Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow to Relieve ConstipationLaxative Types
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How to Relieve Constipation
Laxative Types
Manylaxativesare available as over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and people often misuse them. Most people who use laxatives don’t need them, and long-term use of laxatives can have serious health repercussions like disruption of metabolite levels (body salts), dehydration, kidney injury, and even death.
Roel Smart / Getty Images
Instead of buying an over-the-counter laxative to help with intermittentconstipation, you should first try a high-fiber diet, increased fluid intake, and regular exercise, as well as practice proper bathroom hygiene.
More specifically, you should use the bathroom when you feel the urge and refrain from “holding it in.”If these measures fail to work, you should meet with a physician to discuss laxative use, especially if you plan to take laxatives for more than a day or two.
Coffee Makes You Poop, But Do You Know Why?
Over-the-counter laxatives are classified according to four main principal mechanisms of action:
Bulk-Forming Laxatives
Bulk laxatives are commonly made of plant fibers like methyl cellulose. When the bacteria that live in your gut digest these plant fibers, some gas (flatus) and bloating can result.
Over-the-counter bulk laxative brands include:
Stool Softeners
Over-the-counter stool softeners include:
Of note, mineral oil is commonly used to lubricate stool in children and adults with a debilitating disability. In order to be palatable, mineral oil needs to be mixed with juice.
Additionally, docusate and glycerin suppositories are commonly prescribed in an inpatient or hospital setting to prevent constipation.
Studieshave shown that long-term use of stool softeners can result in (fat-soluble) vitamin A, D, E, and K deficiencies.
Stimulant Laxatives
For some time, physicians have worried that long-term use of stimulant laxatives could lead to patient dependence on these medications. Furthermore, physicians have worried that these laxatives could damage the nervous system of the intestines (myenteric plexus).
It’s still unclear whether long-term use of stimulant laxatives is safe, as more research is needed.Nevertheless, the only people who should be taking these laxatives for long periods of time are hospitalized patients or patients in long-term care facilities who have a neurological impairment and cannot leave bed.
Examples of OTC stimulant laxatives include:
Osmotic Laxatives
Osmotic laxativesare non-absorbable compounds and soluble compounds that draw fecal water into the colon via osmosis. In this way, osmotic laxatives liquefy your stool.
Osmotic laxatives are considered effective but if overused may cause problems with your body’s water and electrolyte balance.
Here are some examples of OTC osmotic laxatives:
What Are the Differences Between Dulcolax vs. Miralax?
Sodium Phosphate Osmotic Laxatives
In January 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a safety warning about over-the-counter sodium phosphate osmotic laxatives. They warned that in rare instances, taking more than one dose in 24 hours could cause serious harm to the kidneys and heart, and even death.
According to the FDA, “Severe dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities associated with serious complications such as acute kidney injury, arrhythmias, and death have occurred in adults and children who overdosed using oral or rectal over-the-counter (OTC) sodium phosphate solutions to treat constipation.”
The FDA suggests you speak to your healthcare provider before taking this type of laxative and watch for warning signs of a bad reaction.
Laxatives are best used as short-term relief, and you should consult with your physician before you use them. Never give a child a laxative without speaking with a pediatrician first.
A Word From Verywell
Please keep in mind that—as with all medications—it’s better to prevent a problem in the first place than it is to take medications to treat it.
