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Laxatives - Oral

Description and Brand Names *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects
*** Additional Information

Category

Description Drug

Oral laxatives are medication taken by mouth to encourage bowel movements to relieve constipation.

There are few various types of oral laxatives and they work in various ways. Since directions for use are various for each type, it is important to know which one you are taking. The various types of oral laxatives include:

Bulk-formers Bulk-forming laxatives are not digested but absorb liquid in the intestines and swell to form a soft, bulky stool. The bowel is then stimulated normally by the presence of the bulky mass. Some bulk-forming laxatives, like psyllium and polycarbophil, may be prescribed by your family doctor to treat diarrhea.

Hyperosmotics Hyperosmotic laxatives encourage bowel movements by drawing water into the bowel from surrounding body tissues. This provides a soft stool mass and increased bowel action.

There are three types of hyperosmotic laxatives taken by mouth the saline, the lactulose and the polymer types. The saline type is often called ''salts.'" They are using for rapid emptying of the lower intestine and bowel. They are not using for long-term or repeated correction of constipation. With smaller doses than those using for the laxative effect, some saline laxatives are using as antacids. The information that follows applies only to their use as laxatives. Sodium phosphate may also be prescribed for other conditions as determined by your family doctor.

The lactulose type is a special sugar-like laxative that works the same way as the saline type. However, it produces results much more slowly and is often using for long-term treat of chronic constipation. Lactulose may sometimes be using in the treat of certain medical conditions to reduce the amount of ammonia in the blood. It is available only with your family doctor's prescription.

The polymer type is a polyglycol - polyethylene glycol, a large molecule that causes water to be retained in the stool; this will soften the stool and increase the number of bowel movements. It is using for short periods of time to treat constipation.

Lubricants Lubricant laxatives, such as mineral oil, taken by mouth encourage bowel movements by coating the bowel and the stool mass with a waterproof film. This keeps moisture in the stool. The stool remains soft and its passage is made easier.

Stimulants Stimulant laxatives, also known as contact laxatives, encourage bowel movements by acting on the intestinal wall. They increase the muscle contractions that move along the stool mass. Stimulant laxatives are a popular type of laxative for self-treat. However, they also are more likely to cause side effects. One of the stimulant laxatives, dehydrocholic acid, may also be using for treating certain conditions of the biliary tract.

Stool softeners - emollients Stool softeners encourage bowel movements by helping liquids mix into the stool and prevent dry, hard stool masses. This type of laxative has been said not to cause a bowel movement but instead allows the patient to have a bowel movement without straining.

Combinations There are many products that you can buy for constipation that contain more than one type of laxative. For example, a product may contain both a stool softener and a stimulant laxative. In general, combination products may be more likely to cause side effects because of the multiple ingredients. In addition, they may not offer any advantage over products containing only one type of laxative If you are taking a combination laxative, make certain you know the How to Use and precautions for each of the various ingredients .

Most laxatives - except saline laxatives may be using to provide relief:

Saline laxatives have more limited uses and may be using to provide rapid results:

Most laxatives are available without a prescription; however, your family doctor may have special instructions for the How to Use and dose for your medical condition. They are available in the following dosage forms:

Brand Names

Some commonly using brand names are:

In the USA

In Canada

Note:

For quick reference the following laxatives are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.

