Your doctor may suggest using an over-the- counter laxative for a short time if you’re having constipation. Options can include:
• Bulk-forming agents. These absorb fluid in the intestines, making stool bulkier. Bulkier stool helps trigger the bowel to contract and push stool out. Take these with plenty of water or they can cause an obstruction.
• Osmotic agents. These help stool retain fluid. Stools with more fluid increase the number of bowel movements and are softer. Older adults and people with heart or kidney failure should be careful when taking osmotic agents. They can cause dehydration or a mineral imbalance.
• Stool softeners. These help mix fluid into stools to soften them. Doctors recommend stool softeners for people who should avoid straining. Doctors often recommend them after surgery or for women after childbirth.
• Lubricants. Lubricants coat the surface of stool, which helps the stool hold in fluid and pass more easily.
If these laxatives don’t work for you, your doctor may recommend other types. If you’ve been taking laxatives for a long time and can’t have a bowel movement without taking one, talk with your doctor about how you can slowly stop using them.
—Source: National Institutes of Health
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, December 2016
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