:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1299652844-a80cf9261d5c4f5b9496467228b4bc57.jpg)
Michelle Lee Photography / Getty Images
stool softeners are taken by mouth and come in encapsulate, liquid, and tablet form. Brand name include Colace, Correctol, Diocto, Doxinate, Ex-Lax Stool Softener, Fleet Sof-Lax, Modane Soft, Phillips ‘ Stool Softener, and Surfak.
This article explains how stool softeners work, when and how to take them, and what english effects are possible .
How stool Softeners Work
stool softeners are made of compounds called surfactants that change the consistency of stools therefore that more moisture can be drawn in. When this happens, stools become soft, meaning you do n’t have to strain to pass them .
Docusate sodium is the active ingredient used in OTC stool softeners. Unlike many other types of laxatives, but alike to fiber supplements, docusate sodium draw water into the stool rather than to the interior of the intestine.
Stool softeners do n’t work immediately. It may take up to 72 hours before they induce a intestine movement.
When They Are Used
excessive and perennial tense to have a intestine movement is uncomfortable and can cause rake vessels around the anus to swell, blood atmospheric pressure to increase, and tissues to be disrupted. For some people, this can cause serious harm .
For most people with constipation, healthcare providers recommend eating a high roughage diet along with toast batch of urine or early liquids, ampere well as exercising regularly. stool softeners can be a reasonable option when these strategies do n’t work .
Situations when stools softeners may be recommended :
- When dealing with hemorrhoids
- When recovering from an anal fissure
- Following childbirth
- Following surgery
- Following a heart attack
- If you have certain heart conditions
Stool Softener or Another Laxative ?
stool softeners are intended for short-run function. They can treat episodic stultification, but other laxatives may be better suited for the undertaking, as they typically work faster .
For example, if you have not had a intestine apparent motion for several days and are cramping, the succeed laxatives may be used rather :
- Stimulant laxatives like Ex-Lax and Ducalax, increase intestinal contractions but may increase intestinal cramping.
- Hyperosmotic laxatives like Miralax, increase water in the intestines so stools can exit more rapidly.
- Saline laxatives like Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia use sodium to draw water into the intestines to help stools get through more easily.
Healthcare providers rarely recommend saline solution laxatives because there are safer and more effective alternatives. If you have heart disease or kidney disease, you should talk with your healthcare supplier before taking milk of Magnesia .
Bulk-forming laxatives like fleawort found in Metamucil and methylcellulose found in Citrucel may be the gentlest and safest options for longer-term treatment of chronic stultification.
Recap
stool softeners are intended for short-run use to soften stools and prevent intestine strive. For faster relief of stultification, a stimulant, hyperosmotic, or saline solution laxative may be preferred. chronic constipation may be best treated with a bulk-forming laxative .
How to Use
A stool softener is normally taken before you go to seam at night. Be sure to follow the package instructions and never exceed the recommended drug.
If you choose a softener in capsule or pill form, take it with a wide 8-ounce methamphetamine of water system. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help induce intestine movements .
Liquid stool softeners often come with a pre-marked dose hood ; if not, measuring stick each venereal disease with a measuring spoon ( not a dinner spoon ) .
It ‘s best that you have a toilet nearby .
stool softeners are broadly not used for longer than one week .
side Effects and Risks
stool softeners are not absorbed into the bloodstream and are by and large well-tolerated. side effects are rare .
Some users report meek side effects such as :
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Bloating
- Throat irritation (with liquid stool softeners)
Taking stool softeners on a long-run footing should only be done under the guidance of a sophisticate. Docusate sodium itself will not cause any damage, but you may develop a allowance to it and require more and more over clock. This can lead to bouts of diarrhea. If your stultification is chronic, it is better to use a bulk-forming laxative that you can take once daily .
Stool softeners may be safe for children or people who are fraught, but speak with a doctor of the church inaugural before using any OTC product to treat constipation.
compendious
stool softeners are used to soften stools and prevent intestine straining. They work by adding moisture to stools, making them easier to pass. This is specially crucial when straining poses health risks, for model, if you have hemorrhoids or certain heart problems .
stool softeners can take up to 72 hours to work and are intended for short-run function. For the rapid relief of stultification, early laxatives may a better choice .
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How long does it take laxatives to work?
It can take 12 hours to several days for some laxatives to produce a intestine drift. Others, like stimulant laxatives, bring within six to 12 hours .
-
What are natural remedies for constipation?
You can treat constipation naturally by increasing your fiber consumption, drinking plenty of fluids, and staying active. Getting into a squat side with your knees slightly bent may besides help move things along.
Read more: How to Make Friendship Bracelets
-
How do laxatives work to relieve constipation?
Laxatives fall into different categories. Bulk-forming laxatives add fiber to stool, while hyperosmotic laxatives draw water into the colon sol stool die more well. stimulant laxatives increase contractions of the intestines to speed a intestine movement .