Bulk-forming laxatives 1. Malt Soup Extract - malt soup EX-tract† 2. Malt Soup Extract and Psyllium - malt soup EX-tract and SILL-i-yum† 3. Methylcellulose - meth-ill-SELL-yoo-lose† 4. Polycarbophil - pol-i-KAR-boe-fil 5. Polycarbophil and Psyllium - pol-i-KAR-boe-fil and SILL-i-yum † 6. Psyllium - SILL-i-yum† 7. Psyllium Hydrophilic Mucilloid - SILL-i-yumhye-droe-FILL-ik MYOO-sill-oid 8. PsylliumHydrophilic Mucilloid and Carboxymethylcellulose - SILL-i-yum hye-droe-FILL-ik MYOO-sill-oid and kar-box-ee-meth-ill-SELL-yoo-lose† † Not commercially available in Canada Generic name product may be available in the USA Bulk-forming and stimulant combinations 9. Psyllium and Senna - SILL-i-yum andSEN-na† 10. Psyllium Hydrophilic Mucilloid and Senna - SILL-i-yum hye-droe-FILL-ik MYOO-sill-oid and SEN-na* 11. Psyllium Hydrophilic Mucilloid and Sennosides - SILL-i-yum hye-droe-FILL-ik MYOO-sill-oid and SEN-no-sydes† * Not commercially available in the USA † Not commercially available in Canada Bulk-forming, stimulant and stool softener - emollientcombinations 12. Product not available Bulk-forming and stool softener - emollient combinations 13. Product not available Hyperosmotic laxatives Lactulose: 14. Lactulose - LAC-tu-los Generic name product may be available in the USA Generic name product may be available in Canada Hyperosmotic laxatives Polymer: 15. Polyethylene glycol 3350 - pol-ee-ETH-ill-een GLYE-cal Hyperosmotic laxatives Saline: 16. Magnesium Citrate - mag-NEE-zhum SI-trate 17. Magnesium Hydroxide - mag-NEE-zhumhye-DROX-ide 18. Magnesium Oxide - mag-NEE-zhum OX-ide† 19. MagnesiumSulfate - mag-NEE-zhum SUL-fate† 20. Sodium Phosphate - SOE-dee-umFOS-fate† † Not commercially available in Canada Generic name product may be available in the USA Generic name product may be available in Canada Hyperosmotic and lubricant combinations 21. Milk of Magnesia and Mineral Oil - milk of mag-NEE-zha and MIN-er-al oil† 22. Mineral Oil and Glycerin - MIN-er-aloil and GLIH-ser-in* * Not commercially available in the USA † Not commercially available in Canada Hyperosmotic and stimulant combinations 23. Milk of Magnesia and Cascara Sagrada - milk of mag-NEE-zha and kas-KAR-a sa-GRA-da† † Not commercially available in Canada Generic name product may be available in the USA Lubricant laxatives 24. Mineral Oil - MIN-er-al oil Generic name product may be available in the USA Generic name product may be available in Canada Stimulant laxatives 25. Bisacodyl - bis-a-KOE-dill 26. Casanthranol - cas-SAN-thrah-nole† 27. Cascara Sagrada - kas-KAR-a sa-GRA-da 28. Cascara Sagrada and Aloe - kas-KAR-a sa-GRA-da and AL-owe 29. CascaraSagrada and Bisacodyl - kas-KAR-a sa-GRA-daand bis-a-KOE-dill 30. Castor Oil - KAS-tor 31. Dehydrocholic Acid - dee-hye-droe-KOE-likacid† 32. Senna - SEN-na 33. Sennosides - SEN-no-sides † Not commercially available in Canada Generic name product may be available in the USA Generic name product may be available in Canada Stimulant and stool softener - emollient combinations 34. Bisacodyl and Docusate - bis-a-KOE-dilland doc-CUE-sayt* 35. Casanthranoland Docusate - cas-SAN-thrah-nole anddoc-CUE-sayt 36. Danthron and Docusate - DAN-thron and doc-CUE-sayt* 37. DehydrocholicAcid and Docusate - dee-hye-droe-KOE-likacid and doc-CUE-sayt† 38. Sennosides and Docusate - SEN-no-sides and doc-CUE-sayt * Not commercially available in the USA † Not commercially available in Canada Generic name product may be available in the USA Stool softener - emollient laxatives 39. Docusate - doc-CUE-sayt 40. Poloxamer 188 - pol-OX-a-mer 188† † Not commercially available in Canada Generic name product may be available in the USA Generic name product may be available in Canada 








  

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