Both are available OTC in a few different oral dosage forms. For most people, a bowel movement occurs within 6 to 12 hours of taking a stimulant laxative.Įxamples of stimulant laxatives are senna (Senokot, Ex-Lax) and bisacodyl (Dulcolax). They also lessen the amount of water your body absorbs from the intestines. Stimulant laxatives work by stimulating muscles in your intestines, helping stool move more quickly for a bowel movement. A common combination is a stimulant laxative, like senna, with an osmotic laxative, like polyethylene glycol, and/or a stool softener, like docusate. Typically, it’s best to start slowly, with one laxative, and then increase the dose or add an additional medication over time until you get relief. You can safely combine different types of laxatives for a greater effect. Nevertheless, they can help prevent medication-induced constipation from worsening, especially for people who are already prone to constipation. But, traditional OTC laxatives aren’t the best for some types of medication-induced constipation, especially constipation caused by opioids. They work in different ways to help get things moving again. There are many types of OTC laxatives, and they can be taken by mouth, as a suppository, or as an enema. This can help you get ahead - and stay ahead - of the problem.ġ of 6 How to choose the best OTC laxative for constipation If you take medications that cause constipation, prevention may also involve taking laxatives regularly. Try raising your feet, leaning back, or even squatting. When you get the urge to go to the bathroom, don’t put it off.Ĭhange up how you sit on the toilet. Try to go to the bathroom at the same time every day to have a bowel movement. Make sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This increases the water content of your stool.Įat a high-fiber diet. Treatment for constipation caused by medications starts with everyday practices that focus on prevention, like:ĭrink enough water every day. These medications include tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, and incontinence medications, like oxybutynin (Oxytrol for Women, Oxytrol, DitropanXL). But your bowels may be affected if you take them most days.Īnticholinergic medications can also affect the muscle movements in the intestines and cause constipation. If you take NSAIDs for pain from time to time, this may not be an issue. They’re commonly linked to gastrointestinal (GI) problems, but constipation is a lesser-known side effect. Some OTC pain relievers, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories ( NSAIDs), can also cause constipation. And they can affect the muscle that keeps stool inside the rectum, which makes it more difficult to poop.īut opioids aren’t the only medications to blame. Opioids also cause the body to absorb more water from the intestines, making stool drier and harder. Opioid pain medications, like acetaminophen/codeine ( Tylenol with codeine), tramadol, and hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Norco) slow the intestines down and are a common cause of medication-induced constipation. Some medications are particularly good at this. How does medication cause constipation?Īnything that slows the movement of stool through the intestines can cause constipation. To help you find the best laxative for medication-induced constipation, we’ll walk you through the different types of laxatives and how they can work together. But when that’s not enough, over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives may be your best bet. Making changes to your diet and daily habits can be a good place to start. But what happens when a medication you’re taking is to blame? This can happen with several medications, and opioid painkillers are often the culprit.įortunately, you have a few options when a medication makes you constipated. Diet and exercise habits are common causes. If you’ve ever been constipated, you know that it can be an uncomfortable experience.
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