What do laxative pills do

Most side effects will disappear once a patient stops taking the medication; they can mostly be avoided by starting on a low dose and increasing the dose gradually. Serious side effects are rare.

However, excessive or prolonged use of laxatives can cause diarrhea or intestinal obstruction, where stools become large and dry. Long-term use can also cause levels of salts and minerals in the body to become unbalanced. Some laxatives react with other medications, so if a patient is taking other drugs, it is best to check with a doctor before taking laxatives. Laxatives can be taken for the wrong reasons and misuse is relatively common ; for instance, some people attempt to lose weight by the frequent and repeated use of laxatives.

Often, this occurs after eating binges under the mistaken belief that food and calories will be rushed through the body before they are absorbed. This is not the case, and laxative abuse can lead to a number of health complications. People with anorexia and bulimia sometimes use large amounts of laxatives as part of their harmful food behavior. While those misusing laxatives may notice weight loss, this is usually because of the loss of fluids; they do not reduce body mass, fat, or calories.

Health complications associated with laxative misuse include:. Colon infection, IBS, and liver damage are also associated with overuse. Chronic laxative misuse can also contribute to colon cancer. Laxative misuse often requires medical help for both physical and mental treatment. A doctor will be able to give advice on this. This article tells you whether it's possible and advisable.

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This article looks at the scientific evidence. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Are Laxatives? Share on Pinterest.

Summary: Laxative use can result in a temporary loss of water weight. However, studies suggest this is not an effective method for long-term weight loss. Using Laxatives Can Lead to Dehydration. One of the most common side effects of laxative use is dehydration. Dehydration may also be linked to more serious side effects, mentioned later in this article.

Summary: Some types of laxatives work by pulling water into the intestines and stool, resulting in a loss of water and potentially dangerous dehydration. Laxatives May Cause an Electrolyte Imbalance.

Some common electrolytes include chloride, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphate. Summary: Laxative use can alter the balance of electrolytes in the body and can cause many adverse side effects, such as fatigue, muscle aches and heart palpitations.

However, most reports of laxative dependency are anecdotal. Summary: There are some anecdotal reports of laxative dependency with long-term use. However, more studies are needed on the potential side effects of long-term laxative use. Other Possible Side Effects of Laxatives. Lubricant Laxatives: These make stool slippery, so it moves through the intestine more easily and quickly.

They typically take six to eight hours to work. Mineral oil is an example. Emollient Laxatives: These stool softeners cause fats and water to penetrate to the stool, making it move more easily through the digestive system.

They typically take 12 to 72 hours to work. Examples include Colace and Diocto. Stimulant Laxatives: These stimulate the lining of the intestine to propel the stool along. They provide very quick relief but should only be used occasionally. 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.

Page last reviewed: 10 June Next review due: 10 June Overview - Laxatives Contents Overview Considerations. Types of laxatives There are 4 main types of laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives Bulk-forming laxatives work by increasing the "bulk" or weight of poo, which in turn stimulates your bowel. They take 2 or 3 days to work. Bulk-forming laxatives include: Fybogel ispaghula husk methylcellulose Osmotic laxatives Osmotic laxatives draw water from the rest of the body into your bowel to soften poo and make it easier to pass.

They include: lactulose also called by the brand names Duphalac and Lactugal macrogol also called by the brand names Movicol, Laxido, CosmoCol, Molaxole and Molative polyethylene glycol Stimulant laxatives These stimulate the muscles that line your gut, helping them to move poo along to your back passage. They take 6 to 12 hours to work. They include: bisacodyl also called by the brand name Dulcolax senna also called by the brand name Senokot sodium picosulfate Poo-softener laxatives This type of laxative works by letting water into poo to soften it and make it easier to pass.

They include: arachis oil docusate Which laxative should I use? Unless there's a reason why a type of laxative may be more suitable for you than another: start with a bulk-forming laxative if your poo remains hard, try using an osmotic laxative in addition to, or instead of, a bulk-forming laxative if your poo is soft but is still difficult to pass, try taking a stimulant laxative in addition to a bulk-forming laxative Speak to a GP or pharmacist if you're unsure which laxative to use.