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What happens if you use too much laxative?
Can laxatives cause diarrhea?
Can laxatives cause constipation?
Aug 12, 2023 · Using laxatives excessively can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, gas, loose stool, and diarrhea. Laxative abuse can also cause rectal irritation, in part because watery stools overload rectal tissues with fluids. This can lead to an increased risk of infection and bleeding during bowel movements.
- Laura Dorwart
Sep 19, 2023 · Laxative abuse can lead to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, worsen constipation, increase the risk of UTIs, and damage the organs that interact with the digestive tract. Constipation is turning into a booming business opportunity in the United States, with Americans spending hundreds of millions of dollars on laxatives each year.
- How Do Stool Softeners Work?
- First Choice: Bulk-Forming Laxatives
- For Stuck Stools...
- Other Laxative Options
- Stimulant Laxatives
- When to Talk to A Doctor
Stool softenerswork by softening stools to make them easier to pass. They can be in capsule, tablet, liquid, and syrup form and are usually taken at bedtime. Be sure to take stool softeners exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
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...
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 hemorrhoidsduring bowel movements. Don't take mineral oil at the same time as stool softeners. Take 1 tab...
If stool softeners aren't providing enough help, the osmotic laxative polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX or a generic version) is good next step. These products 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 sweetene...
Stimulant laxatives such as senna and bisacodyl trigger contractions in the bowels that push the stool along. 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.
If you find yourself trying one laxative after another, see your doctor for an evaluation. Additional testing can lead to better therapy and rule out any possible serious malfunctions. And if it is just constipation, your doctor can offer other medications to you that may be more helpful than over-the-counter laxatives. Image: Wavebreakmedia/Getty ...
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Aug 28, 2018 · The exception is bulk-forming laxatives. These are safe to take every day. Dehydration. If laxative use results in diarrhea, your body can become dehydrated.
- Scott Frothingham
Jan 26, 2024 · Laxatives can help relieve and prevent constipation. But not all laxatives are safe for long-term use. Overuse of certain laxatives may lead to dependency and decreased bowel function. By Mayo Clinic Staff. If you've ever been constipated, you may have tried nonprescription laxatives.
Mar 1, 2024 · Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur: For bulk-forming-containing. Difficulty in breathing intestinal blockage skin rash or itching swallowing difficulty (feeling of lump in throat) For hyperosmotic-containing. Confusion dizziness or light-headedness irregular heartbeat muscle cramps
Mar 1, 2024 · Nulytely. Phillips Milk of Magnesia. Phospho-Soda. Pizensy. Prepopik. Purge. Reglan. Resource Benefiber. Rite Aid Senna. Senna-S. Senokot. Suflave.