If you experience constipation, it’s a good idea to meet with your physician and discuss diet, fluids, exercise, and toileting habits. Lifestyle changes can often help relieve constipation and obviate the need for laxatives.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.Natural ways to relieve constipation.MedlinePlus.Constipation - self-care.Jin J.Over-the-counter laxatives.JAMA.2014;312(11):1167. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.2078Sayuk GS, Waldman SA, Brenner DM.Mechanisms of action of current pharmacologic options for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(4S):S6-S13. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001687Noergaard M, Traerup Andersen J, Jimenez-Solem E, Bring Christensen M.Long term treatment with stimulant laxatives – clinical evidence for effectiveness and safety?Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2019;54(1):27-34. doi:10.1080/00365521.2018.1563806Hamilton Smith R, Eddleston M, Bateman DN.Toxicity of phosphate enemas – an updated review.Clinical Toxicology. 2022;60(6):672-680. doi:10.1080/15563650.2022.2054424Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of possible harm from exceeding recommended dose of over-the-counter sodium phosphate products to treat constipation.Additional ReadingAcosta A, Tangalos EG, Harari D. Constipation. Chapter 95: Constipation. In: Halter JB, Ouslander JG, Studenski S, et al., eds.Hazzard’s geriatric medicine and gerontology.7th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2017:1397–1422.McQuaid KR. Chapter 62: Drugs used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. In: Katzung BG, Trevor AJ, eds.Basic & clinical pharmacology.13th ed.McGraw-Hill Education; 2015:1052–1083.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.Natural ways to relieve constipation.MedlinePlus.Constipation - self-care.Jin J.Over-the-counter laxatives.JAMA.2014;312(11):1167. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.2078Sayuk GS, Waldman SA, Brenner DM.Mechanisms of action of current pharmacologic options for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(4S):S6-S13. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001687Noergaard M, Traerup Andersen J, Jimenez-Solem E, Bring Christensen M.Long term treatment with stimulant laxatives – clinical evidence for effectiveness and safety?Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2019;54(1):27-34. doi:10.1080/00365521.2018.1563806Hamilton Smith R, Eddleston M, Bateman DN.Toxicity of phosphate enemas – an updated review.Clinical Toxicology. 2022;60(6):672-680. doi:10.1080/15563650.2022.2054424Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of possible harm from exceeding recommended dose of over-the-counter sodium phosphate products to treat constipation.Additional ReadingAcosta A, Tangalos EG, Harari D. Constipation. Chapter 95: Constipation. In: Halter JB, Ouslander JG, Studenski S, et al., eds.Hazzard’s geriatric medicine and gerontology.7th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2017:1397–1422.McQuaid KR. Chapter 62: Drugs used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. In: Katzung BG, Trevor AJ, eds.Basic & clinical pharmacology.13th ed.McGraw-Hill Education; 2015:1052–1083.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Health Publishing.Natural ways to relieve constipation.MedlinePlus.Constipation - self-care.Jin J.Over-the-counter laxatives.JAMA.2014;312(11):1167. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.2078Sayuk GS, Waldman SA, Brenner DM.Mechanisms of action of current pharmacologic options for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(4S):S6-S13. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001687Noergaard M, Traerup Andersen J, Jimenez-Solem E, Bring Christensen M.Long term treatment with stimulant laxatives – clinical evidence for effectiveness and safety?Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2019;54(1):27-34. doi:10.1080/00365521.2018.1563806Hamilton Smith R, Eddleston M, Bateman DN.Toxicity of phosphate enemas – an updated review.Clinical Toxicology. 2022;60(6):672-680. doi:10.1080/15563650.2022.2054424Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of possible harm from exceeding recommended dose of over-the-counter sodium phosphate products to treat constipation.
Harvard Health Publishing.Natural ways to relieve constipation.
MedlinePlus.Constipation - self-care.
Jin J.Over-the-counter laxatives.JAMA.2014;312(11):1167. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.2078
Sayuk GS, Waldman SA, Brenner DM.Mechanisms of action of current pharmacologic options for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(4S):S6-S13. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001687
Noergaard M, Traerup Andersen J, Jimenez-Solem E, Bring Christensen M.Long term treatment with stimulant laxatives – clinical evidence for effectiveness and safety?Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2019;54(1):27-34. doi:10.1080/00365521.2018.1563806
Hamilton Smith R, Eddleston M, Bateman DN.Toxicity of phosphate enemas – an updated review.Clinical Toxicology. 2022;60(6):672-680. doi:10.1080/15563650.2022.2054424
Food and Drug Administration.FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of possible harm from exceeding recommended dose of over-the-counter sodium phosphate products to treat constipation.
Acosta A, Tangalos EG, Harari D. Constipation. Chapter 95: Constipation. In: Halter JB, Ouslander JG, Studenski S, et al., eds.Hazzard’s geriatric medicine and gerontology.7th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2017:1397–1422.McQuaid KR. Chapter 62: Drugs used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. In: Katzung BG, Trevor AJ, eds.Basic & clinical pharmacology.13th ed.McGraw-Hill Education; 2015:1052–1083.
Acosta A, Tangalos EG, Harari D. Constipation. Chapter 95: Constipation. In: Halter JB, Ouslander JG, Studenski S, et al., eds.Hazzard’s geriatric medicine and gerontology.7th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2017:1397–1422.
McQuaid KR. Chapter 62: Drugs used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. In: Katzung BG, Trevor AJ, eds.Basic & clinical pharmacology.13th ed.McGraw-Hill Education; 2015:1052–1083.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
