Category

• Laxative, carbon dioxide-releasing Potassium Bitartrate and Sodium Bicarbonate
• Laxative, hyperosmotic Glycerin
• Laxative, hyperosmotic, saline Sodium Phosphates
• Laxative, lubricant Mineral Oil
• Laxative, stimulant - contact Bisacodyl; Senna
• Laxative, stool softener - emollient Docusate

Description Drug

Rectal laxatives are using as enemas or suppositories to produce bowel movements in a short time.

There are few various types of rectal 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 rectal laxatives include:

Carbon dioxide-releasing Carbon dioxide-releasing laxatives - potassium bitartrate and sodium bicarbonate are suppositories that encourage bowel movements by forming carbon dioxide, a gas. This gas pushes against the intestinal wall, causing contractions that move along the stool mass.

Hyperosmotic Hyperosmotic laxatives - glycerin; sodium phosphates draw water into the bowel from surrounding body tissues. This provides a soft stool mass and increased bowel action.

Lubricant Mineral oil coats 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 - bisacodyl; senna, also known as contact laxatives, act on the intestinal wall. They increase the muscle contractions that move along the stool mass.

Stool softeners - emollients Stool softeners - emollient laxatives docusate 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.

Rectal laxatives may provide relief in a number of situations such as:

• before giving birth.
• for a few days after giving birth.
• preparation for examination or surgery.
• to aid in developing normal bowel function following a period of poor eating habits or a lack of physical exercise - glycerin suppositories only.
• following surgery when straining must be avoided.
• constipation causing by other medication.

Some of these laxatives are available only with your family doctor's prescription. Others 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:

Rectal
• Bisacodyl
  • Rectal solution - USA and Canada
  • Suppositories - USA and Canada
• Docusate
  • Rectal solution - USA
• Glycerin
  • Rectal solution - USA
  • Suppositories - USA and Canada
• Mineral Oil
  • Enema - USA and Canada
• Potassium Bitartrate and Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Suppositories - USA
• Senna
  • Suppositories - USA and Canada
• Sodium Phosphates
  • Enema - USA and Canada

Brand Names

Some commonly using brand names are:

In the USA

• Bisco-Lax
• Ceo-Two ⁵
• Dacodyl
• Deficol
• Dulcolax
• Fleet Babylax
• Fleet Bisacodyl
• Fleet Enema ⁷
• Fleet Enema for Children ⁷
• Fleet Enema Mineral Oil ⁴
• Fleet Glycerin Laxative
• Fleet Laxative
• Sani-Supp
• Senokot ⁶
• Theralax
• Therevac Plus
• Therevac-SB

In Canada

• Apo-Bisacodyl
• Bisacolax
• Dulcolax
• Enemol ⁷
• Fleet Enema ⁷
• Fleet Enema Mineral Oil ⁴
• Fleet Pediatric Enema ⁷
• Gent-L-Tip ⁷
• Laxit
• PMS-Bisacodyl
• Senokot ⁶

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