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When constipation is long-term and has been corrected by daily diet ineffective, it is necessary to use laxatives. Laxatives have the effect of increasing intestinal motility by directly affecting the excretory nerve function of the intestine, causing contraction of intestinal wall muscles and creating peristalsis to expel stool.
1. What do laxatives do?
Laxatives, also known as enemas, only work to treat short-term constipation and should only be used for 2-3 days. The drug works to support intestinal motility, helping to quickly regulate the movement of stool in the intestine. On the market today, there are many groups of laxatives with different indications, ways of use, dosage and duration of use.
If you take laxatives for too long, they can have a bad effect on the intestinal mucosa.
2. Should you take a laxative?
Some people with constipation tend to take too many laxatives, both oral and rectally. In fact, this drug has only short-term effects and should only be used for 3-4 days. If used for a long time, laxatives can have an adverse effect on the intestinal mucosa. At the same time, you will tend to become drug dependent.
As a result, bowel movements become less active, leading to more severe constipation. Constipation becomes a chronic disease and with increasing age, the disease worsens. If constipation occurs only in the lower part due to hardening of the stools in the anus, which interferes with the expulsion of stool, just pump glycerine to lubricate the anus and you can easily have a bowel movement after 10-15 days. minute.
The undesirable effects may be encountered as follows:
Cramping abdominal pain; Digestive disorders: chronic diarrhea, flatulence, nausea; Loss of body's ability to retain water; Dehydration, vomiting; Weakening and softening of bones or osteoporosis; Rectal bleeding. In the case that many people who want to lose weight quickly have deliberately taken laxatives in high doses, it is even more dangerous, which can lead to severe dehydration and death.
Therefore, you should not abuse laxatives, but need to use them exactly as prescribed by the treating doctor. If the condition of constipation is continuous and takes place for a long time, you should visit a medical facility for thorough treatment.
3. Some notes when treating with laxatives
About drug form: Laxatives are produced in many forms such as pills, suppositories, solution. When using drugs, you need to pay attention to what form of medicine you are taking. If you are taking enteric coated tablets (made to break down only in the intestines), do not chew the tablets before taking them. Children under 6 years of age should not use the drug in the form of oral tablets, because the tablet must be swallowed whole (difficulty swallowing). Taking laxatives in the form of rectal suppositories requires the guidance of a specialist. About adverse effects: Some common symptoms caused by laxatives such as abdominal pain, nausea or rectal irritation. You can overcome the above side effects by reducing the dose. Use of laxatives in combination with other drugs: For patients with many other chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and having to take many medications at the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the interval in terms of drinking time. these medications with medications for constipation. Because laxatives increase intestinal motility, if the drug is taken with these drugs, the drug has not been able to work before it has been expelled. For people with stomach disease, if taking a combination of antacids, H2-receptor antagonists such as cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine and ranitidine or milk with bisacodyl for about 1 hour, will make the stomach empty. and duodenal irritation due to laxatives have time to dissolve too quickly. Constipation should not be used for a long time: Long-term use of laxatives can lead to colon atony, inactivity, and hypokalemia. The patient may also have other accompanying symptoms such as abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Therefore, laxatives should not be used for more than 1 week, unless directed by your doctor. Do not use laxatives for people with intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, rectal bleeding, gastritis, intestinal inflammation. In addition to using laxatives, other supportive treatments can be used such as eating more yogurt or milk powder with added fiber, herbal tea. After treatment with laxatives to help the body overcome the abnormal period in the excretory capacity, it is necessary to adjust the lifestyle, diet, and exercise regimen accordingly to prevent it. constipation. Experts recommend that you go to a hospital or clinic that specializes in gastroenterology for examination and advice on effective drug use, do not arbitrarily take drugs that make the disease worse and more likely to experience unwanted effects caused by taking laxatives.
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