North America Laxative Market – Industry Trends and Forecast to 2031

North America Laxative Market Analysis and Size

Laxatives are used to manage symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C), a type of irritable bowel syndrome characterized by constipation. The laxative market has a significant application in IBS-C, as it helps alleviate symptoms such as difficult and infrequent bowel movements. The increasing prevalence of IBS-C, particularly among adults, drives the demand for laxatives in this indication. Laxatives are prescribed to manage IBS-C symptoms, including constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain. The market for laxatives in IBS-C is driven by the growing awareness of gastrointestinal disorders and the need for effective treatments to manage these symptoms.

North America laxative market size was valued at USD 4.31 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 6.72 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 5.70% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2031.

In addition to the insights on market scenarios such as market value, growth rate, segmentation, geographical coverage, and major players, the market reports curated by the Data Bridge Market Research also include depth expert analysis, patient epidemiology, pipeline analysis, pricing analysis, and regulatory framework.

Report Scope and Market Segmentation       

Market Definition

A laxative is a type of medicine that helps to resolve constipation or empty the bowel of fecal matter before procedures or surgery involving the lower bowel. Laxatives work by softening or loosening stool, increasing bowel movements, or promoting the contraction of the intestines to move stool through the bowel. They are available in various forms, including oral tablets, capsules, and suppositories, and can be used to treat both acute and chronic constipation.

Laxative Market Dynamics

Drivers                                                                                          

• Increasing Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Disorders

Many individuals are adopting sedentary lifestyles and consume processed foods low in fiber, constipation rates rise, leading to a heightened demand for laxatives to manage these symptoms effectively. The growing burden of gastrointestinal issues underscores the necessity for accessible and effective treatment options, fueling the growth of the laxative market. Factors like poor diets, low fiber intake, insufficient hydration, and sedentary habits contribute to constipation, increasing the demand for laxatives to address associated symptom.

• Growing Elderly Population

Elderly individuals are more susceptible to constipation and other gastrointestinal issues due to age-related changes in bowel function. As the geriatric population expands, particularly in developed countries, the demand for laxatives to manage these age-related digestive problems has increased significantly. The need for effective bowel health management strategies to address the unique needs of aging populations has become a key factor propelling the growth of the laxative market. This demographic shift underscores the importance of accessible and reliable laxative products to maintain digestive wellness among the elderly.

Opportunities

• Increasing Healthcare Expenditure

As healthcare expenditure rises, particularly in emerging economies, it enhances access to healthcare services and medications like laxatives. This increased accessibility leads to greater affordability and availability of laxative products, driving market growth. The rising healthcare expenditure also reflects a growing recognition of the importance of digestive health, leading to increased demand for laxatives to manage gastrointestinal issues.

• Changing Dietary Habits

Sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary choices, such as low fiber intake, inadequate hydration, and increased consumption of processed and low-nutrient foods, contribute to the prevalence of constipation. These dietary factors can further increase the risk of constipation by affecting stool consistency, bowel transit time, and overall gut health. As a result, the increasing prevalence of constipation due to changing dietary habits drives the demand for laxatives and related products in the market.

Restraints/Challenges

• High Competition with Natural Remedies

The stiff competition from the growing popularity of natural remedies and alternative therapies for digestive health is increasing rapidly. Consumers are increasingly drawn to gentler, non-pharmacological solutions, leading to a shift in demand away from traditional laxatives. This trend reflects a broader preference for holistic approaches to wellness, challenging the market's reliance on conventional pharmaceutical products. As a result, the laxative market is impacted negatively by the growing interest in alternative solutions with fewer side effects.

• High Cost of Drug Development

Pharmaceutical companies spend tens to hundreds of millions of dollars on drug development, which can be a substantial financial burden. This cost includes out-of-pocket expenses and capitalized costs over a long period, typically 10 years or more. The average cost per drug developed and approved by a single-drug company is around $350 million, while for companies that approve multiple drugs, the cost can be as high as $5.5 billion. These high costs can deter companies from developing new laxatives, limiting the market's growth potential.

