LAXATIVES - FAQ

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LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby Savaici » 23 Oct 2015, 15:06

What types of OTC medicines treat constipation?

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy without a prescription from your doctor. Laxatives are a type of OTC medicine used to treat constipation. Many different kinds of OTC laxatives are available. Some constipation medicines may be called stool softeners or fiber supplements.

How do laxatives work?

Bulk-forming laxatives add “soluble” fiber to the stool. This causes the stool to absorb more water and creates larger, softer stools. The larger stools help trigger the bowel to contract and move the stools out. Bulk-forming laxatives generally are the safest type of laxative. Examples of bulk-forming laxatives include psyllium (1 brand name: Metamucil), polycarbophil (1 brand name: FiberCon), and methylcellulose (1 brand name: Citrucel). To reduce your risk of side effects, you should start slowly and make sure to drink plenty of fluids while taking bulk-forming laxatives. Gradually increase how much you use.

Lubricant laxatives work by coating the surface of the stools to make them more slippery. This helps the stools move out of the body more easily. Glycerin suppositories lubricate the inside of the anus (the outside opening to the intestine) to make it easier to pass hard stools out of the body.

Stool softeners help mix fluid into stools to soften them. This makes stools easier to pass out of the body. An example of a stool softener is docusate (1 brand name: Colace).

Osmotic laxatives cause the intestine to hold more fluid. This softens stools and helps the bowel move them out. Examples include polyethylene glycol (1 brand name: Miralax) and magnesium hydroxide solution (called milk of magnesia).

Stimulant laxatives are the harshest type of laxatives. They cause the bowel to squeeze or contract to move the stools out. Stimulant laxatives should not be used for more than a few days. When these laxatives are taken for a long time, the bowel can lose its muscle tone and “forget” how to push the stool out on its own. Bisacodyl (1 brand name: Dulcolax) and sennosides (1 brand name: Senokot) are examples of stimulant laxatives.

Should I use a laxative to treat constipation?

Most of the time, constipation doesn’t require treatment with laxatives. It will usually go away on its own or if you make changes in your diet and other habits. For example, you can prevent or treat constipation by eating enough foods rich in soluble and insoluble fiber (such as bran, oats, foods made with whole grains,  fruits, and vegetables), drinking enough fluids, and getting enough exercise. Sometimes you may need a little help from an OTC laxative.

How do I safely take OTC laxatives?

Read the directions on the drug facts label to learn how much medicine to take and how often to take it. If you have any questions about how much medicine to take, call your family doctor or pharmacist. Keep a record (1-page PDF; About PDFs) of the OTC medicines you are using and when you take them. If you need to go to the doctor, take this list with you.

Follow these tips to make sure you are taking the right amount of an OTC laxative:

*Take only the amount recommended on the medicine’s label. Don’t assume that more medicine will work better or quicker. Taking more than the recommended amount can be dangerous.

*If you are taking a prescription medicine, ask your doctor if it’s okay to also take an OTC laxative.

How can I safely store OTC laxatives?

Store all medicines up and away, out of reach and sight of young children. Keeping medicines in a cool, dry place will help prevent them from becoming less effective before their expiration dates. Do not store medicines in bathrooms or bathroom cabinets, which are often hot and humid.

What are some common side effects of laxatives?

Most laxatives don’t have side effects if you use them correctly. However, sometimes they can cause cramping, gas, bloating, nausea, or diarrhea.

Some people, including children and people who have diabetes or kidney disease, are at risk for electrolyte imbalances while taking certain laxatives. Electrolytes are substances in your body that help your nerves, organs, and muscles work properly. Taking laxatives can cause you to eliminate too many electrolytes. When this happens, you may have side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, fatigue, and muscle weakness or spasms. Electrolyte imbalance can be serious, so check with your child’s doctor before giving him or her a laxative. And if you have a chronic condition, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking a laxative.

Who shouldn’t take laxatives?

Don’t take laxatives if you have an allergy to any of the ingredients. Some people may be allergic to psyllium, a key ingredient in 1 type of bulk-forming laxative.

Laxatives aren’t meant for long-term use. Don’t use laxatives for longer than 1 week unless your doctor recommends it. Long-term use or overuse of laxatives can cause health problems. Overusing laxatives may also hide symptoms that are important for your doctor to know about. This could delay finding out about other health problems you have and also delay the treatment you need.

If you have a condition called phenylketonuria, you shouldn’t take a laxative that contains phenylalanine.

Could laxatives cause problems with any medicines or supplements I take?

Laxatives can get in the way of how your body absorbs certain medicines and some nutrients. In general, don’t take any other medicines within 2 hours of taking a laxative. If you’re taking a prescription medicine of any kind, talk to your doctor before taking a laxative. You also shouldn’t mix different types of laxatives, such as oral laxatives (which you take by mouth) and rectal laxatives (which you take by inserting a suppository or enema into your rectum, which is the last part of your large intestine). Don’t take bisacodyl within 1 hour of taking antacids or drinking milk.

