Jaggered,
We had a problem where Eliza would turn blue and poop hard pellets. I took it upon myself to go and get some coloxil drops..they didn't make much difference. The pead put me on to Actilax (starting with 5 mls) in one bottle a day. It softens the stools rather than promote the bowel to open in coloxil drops,so longer term use isn't a problem. I only use it every now and then and depending on her age which at 8 months we are using about 8mls when a stool hasn't been passed for a day.
If you ask the pharmist they should be able to go through the pro's and con's.
Bec