Shop for combination stool softener and stimulant laxatives online. Sometimes, two different OTC laxatives are combined into one product.Īn example of a common combination product is docusate-sodium-senna (Senokot-S and Peri-Colace). Stool softeners have few side effects and are safe for long-term use. Docusate (Colace, DulcoEase, Surfak) is a commonly used stool softener. Typically, stool softeners take 1 to 3 days to take effect. These products are often recommended to prevent straining during bowel movements, which might be important if you’ve recently had surgery or given birth. Stool softeners add water and fats into the stool, creating softer bowel movements. If that happens, your constipation will worsen when you stop taking the laxative. Your body may become tolerant to this type of medication.
You shouldn’t use stimulant laxatives as a long-term treatment. In fact, these products are more likely than other laxatives to cause this effect. One of the more common side effects of stimulant laxatives is stomach cramping. Typically, oral stimulant laxatives work within 6 to 10 hours. Stimulant laxatives trigger the muscles in your intestines to contract, which moves the stool through the intestines. In some cases, the diarrhea can result in dehydration. The more common side effects of osmotic laxatives include: Also, some people have reported that osmotic laxatives stop working if used too often. Osmotic laxatives are generally safe to use long term, but you should be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. The FDA recommends that you talk to a doctor before giving these medications to older adults, children, or people with heart or kidney problems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that in rare cases, using excessive amounts of sodium phosphate products can cause serious kidney and heart damage and even death. magnesium hydroxide (Phillips Milk of Magnesia).The suppositories and enemas may work even faster. The oral forms may work within 30 minutes. Some of these products are also known as saline laxatives, including: Osmotic laxatives help keep water within the intestines, which softens stool and can cause more frequent bowel movements. Ask your doctor if this effect is a concern for you. These lubricants may also make your body absorb less of certain medications and vitamins. The more common side effects of lubricant laxatives include stomach pain and cramping. You can find the liquid as a generic called a “mineral oil lubricant laxative solution.” Mineral oil also comes as a liquid you take by mouth. It comes as an enema that’s available as a generic and as the brand-name product Fleet Mineral Oil Enema. Mineral oil is the most common lubricant laxative. In addition, long-term use could make you deficient in certain vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K. Long-term use could lead to dependence, which means you would need lubricant laxatives to pass stool. Lubricant laxatives should not be used long term. These laxatives may begin working within 6 to 8 hours of when you take them. Lubricant laxatives coat the stool to allow it to pass more easily through your intestines. The more common side effects of bulk-forming laxatives are bloating or abdominal pain. This helps to avoid fecal impaction, which is when stool becomes stuck in the intestine. However, bulk-forming laxatives also come in a number of other forms, such as:Īll forms of bulk-forming laxatives should be taken with plenty of water or other liquid. The contractions push the stool through your system.īulk-forming laxatives may take a few days to work, but they are safe for long-term use.īulk-forming laxatives often come in the form of powder or granules that you mix with water or other liquid and take by mouth. This can help to produce muscle contractions in the intestines, which means the muscles tighten or squeeze. They work by pulling fluid into the intestines to make the stool softer and bulkier. Bulk-forming laxativesīulk-forming laxatives are also known as fiber supplements. These products may differ in how fast they work and what side effects they may cause. This is because with brand-name products, the manufacturer may sell different products containing different laxatives under the same brand name. When looking for an OTC laxative, it’s helpful to be familiar with the generic name of the medication. All of these laxatives are available as generics, and most are available as brand-name products as well. The main types of laxatives are listed below. These include:Įach type of laxative works in a slightly different way to relieve constipation. Milder cases of constipation can often be treated using OTC medications, which are called laxatives. Over-the-counter constipation medications
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