This market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import-export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on the market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

Recent Development

• In January 2020, Fresenius Kabi Austria GmbH launched a new website providing detailed information on the use of laxatives, including lactulose. This initiative aimed to increase awareness about lactulose among consumers, boost purchase power, enhance the product portfolio, and ultimately drive net sales. The website focused on the benefits and proper use of lactulose, a synthetic laxative used to treat constipation. This move was expected to positively impact the company's sales and customer engagement

Laxative Market Scope

The market is segmented on the basis of  type, flavours, source, indication, mode of purchase, dosage form, route of administration, population type, sales channel and distribution channel. The growth among segments helps you analyze niche pockets of growth and strategies to approach the market and determine your core application areas and the difference in your target markets.

Type

• Osmotic laxatives
  • Osmotic laxatives with Electrolytes (Polyethylene Glycol)
    • Golytely
    • Colyte
    • Others 
  • Osmotic Laxatives without Electrolytes
    • Magnesium Hydroxide Solution
    • Epsom Salts
    • Lactulose
    • Others
• Stimulant laxatives
  • Bisacodyl
  • Castor Oil
  • Senna
  • Phenolphthalein
  • Others
• Bulk laxatives
  • Psyllium
  • Methyl Cellulose
  • Polycarbophil
  • Others
• Lubricant and Emollient laxatives
  • Mineral Oil
  • Glycerin Suppositories
  • Others

Flavors

• With Flavor
  • Fruit
  • Herbal
  • Others
• Without Flavor

Source

• Natural
  • Psyllium
  • Rhubarb
  • Senna
  • Slippery Elm
• Synthetic
  • Phenolphthalein
  • Bisacodyl
  • Picosulfate
  • Oxyphenisatin
• Others

Indication

• Chronic Constipation
• irritable bowel Syndrome with Constipation
• Opioid-Induced constipation
• Acute constipation
• Others

Mode of Purchase

• Prescription
• Over-the-Counter

Dosage Form

• Tablets
• Capsules
• Powder
• Liquid and Gels
• Suppositories
• Others

Route of Administration

• Oral
• Rectal

Population Type

• Children
• Adults

Sales Channel

• Hospitals
• Elderly Care Centers
• Home Healthcare
• Pharmacy Stores
• Grocery/Health and Beauty Stores
• Others

Distribution channel

• Direct Sales
• Wholesalers
• Others

North America Laxative Market Regional Analysis/Insights

The market is analyzed and market size insights and trends are provided by country,  type, flavours, source, indication, mode of purchase, dosage form, route of administration, population type, sales channel and distribution channel as referenced above.

The market comprises the countries U.S., Canada and Mexico.   

U.S. dominates the market in both market share and revenue and is expected to maintain its dominance in the coming years. This growth is driven by increasing demand for gloves across various sectors and the market's rapid expansion.

The country section of the report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points such as down-stream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends and porter's five forces analysis, case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.

Healthcare Infrastructure Growth Installed base and New Technology Penetration

The market also provides you with detailed market analysis for every country growth in healthcare expenditure for capital equipment, installed base of different kind of products for market, impact of technology using life line curves and changes in healthcare regulatory scenarios and their impact on the market. The data is available for historic period 2016-2021.

Competitive Landscape and Laxative Market Analysis

The market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies' focus related to the global nursing homes and long-term care facilities market.

Some of the major players operating in the market are:

• Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Germany)
• GlaxoSmithKline plc (U.K.)
• Bayer AG (Germany)
• Fresenius Kabi Austria GmbH (Austria)
• Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. (U.S.)
• Procter & Gamble (U.S.)
• Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (India)
• Sanofi Aventis LLC U.S (U.S.)
• RECORDATI (Italy)
• Mallinckrodt (U.S.)
• Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (Jordan)
• Abbott (U.S.)
• Avrio Health L.P (U.S.)
• Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd (India)
• LNK INTERNATIONAL INC. (U.S.)
• Cipla Inc. (India)
• Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd (Australia)
• Salix PHARMACEUTICAL (U.S.)
• Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd (India)

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