Laxatives: OTC Products for Constipation

Laxatives: OTC Products for Constipation

What types of OTC medicines treat constipation?
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy without a prescription from your
doctor. Laxatives are a type of OTC medicine used to treat constipation. Many different kinds of
OTC axatives are avaiabe. !ome constipation medicines may be caed stoo softeners or fiber
suppements.
How do laxatives work?
"uk-formin# axatives add $soube% fiber to the stoo. This causes the stoo to absorb more
water and creates ar#er& softer stoos. The ar#er stoos hep tri##er the bowe to contract and
move the stoos out. "uk-formin# axatives #eneray are the safest type of axative. 'xampes
of buk-formin# axatives incude psyium (( brand name) Metamuci)& poycarbophi (( brand
name) *iberCon)& and methyceuose (( brand name) Citruce). To reduce your risk of side
effects& you shoud start sowy and make sure to drink penty of fuids whie takin# buk-
formin# axatives. +raduay increase how much you use.
Lubricant axatives work by coatin# the surface of the stoos to make them more sippery. This
heps the stoos move out of the body more easiy. +ycerin suppositories ubricate the inside of
the anus (the outside openin# to the intestine) to make it easier to pass hard stoos out of the
body.
!too softeners hep mix fuid into stoos to soften them. This makes stoos easier to pass out of
the body. ,n exampe of a stoo softener is docusate (( brand name) Coace).
Osmotic axatives cause the intestine to hod more fuid. This softens stoos and heps the bowe
move them out. 'xampes incude poyethyene #yco (( brand name) Miraax) and ma#nesium
hydroxide soution (caed mik of ma#nesia).
!timuant axatives are the harshest type of axatives. They cause the bowe to s-uee.e or
contract to move the stoos out. !timuant axatives shoud not be used for more than a few days.
/hen these axatives are taken for a on# time& the bowe can ose its musce tone and $for#et%
how to push the stoo out on its own. "isacody (( brand name) 0ucoax) and sennosides ((
brand name) !enokot) are exampes of stimuant axatives.
hould ! use a laxative to treat constipation?
Most of the time& constipation doesn1t re-uire treatment with axatives. 2t wi usuay #o away
on its own or if you make chan#es in your diet and other habits. *or exampe& you can prevent or
treat constipation by eatin# enou#h foods rich in soube and insoube fiber (such as bran& oats&
foods made with whoe #rains& fruits& and ve#etabes)& drinkin# enou#h fuids& and #ettin#
enou#h exercise. !ometimes you may need a itte hep from an OTC axative.
How do ! safely take OTC laxatives?
3ead the directions on the dru# facts abe to earn how much medicine to take and how often to
take it. 2f you have any -uestions about how much medicine to take& ca your famiy doctor or
pharmacist. 4eep a record ((-pa#e 50*6 ,bout 50*s) of the OTC medicines you are usin# and
when you take them. 2f you need to #o to the doctor& take this ist with you.
*oow these tips to make sure you are takin# the ri#ht amount of an OTC axative)
Take ony the amount recommended on the medicine1s abe. 0on1t assume that more
medicine wi work better or -uicker. Takin# more than the recommended amount can be
dan#erous.
2f you are takin# a prescription medicine& ask your doctor if it1s okay to aso take an OTC
axative.
How can ! safely store OTC laxatives?
!tore a medicines up and away& out of reach and si#ht of youn# chidren. 4eepin# medicines in
a coo& dry pace wi hep prevent them from becomin# ess effective before their expiration
dates. 0o not store medicines in bathrooms or bathroom cabinets& which are often hot and humid.
What are some common side effects of laxatives?
Most axatives don1t have side effects if you use them correcty. 7owever& sometimes they can
cause crampin#& #as& boatin#& nausea& or diarrhea.
!ome peope& incudin# chidren and peope who have diabetes or kidney disease& are at risk for
eectroyte imbaances whie takin# certain axatives. 'ectroytes are substances in your body
that hep your nerves& or#ans& and musces work propery. Takin# axatives can cause you to
eiminate too many eectroytes. /hen this happens& you may have side effects such as nausea&
vomitin#& headache& confusion& fati#ue& and musce weakness or spasms. 'ectroyte imbaance
can be serious& so check with your chid1s doctor before #ivin# him or her a axative. ,nd if you
have a chronic condition& be sure to tak to your doctor before takin# a axative.
Who shouldn"t take laxatives?
0on1t take axatives if you have an aer#y to any of the in#redients. !ome peope may be
aer#ic to psyium& a key in#redient in ( type of buk-formin# axative.
Laxatives aren1t meant for on#-term use. 0on1t use axatives for on#er than ( week uness your
doctor recommends it. Lon#-term use or overuse of axatives can cause heath probems.
Overusin# axatives may aso hide symptoms that are important for your doctor to know about.
This coud deay findin# out about other heath probems you have and aso deay the treatment
you need.
2f you have a condition caed phenyketonuria& you shoudn1t take a axative that contains
phenyaanine.
Could laxatives cause pro#lems with any medicines or
supplements ! take?
Laxatives can #et in the way of how your body absorbs certain medicines and some nutrients. 2n
#enera& don1t take any other medicines within 8 hours of takin# a axative. 2f you1re takin# a
prescription medicine of any kind& tak to your doctor before takin# a axative. 9ou aso
shoudn1t mix different types of axatives& such as ora axatives (which you take by mouth) and
recta axatives (which you take by insertin# a suppository or enema into your rectum& which is
the ast part of your ar#e intestine). 0on1t take bisacody within ( hour of takin# antacids or
drinkin# mik.
Minera oi and castor oi are sometimes used as axatives& but they shoudn1t be used often. 2f
minera oi is used often& it can cause deficiencies of vitamins ,& 0& '& and 4. Castor oi& which
is a stimuant axative& can ead to chronic constipation because it can cause you to ose musce
tone in your bowe. Minera oi and castor oi aso interact with bood-thinnin# medicines&
antibiotics such as tetracycine& and certain heart and bone medicines.
When should ! call my doctor?
2f you have any of the foowin# symptoms& tak to your doctor before usin# an OTC axative)
:ausea
!tomach pain
!udden chan#e in your bowe habits that asts 8 weeks or on#er
;omitin#
!top takin# axatives and ca your doctor if you have any beedin# from your rectum or if you
don1t have a bowe movement after usin# a axative. These coud be si#ns of a more serious
probem.

Funding and support for this material have been provided by the Consumer Healthcare Products
Association.
/ritten by famiydoctor.or# editoria staff
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