What Are the Most Common Laxative Side Effects?

Laxatives are medicines that help intestinal excretion. Laxatives help excretion by lubricating the intestinal wall, stimulating intestinal peristalsis, or softening the stool to increase its volume. Increasing the volume of stool can increase the peristalsis of the intestine, thereby stimulating the intestine.

Laxatives are medicines that help intestinal excretion. Laxatives help excretion by lubricating the intestinal wall, stimulating intestinal peristalsis, or softening the stool to increase its volume. Increasing the volume of stool can increase the peristalsis of the intestine, thereby stimulating the intestine.

Laxatives I. Classification

Laxatives are a class of drugs that promote defecation reflexes or make bowel movements smooth. They can be divided into the following categories according to their mechanism of action ^[1] :

Osmotic laxative

Osmotic laxatives are salts that are not easily absorbed by the intestinal wall and are easily soluble in water.After oral administration, a hypertonic salt solution is formed in the intestine, which increases the intestinal water content, increases the volume, stimulates the intestinal mucosa, and causes intestinal peristalsis And defecation.

Common are magnesium preparations, polyethylene glycol, lactulose, etc.

2. Irritating laxatives

The irritant laxative itself or its metabolites in the body stimulates the intestinal wall, strengthens intestinal motility and promotes bowel movements.

Common drugs include castor oil, phenolphthalein suppositories, and senna.

3. Lubricant laxatives

Lubricant laxatives can lubricate the intestinal wall, soften stools, and facilitate the excretion of feces. They are also called stool softeners.

Common drugs include medicinal glycerin, mineral oil, and docusate sodium.

4. Swelling laxatives

Swelling laxatives have a strong water absorption, which absorbs water in the intestines and swells to form colloids, which softens the contents of the large intestine, increases water content, increases volume, stimulates the intestinal wall, and increases intestinal peristalsis to stimulate defecation.

Common drugs are carboxymethyl fiber, wheat bran, and psyllium. These swelling laxatives contain fiber, which is a non-digestible plant-based substance. Some fiber-rich foods can be used as natural laxatives.

Laxatives II. Indications

(1) Relieve defecation pain in patients with hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or perianal abscesses.

(2) relieve constipation during pregnancy or puerperium.

(3) For patients with anorectal stenosis, reduce excessive exertion and intra-abdominal pressure.

(4) Prepare for surgery, radiation therapy, rectal or colonoscopy.

(5) In order to accelerate the excretion of various parasites after deworming treatment.

(6) Accelerate the excretion of poison ^[2] .

Laxatives III. Side effects

1. Osmotic laxatives can cause electrolyte imbalance; bloating, diarrhea, flatulence; use with caution in patients with renal insufficiency and heart dysfunction.

2. Irritating laxatives can cause melanosis of the colon; metabolic alkalosis; dehydration; electrolyte imbalance.

3. Lubricant laxatives can cause electrolyte loss; abdominal cramps; not for patients with known or suspected bowel obstruction.

4. Swelling laxatives can cause abdominal distension; insufficient water intake can cause mechanical obstruction; calcium and iron malabsorption.

Laxatives IV. Medication Principles

1. Cannot be used continuously. Many patients take various laxatives on their own for a long time and continuously. In fact, after a laxative completely empties the colon, it takes 3 to 4 days to refill.

2. Pay attention to the time of taking. Generally, laxatives take effect 6 to 8 hours after oral administration. Therefore, reasonable time for taking medicine should be before bedtime, so that defecation the next morning or after breakfast is more in line with physiological laws.

3. Develop good habits. Treatment of constipation, especially habitual constipation, should start with regulating diet and developing regular bowel habits. Eating more vegetables and fruits can often get good results.

4. Different types of laxatives should be selected according to different situations. If the poison is excluded, salt laxatives such as magnesium sulfate and sodium sulfate should be selected. For general constipation, contact laxatives are more commonly used. For the elderly, aneurysms, anal surgery, etc., laxative laxatives are better.

5. Patients with abdominal pain should not use laxatives without a clear diagnosis. Aged, fragile, pregnant or menstrual women should not use strong laxatives.

6. If the purpose of laxatives is to remove toxins from the intestines, it is not appropriate to use oil-based laxatives such as castor oil, because oil-based laxatives will not only exclude fat-soluble toxins, but will increase the body's absorption of toxins.

7. Constipation due to weakness of the abdominal muscles or intestinal muscles, you can take some mild laxatives to help defecation. If the medicine is too strong, it will damage the function of the digestive system ^[3] .