Products for Constipation Relief

Constipation is one of the most common digestive complaints. Constipation may have lifestyle or dietary causes, or there might be other underlying conditions. Many products are available to treat constipation. The type of product you should use varies depending on the severity, the cause and the duration of the constipation.

Stimulant Laxatives

• Stimulant laxatives work by stimulating contractions of the muscles in the digestive tract, colon and rectum to facilitate the proper elimination of constipated feces. Stimulant laxatives may be taken orally in the form of tablets or liquids such as Ex-Lax, Correctol or Dulcolax, as well as rectally in the form of Dulcolax Suppositories and Fleet Bisacodyl enemas.

Osmotic Laxatives

• Osmotic laxatives work by pulling water from other parts of the body into the colon and rectum to soften hard stools for easy passage during a bowel movement. Osmotic laxatives are suitable for short-term daily use as the body becomes accustomed to making lifestyle and dietary changes to help relieve constipation. Examples of osmotic laxatives include glycerin suppositories, stool softeners and magnesium citrate.

Lubricant Laxatives

• Lubricant laxatives such as mineral oil, mineral oil enemas and glycerin rectal suppositories help to relieve constipation caused by hard, dry stools. Mineral oil and glycerin increase the moisture content of stools to help them pass along the digestive tract and out of the rectum more easily.

Fiber Supplements

• Use fiber supplements to restore the natural muscle contraction of the digestive system and relieve constipation. During the first few days of using fiber supplements, you may notice excessive gas. The excessive gas will dissipate as the fiber begins to regulate the digestive system. Unlike laxatives used to treat constipation, fiber is safe to use each day in most cases. Use caution with fiber therapy when constipation is caused by irritable bowel syndrome and congenital mega colon. Using fiber to treat constipation caused by congenital mega colon and irritable bowel syndrome may actually cause constipation as well as make an episode of constipation much worse.

Probiotics

• Eat one cup of probiotic yogurt such as Dannon Activia each day for two weeks. the probiotic yogurt cultures in these products help to regulate the digestive system to prevent not only constipation but also other digestive system maladies such as diarrhea, indigestion, excessive flatulence and bloating.

Enemas

• Use enemas in cases of severe constipation when fecal matter has hardened deep and high in the colon. Common enema solutions include prepackaged enema solutions such as Fleet enemas. Homemade enema solutions can be administered by recycling Fleet enema bottles, with enema bags, or through the use of enema bulbs injected into the rectum for relieving cases of moderate to severe constipation.

Warnings

• Avoid using laxatives daily. Daily use of laxatives actually makes constipation worse because of the effect laxatives have on the muscles of the digestive system. Chronic use of laxatives to treat constipation causes the muscles of the digestive tract to become lazy and unable to function naturally to facilitate the elimination portion of the digestive process.