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Drug-free constipation treatment advice

by — Last updated: 2022-10-19 in Prescription & Over-The-Counter Drugs

Table of Contents

Constipation is a very common condition which occurs when bowel movements become difficult or infrequent.



Certain medications, an under-active thyroid, or colon obstruction can cause serious constipation. In almost all other cases, simple lifestyle modifications can help:

  • Increasing fiber in the diet: Dietary fibers can significantly improve bowel function by adding bulk and softening the stool. Groceries rich in fiber are vegetables, fruit, whole grain bread, whole grain cereals, prunes, corn, whole beans, oat bran, corn, barley, and many others.
  • Increasing fluid intake: A simple fluid intake increase can significantly improve your chances for a quick recovery.
  • Regular exercise can also help increase the frequency of your bowel movements.

Laxatives and constipation

Laxatives are medicines that increase the frequency of bowel movements and make your bowel movements easier. There are many types of laxatives, and they come in different forms. Although most OTC (over-the-counter, can be bought without a prescription) laxatives are safe, effective, and well tolerated, they also can cause several unwanted effects.

Types and forms of laxatives

Laxatives come in many forms and, no matter which you choose, every one of them could be as effective as any other:

  • Tablets, capsules or granules 
  • Powders (mixed with water)
  • Enema
  • Suppositories
  • Foods
  • Syrups 

 
There are 3 types of laxatives:

1. Bulk forming laxatives: This form works by swelling up inside the bowel, which helps soften the stool and encourages bowels to move and push the stool out. They should be used 2-3 days before the fool effect! 

Some of the most commonly used are:

  • Celevac® 
  • Normacol®
  • Bran®
  • Fybogel®

 
2. Stimulant laxatives: Like the name says, these work by stimulating bowels and speeding up bowel movement. They can take 8-12 hours to work.

Some of the most commonly used are:

  • Co-danthrusate (Normax®)
  • Glycerol suppositories 
  • Senna (Senakot®) 
  • Syrup of figs
  • Bisacodyl® 
  • Docusate sodium® 

 
3. Osmotic laxatives: These highly effective laxatives work by drawing water into the bowel, making the stool softer and easier to pass. Some of the most commonly used are:

  • Phosphate enemas 
  • Sodium citrate
  • Lactulose syrup 
  • Macrogols 
  • Magnesium salts

 

The downside of laxatives

  • Using too much laxatives can imbalance important electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes are necessary for proper functioning of nerves and muscles, including the heart muscle. A loss of electrolytes can cause muscle cramps, tremors, spasms, irregular heartbeat, and in some cases cardiac arrest.
  • Dehydration is also a problem, because laxatives and enemas remove needed fluid from the body. Dehydration can lead to tremors, weakness, blurry vision, fainting spells, kidney damage, and in some cases even death. It is a condition which requires medical treatment. 
  • Laxatives can also irritate intestinal nerve endings, which in turn stimulate muscle contractions that move the irritant through the gut and out of the body. However, experiments have shown that, sometimes these nerve endings no longer respond to stimulation. This could be a serious problem because in most cases, patients become laxative–dependent, and without this medical stimulation may not have any bowel movement at all.
  • Patients that use laxatives are more prone to infections, because the medications rip away the protective mucus that lines the colon.