Which laxatives are safe for long term use

How they work: Lubricants work by coating your stool and intestines to prevent water loss. They also lubricate your stool so it moves more easily. They also might affect the way your body absorbs certain medications. How they work: Rectal stimulants can be given as an enema, which injects fluid injected into your rectum. They also come in suppository form, which is solid medicine that dissolves or melts after you insert it into your rectum.

They work by triggering your intestinal muscles to contract and eliminate stool or drawing water into your intestine. Examples are bisacodyl Ex-Lax, Dulcolax, Fleet. Precautions: Side effects of rectal stimulants include irritation, burning, rectal bleeding, cramping, and stomach pains.

If the dose is retained in the rectum, it could lead to dehydration and dangerous changes in electrolyte levels. Contact a doctor right away if a rectal stimulant is retained in your body for more than 30 minutes. How they work: An adequate amount of fluid in your body is needed to prevent constipation. This medication works by helping your small intestine release the appropriate amount of fluid based on the food you eat.

Precautions: A major side effect of Trulance is diarrhea, which can be severe. Now that you know the risks and side effects of laxatives, the next step is learning what you can do to avoid them. Though they take much longer to work, gentler ways to treat constipation problems than laxatives are available.

These methods are also better as a long-term solution. How they work: Bulk-forming agents work by absorbing water in your intestines to bulk up your stool. Bulky stools make your bowel contract, which helps push out the stool. Precautions : In general, this type of medication is the gentlest and safest on your body to treat constipation. However, you still need to be cautious. Always drink a lot of water along with a bulking agent, or it could lead to a blockage in your bowel. You may also experience mild abdominal pain, bloating, or gas after taking a bulk-forming agent.

The simplest remedy for constipation is to eat more high-fiber foods. Slowly add the following foods to your diet:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Over-the-counter laxatives for constipation: Use with caution.

Products and services. Over-the-counter laxatives for constipation: Use with caution Laxatives can help relieve and prevent constipation. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Over-the-counter laxatives. Journal of the American Medical Association.

Accessed Jan. Constipation and defecation problems. Find out more about the considerations about laxatives. Some laxatives have to be taken at certain times of the day, such as first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Ask a pharmacist for advice if you're not sure how to take your laxative. If you're taking bulk-forming or osmotic laxatives, it's important to drink plenty of fluids. This is because these laxatives can cause dehydration. Never take more than the recommended dose of laxatives as this can be harmful and cause side effects.

If your constipation has not improved after taking laxatives for a week, speak to a GP. After taking a laxative, you can make certain lifestyle changes to help stop getting constipated again, such as:. Do not take laxatives every day to ease your constipation as this can be harmful. Speak to a GP if you're still constipated after making lifestyle changes.

In some cases, you may be prescribed a laxative to use regularly, but this should always be supervised by a GP or gastroenterologist a specialist in gut problems. Like most medicines, laxatives can cause side effects. They're usually mild and should pass once you stop taking the laxative.

Often they will have an effect in 6 hours, but can take up to 2 days. Lactulose comes in a liquid form taken orally and several manufacturers make it. Polymer laxatives consist of large molecules that cause the stool to hold and retain water.

They are usually non-gritty, tasteless and are well-tolerated for occasional constipation. Results can be expected within 6 hours, but it can take longer depending on the dose. Glycerine is available as a suppository and mainly has a hyperosmotic effect but it may also have a stimulant effect from the sodium stearate used in the preparation.

Glycerine is available as a laxative through several manufacturers. An enema may be preferred occasionally to relieve severe constipation or to empty the bowel prior to surgery. This method involves insertion of liquid, usually water or hyperosmolar salt solution, described above, which acts as a mechanical stimulant and osmotic, into the rectum via the anus.

You can purchase prepared enemas, an enema bulb, or fountain syringe at your local pharmacy to use for this sole purpose. Typically, after holding the liquid in place for a few minutes, there is an intense urgency to move the bowels. An enema may cause uncomfortable bloating and cramping; however, it usually leads to urgent elimination of the contents of the rectum and colon, doing away with constipation. Physicians and other healthcare providers associated with the GI Society do not recommend the use of colonic irrigation.

In fact, these procedures could negatively affect the natural pH balance of the colon, cause electrolyte imbalances, upset the natural bacterial and yeast milieu necessary for good digestion, and could even cause permanent physical damage to the bowel. This approach may worsen existing digestive conditions. A common complication of pregnancy is constipation.

If making the appropriate dietary and lifestyle adjustments to reduce constipation for a pregnant or nursing woman do not work, then her primary physician may recommend either stool softeners or bulk-forming laxatives, depending on the frequency and duration of constipation.