Laxatives, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: Epsom Salts; Milk of Magnesia; Ex-Lax Milk of Magnesia; Philip's Milk of Magnesia; Magnesium Citrate; Citrate of Magnesia; Fleet Phospho-soda; Cascara Sagrada; Aromatic Cascara Sagrada Fluidextract; Cascara Aromatic; Ex-Lax; Ex-Lax Chocolated; Maximum Relief Ex-lax; Senokot; Senna-Gen; SenokotXTRA; Black Draught; Fletcher's Castoria; Agoral; bisacodyl; Dulcolax; Fleet Laxative; Modane; Women's Gentle Laxative; Bisa-Evac; Caroid; Correctol; Feen-A-Mint; Reliable Gentle Laxative; Fiberall; Genifiber; Hydrocil Instant; Konsyl; Konsyl D; Metamucil Orange Smooth Texture; psyllium; Reguloid Orange; Natural Fiber Laxative; Syllact; Modane Bulk; Perdiem Fiber Therapy; Serutan; Equalactin; Mitrolan ; FiberNorm; Konsyl Fiber; Fiber-Lax; Bulk Producing Fiber Laxative; FiberCon; Citrucel; Citrucel Sugar Free; Unifiber; Maltsupex; mineral oil laxative Milkinol; Kondremul Plain; docusate sodium; Colace; D-S-S; Ex-lax Stool Softener; Modane Soft; Non-Habit Forming Stool Softener; Regular S.S.; DOS; Docu; Diocto; Silace; docusate calcium; Stool softener DC; Surfak Liquigels; DC Softgels; Lactulose; Cephulac; Cholac; Chronulac; Constilac; Constulose; Duphalac; Enulose; Colyte; GoLYTELY; NuLYTELY; OCL; MiraLax; Fleet Prep Kit; Evac-O-Kwick; Tridate Bowel Cleansing; X-Prep Liquid; castor oil laxative; Purge; Emulsoil; Neoloid; Senokot S; Doxidan; docusate with casanthranol; DSS 100 Plus; Genasoft Plus; Peri-Colace; Diocto-C; DOK-Plus; Liqui-Doss; Haley's M-O; Silace C; Perdiem Overnight Relief.

What is this medicine used for?

Laxative products are taken by mouth for reasons such as:

• to relieve constipation
• to empty the colon for colon, rectal, and bowel examinations
• to prevent constipation after anorectal surgery or heart attack
• to prevent dry, hard stools.

Different kinds of laxatives work in different ways. Make sure you know which kind you are taking. The different types of oral laxatives include:

Bulk-formers

Bulk-forming laxatives absorb liquid in the intestines and swell to form a soft, bulky stool. Your bowel is then moved normally because of the bulky mass. Some bulk-forming laxatives, like psyllium and polycarbophil, may also be used to treat diarrhea.

Hyperosmotics

Hyperosmotic laxatives help cause bowel movements by absorbing water into the bowel from body tissues. There are 3 types of hyperosmotic laxatives taken by mouth--the saline, the lactulose, and the polymer types.

The saline type works very fast. They are not used for long-term or repeated constipation. With smaller doses than those used for the laxative effect, some saline laxatives are used as antacids. They may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

The lactulose type produces results more slowly and can be used for long-term treatment of ongoing constipation. Lactulose may also be used in the treatment of other conditions. It is available only by prescription.

The polymer (polycarbophil) type softens the stool and increases the number of bowel movements. It is used for short periods of time to treat constipation.

Lubricants

Oral lubricant laxatives, such as mineral oil, coat the bowel and the stool mass with a waterproof film. This keeps moisture in the stool. The stool stays softer and moves easier.

Stimulants

Stimulant laxatives (such as the bisacodyl type) increase the muscle contractions that move along the stool mass. Stimulants also are more likely to cause side effects.

Stool softeners

Stool softeners (such as the docusate type) help liquids mix into the stool and prevent dry, hard stool masses.

Combinations

There are many products that you can buy for constipation that contain more than one type of laxative. For example, a product may contain both a stool softener and a stimulant laxative.

Ask your health care provider or pharmacist which product is best for you.

How do I use it?

Take laxatives as directed by your health care provider, or follow the directions on the package label. Do not take more laxative or take it more often than directed. Drink several glasses of water during the day to help soften your bowel movement.

Mix powdered or granulated products with water or fruit juice. Do not take them dry. Liquids may be taken in or with water or fruit juice. Mineral oil is usually taken at bedtime, at least 2 hours after the evening meal.

Castor oil is usually taken early in the day because it takes 2 to 6 hours to work.

Swallow laxative tablets whole. They have a special coating to prevent stomach irritation.

What should I watch out for?

Never take a laxative if you have symptoms of appendicitis or bowel inflammation (severe abdominal pains, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloody stools). Contact your health care provider right away.

Do not take laxatives all the time unless your health care provider approves.

Do not take any laxative if you have intestinal obstruction or fecal (stool) impaction.

Mineral oil may decrease the absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin A,D,E and K.

Do not take a lactulose laxative if you are on a low galactose diet (elimination of all dairy products). Ask your health care provider if this applies to you.

For young children, ask your health care provider or pharmacist which laxatives to use.

Take laxatives only when you are constipated. If you are always constipated, talk to your health care provider. You may need to change your diet or prescription medicine.

Females of childbearing age: If you are pregnant, do not take castor oil because its irritating effect may cause early labor. Take only those laxatives that are recommended by your health care provider.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Side effects vary with the type of laxative you are taking. Read the package label to determine which side effects may occur with your medicine.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• antacids
• medicines to decrease stomach acid such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and pantoprazole (Protonix)
• milk
• ulcer medicines such as cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid)
• vitamins A,D,E, and K with mineral oil.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.