Laxative how long

Before using a laxative, read about it in our Medicines guide or the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine to make sure it's safe for you to take. Find out more about the considerations about laxatives. Some laxatives have to be taken at certain times of the day, such as first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Ask a pharmacist for advice if you're not sure how to take your laxative.

If you're taking bulk-forming or osmotic laxatives, it's important to drink plenty of fluids. This is because these laxatives can cause dehydration. Never take more than the recommended dose of laxatives as this can be harmful and cause side effects. If your constipation has not improved after taking laxatives for a week, speak to a GP. After taking a laxative, you can make certain lifestyle changes to help stop getting constipated again, such as:. Do not take laxatives every day to ease your constipation as this can be harmful.

Speak to a GP if you're still constipated after making lifestyle changes. In some cases, you may be prescribed a laxative to use regularly, but this should always be supervised by a GP or gastroenterologist a specialist in gut problems.

Like most medicines, laxatives can cause side effects. They're usually mild and should pass once you stop taking the laxative. The side effects you may get will depend on the type of laxative you're taking, but common side effects of most laxatives include:.

Ask a GP for advice if you get any particularly troublesome or persistent side effects while taking laxatives. Using laxatives too often or for too long can also cause diarrhoea , the bowel becoming blocked by large, dry poo intestinal obstruction , and unbalanced salts and minerals in your body. Find out more about preventing constipation. A number of factors — including a poor diet, physical inactivity and some medications — can disrupt normal bowel function and cause constipation.

Many safe, effective over-the-counter laxatives are available to treat occasional constipation in a variety of ways. However, it's very important to read the label directions carefully and to use them as directed. Overuse of laxatives may cause serious side effects. How often you have a bowel movement varies, but people normally have as many as three bowel movements a day to as few as three a week.

You may be constipated if you have fewer bowel movements than are normal for you. In addition, constipation may involve stools that are difficult to pass because they're hard, dry or small. Lifestyle improvements relieve constipation for many people, but if problems continue despite these changes, your next choice may be a mild laxative.

Laxatives work in different ways, and the effectiveness of each laxative type varies from person to person. In general, bulk-forming laxatives, also referred to as fiber supplements, are the gentlest on your body and safest to use long term. Metamucil and Citrucel fall into this category.

Here are some examples of types of laxatives. Even though many laxatives are available over-the-counter, it's best to talk to your doctor about laxative use and which kind may be best for you.

Oral laxatives may interfere with your body's absorption of some medications and nutrients. Some laxatives can lead to an electrolyte imbalance, especially after prolonged use. Electrolytes — which include calcium, chloride, potassium, magnesium and sodium — regulate a number of body functions. An electrolyte imbalance can cause abnormal heart rhythms, weakness, confusion and seizures. Some products combine different types of laxatives, such as a stimulant and a stool softener.

But combination products don't necessarily work more effectively than single-ingredient products. In addition, they may be more likely to cause side effects. A single-ingredient laxative may work better for you. Read labels to make sure you know what you're taking, and use with caution.

By making the stool softer, it reduces or eliminates the need to strain, so stool softeners may be recommended after childbirth or surgery, or during a bout of hemorrhoids. Some individuals may form a tolerance to softeners and may require higher doses over time. Stool softeners do not directly affect the digestive tract muscles and are safe to use in pregnant women and elderly people. Some experts do not classify stool softeners as laxatives.

Long-term use, if bowel movements remain comfortable, is acceptable. Lubricant laxatives simply coat the colon and stool in a waterproof film allowing it to remain soft and easier to slip through the intestine while retaining its moisture, usually within hours. Pregnant women and persons who have difficulty swallowing should avoid lubricant laxatives. An example of a lubricant laxative is mineral oil. Stimulants increase muscle contractions of the digestive system peristalsis to move contents along, facilitating a shorter colonic transit time.

Although individuals often use this type of laxative as a form of self-treatment, they should be reserved for use in extreme conditions and only under the recommendation or supervision of a pharmacist or physician.

A risky side effect is that they may cause the colon to stop functioning correctly cathartic colon , which often occurs with daily use after which the body becomes dependent on the stimulant laxative for normal peristaltic activity. Stimulants taken orally often take hours to have an effect. For patients who have chronic constipation caused by irritable bowel syndrome, stimulants may be the only solution but, even then, should only be used for a short term.

This form of laxative is not recommended for pregnant women. Osmotic laxatives encourage bowel movements by drawing water into the bowel from the nearby tissue intestinal lumen thereby softening the stool.

Some of these laxatives can cause electrolyte imbalances as they draw out nutrients and other contents with the water, which increases thirst and dehydration. There are four main types of hyperosmotics: saline, lactulose, polymer, and glycerine. Saline laxatives are essentially salts in liquid; they rapidly empty all the contents of the bowel and are not intended for long-term use or for pregnant women. These generally work within 30 minutes to 3 hours.

Lactulose laxatives are a sugar-like agent that work similarly to the saline laxatives but at a much slower rate and are sometimes used to treat chronic constipation. Often they will have an effect in 6 hours, but can take up to 2 days. Lactulose comes in a liquid form taken orally and several manufacturers make it. Polymer laxatives consist of large molecules that cause the stool to hold and retain water.