Market Key Players:

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi S.A, AstraZeneca Plc, Bausch Health Companies Inc, Abbott Laboratories, Cosmo Pharma, Pfizer Inc, Bayer AG are some of the key market players on the constipation treatment market.

Recent Market Developments:

• In May 2022, E.A. Pharma and Mochida Pharmaceutical launched “MOVICOL HD,” a chronic constipation treatment in Japan. 

• In April 2022, Ardelyx, Inc. received its approval for IBSRELA by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. IBSRELA is an NHE3 inhibitor for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults.