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Sep 19, 2023 · While some people might be prescribed a daily dose of laxatives based on their symptoms, it's not safe for everyone to take laxatives every day, according to Shaheer Siddiqui, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Memorial Hermann Medical Group in Houston, Texas.
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.
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Oct 3, 2023 · 1. You Might Be Ignoring an Underlying Health Issue. Over time, taking stimulant laxatives every day can make it harder to have unassisted bowel movements. That's not the case with stool softeners, Dr. Rao says. "Some people take them indefinitely, and they're fairly safe," she says.
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- 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 · Rectal suppositories. Possible side effects include: cramping. diarrhea. rectal irritation. As with any OTC medication, read the laxative label carefully and talk with your doctor or pharmacist to ...
- Scott Frothingham
Nov 13, 2017 · “Chronic laxative use can eventually cause the colon to become atonic—’worn out,’ if you will—and over time lead to paradoxically worsening constipation,” says Neilanjan Nandi, MD, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Drexel University College of Medicine, in Philadelphia.
Apr 1, 2024 · Many laxatives often contain large amounts of sugars, carbohydrates, and sodium. If you are on a low-sugar, low-caloric, or low-sodium diet, check with your health care professional before using a laxative. For patients taking laxatives containing mineral oil: Mineral oil should not be taken often or for long periods of time because:
