Learn more about the possible causes and how to treat constipation. Kombucha is a fizzy drink that's full of health benefits, but you may want to know whether it can help relieve constipation. This article explains…. Flaxseeds are a source of fiber and can be used to treat and prevent constipation. Learn how to use, plus other home remedies to stimulate bowel….
Here are our top picks for shampoos for thinning hair, whether it's for hair loss, thinned hair strands, or both. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm. There are five basic types of laxatives: Stimulant. Stimulant laxatives trigger the intestines to contract and push out the stool. Osmotic laxatives draw water into the bowel from the surrounding tissues to soften stools and increase bowel movement frequency.
These laxatives contain fiber which soaks up the water in your intestines and produces bulkier stool. Larger stool makes the bowel contract and push out the stool. Stool softeners.
These mild laxatives soften dry, hard stool with water that they pull into the stool from the intestine, making it easier to push out the stool.
These oily laxatives coat the surface of the stool to retain stool fluid and make it easier to push out the stool. Can stimulant laxatives be used for constipation? What are the side effects of using stimulant laxatives? When to avoid stimulant laxatives. Warnings about stimulant laxatives. What are some brand names of stimulant laxatives? The takeaway. Read this next. Stool Softeners vs. What Are Bulk-Forming Laxatives? Medically reviewed by Nancy Choi, MD. Over-the-Counter and Prescription Constipation Medications.
Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. What Makes for a Typical Bowel Movement? Occasional irregularity is a fact of life, but you can minimize it with some basic steps.
But when you do have constipation, start with the gentlest and safest option, like a bulk-forming laxative. If laxatives don't work, ask for help. Wolf says. Bulk-forming laxatives draw water into stool, making it softer and easier to pass. But don't expect instant gratification: these can take a half-day to several days to provide relief. They are safe to use daily. They contain various ingredients, and you may have to try more than one to find the product that helps you with minimal side effects, such as flatulence and bloating.
They may be marketed as laxatives or as fiber supplements. Stool softeners add moisture to stools to make them softer and easier to pass. Mineral oil, a lubricant, helps stools "slide on by" if the stools feel stuck low in your bowels, if you have an internal tear or "fissure," or if you have pain from hemorrhoids during bowel movements. Don't take mineral oil at the same time as stool softeners.
Take 1 tablespoon at breakfast or lunch. But don't use it for more than a few days, because mineral oil interferes with absorption of some vitamins and if inhaled it can cause pneumonia. Consider wearing a protective pad in your undergarments to absorb any leakage. If the conservative route doesn't work, Dr. Wolf recommends the osmotic laxative MiraLAX or a generic version.
These hold water in stool to soften it and increase bowel movements. Common side effects are gas, bloating, and nausea. Another option that works for some people is diet candies containing the sweetener sorbitol. These essentially trigger a mild case of the runs. You may experience bloating and gas along with the laxative effect, however.
Another option would be a magnesium-based laxative, such as milk of magnesia or magnesium citrate. These are members of a larger class of laxatives called saline osmotics, which draw water into the bowels and trigger bowel movements.
The active ingredients include magnesium, sulfate, citrate, and phosphate. But don't take more than the recommended amounts of these laxatives, or use them long-term, because they can throw off your chemistry. Combined with an underperforming kidney or heart failure, saline osmotic laxatives can be dangerous.
Stimulant laxatives such as bisacodyl and cascara trigger contractions in the bowels that push the stool along. The first choice she recommends is a senna-based stimulant laxative. But if you take stimulant laxatives too often, you could become dependent on them to have a bowel movement at all—possibly because the bowel is not functioning normally. If you find yourself trying one laxative after another for long periods, see your doctor for an evaluation.
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