Mineral oil and castor oil are sometimes used as laxatives, but they shouldn’t be used often. If mineral oil is used often, it can cause deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E, and K. Castor oil, which is a stimulant laxative, can lead to chronic constipation because it can cause you to lose muscle tone in your bowel. Mineral oil and castor oil also interact with blood-thinning medicines, antibiotics such as tetracycline, and certain heart and bone medicines.

When should I call my doctor?

If you have any of the following symptoms, talk to your doctor before using an OTC laxative:

*Nausea
*Stomach pain
*Sudden change in your bowel habits that lasts 2 weeks or longer
*Vomiting
*Stop taking laxatives and call your doctor if you have any bleeding from your rectum or if you don’t have a bowel movement after using a laxative. These could be signs of a more serious problem.

Funding and support for this material have been provided by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en ... ation.html
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for how long is it safe to use softener

Postby messis » 13 Nov 2016, 01:56

I use a softener since end of August this year. My fissure its almost healing to the end. I don want to stop yet the softener beeing afraid of reopenning the problem. Is it safe to use the softener so long? Is it possible tha this will meke complications after I eventualy stop it because all this time I got used to its help?

Please if anybody had such expirience or knows a few thing more than me.
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Re: LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby Mark2018 » 06 Mar 2018, 13:33

I've been drinking prune juice and it's done the trick for me!
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Re: LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby messis » 07 Mar 2018, 01:12

Yes I know. Its even more effective if you soak a pair of prunes during the night and drink the juice in the morning with empty stomack.
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Re: LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby GiEndoscopyPractice » 26 Mar 2018, 08:56

Apart from laxatives, a healthy diet including fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products; regular exercise; and drinking at least eight cups of water daily can also help prevent constipation in most people.
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Re: LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby Tushi » 15 Jun 2018, 22:35

Regarding the question how long can one take stool softener, unlimited time according to my gastro. Follow instructions regarding dose.
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Re: LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby Deleted User 7114 » 10 Jul 2018, 14:15

I'm the kind of person who is wary of medication. I only take it if I really have to and the smallest dose possible. You see, I get scared by the smallest health warnings like "may cause health problems". This has been the case for me with laxatives and has caused me no small amount of trouble with my fissure. I have finally, after months of pain and a fissure that wouldn't heal despite having had LIS, come to terms with the idea that I need to take laxatives regularly and for the long-term. Since then I have seen great improvements with my fissure.

I say this because if you, like me, keep off laxatives for fear of them causing health problems / a lazy bowel later on, bear in mind that you may be doing yourself more harm than good. I'm not encouraging you to take them, just to be aware that you might be the type of person for whom the very sound advice does not necessarily apply. Certain laxatives are considered safe for long-term use, so speak to your CRS / GP and make an informed decision that will benefit your personal health.
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Re: LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby anonymous123 » 25 Dec 2019, 20:36

Prunes work great - I have been taking 2-4 with every 'major' meal through the day (i know, it can seem a lot!) for the last couple years and have been really helpful to fix constipation, especially if you have a tendency toward a 'laggy' digestive tract. Also take 1-1.5 tbsp of psyllium first thing in the morning with lots of water. Finally, if I still need more help to get to optimal (i.e. going twice a day), use Prune juice once in a while (2-4 oz).

Good luck and hope this helps!
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Re: LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby Sisyphus » 12 Apr 2022, 05:31

GiEndoscopyPractice wrote:a healthy diet including fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products; ;


Well, in my case, that allegedly healthy diet was the cause of my anal fissure.
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Re: LAXATIVES - FAQ

Postby Rich44 » 14 Nov 2022, 22:43

Sisyphus wrote:
GiEndoscopyPractice wrote:a healthy diet including fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products; ;


Well, in my case, that allegedly healthy diet was the cause of my anal fissure.
What seems like a healthy diet for most isn't always the case for everyone. I can't tolerate many vegetables and whole grains because of trapped gas pain due to SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and some IBS-C. Ironically once I stopped taking probiotics, stopped psyllium fiber, stopped fish oil and avoided things that cause gas like broccoli, peppers, onions, whole grains surprise - no gas pain, no IBS pain and normal BMs. I actually developed upper right quadrant pain in my colon when I would get aggravated in recent years, so I'd take an anti-spasmodic as needed. Once I stopped probiotics, I cut that pain down by 95%. I can now tolerate being aggravated like I always did with little to no pain in my gut.
Fissure June 2014 - Oct 2020
Botox, skin tag removed - Feb 2015
Levator Ani Sep 2014 - Feb 2016 (left job, cured!)
LIS, skin tags removed - Oct 2020
Fissure 100% healed - Nov 2020
Still healed as of March 2024
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