Metamucil powder packets: Each packet contains about 3.4 grams of psyllium husk. Carefully read the directions label on your product to make sure you're taking it properly.īelow are a few examples of psyllium products and their directions for use. And if it is just constipation, your doctor can offer other medications to you that may be more helpful than over-the-counter laxatives.Different products can contain different amounts of psyllium husk. Additional testing can lead to better therapy and rule out any possible serious malfunctions. If you find yourself trying one laxative after another, see your doctor for an evaluation. 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 has stopped functioning normally. Stimulant laxatives such as senna and bisacodyl trigger contractions in the bowels that push the stool along. Combined with an underperforming kidney or heart failure, saline osmotic laxatives can be dangerous. But don't take more than the recommended amounts of these laxatives, or use them long-term, because they can throw off your chemistry. The active ingredients include magnesium, sulfate, citrate, and phosphate. These are members of a larger class of laxatives called saline osmotics, which draw water into the bowels and trigger bowel movements. You may experience bloating and gas along with the laxative effect, however.Īnother option would be a magnesium-based laxative, such as milk of magnesia or magnesium citrate. These essentially trigger a mild case of the runs. Another option that works for some people is diet candies containing the sweetener sorbitol. Common side effects are gas, bloating, and nausea. These products hold water in stool to soften it and increase bowel movements. If stool softeners aren’t providing enough help, the osmotic laxative polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX or a generic version) is good next step. Consider wearing a protective pad in your undergarments to absorb any leakage. 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. Don't take mineral oil at the same time as stool softeners. 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. Stool softeners add moisture to stools to make them softer and easier to pass. They may be marketed as laxatives or as fiber supplements. 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. But don't expect instant gratification: these can take a half-day to several days to provide relief. First choice: bulk-forming laxativesīulk-forming laxatives draw water into stool, making it softer and easier to pass. You should see your doctor and discuss it if you are constantly needing to take laxatives. But when you do have constipation, start with the gentlest and safest option, like a bulk-forming laxative. You should be sure you are eating a fiber-rich diet, drinking adequate fluids, and staying physically active.
Occasional irregularity is a fact of life, but you can minimize it with some basic steps. If constipation becomes chronic, don't keep playing laxative roulette.
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