At the moment, there is a huge number of remedies for constipation in the assortment. Their disadvantage lies in the fact that they only remove the symptoms, but, unfortunately, not the problem itself. Everything is simple here: the person took the medicine, cleaned the intestines, but the constipation did not go away. Now there are a lot of laxatives - tablets, syrups, herbal mixtures and solutions. Everything previously written gives different results. That is, each person has his own chosen remedy.
Purgation
Colon cleansing at home is very important. As a piece of advice, you don’t need to immediately purchase strong medications and use them; first, try to cleanse your intestines in easier ways:
- Give your stomach a massage.
- Before going to bed, drink two hundred milliliters of kefir.
- Add prunes, apricots, beets, cabbage, fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Thanks to all this, you can stop the development of constipation.
- On an empty stomach, drink warm water, about a glass. It is advisable that the water be still and purified. One hour after drinking water, you can sit down to have breakfast. Thanks to this, you will turn on the digestive process.
Medicines with Bisacodyl
Bisacodyl medications are inexpensive medications for constipation that stimulate intestinal motility. Their active substance increases the secretion of intestinal mucus. When taken in the morning (half an hour before breakfast), bisacodyl will take effect within 6 hours. If you chew the tablet at night, its effect will appear after 12 hours.
Preparations with bisacodyl help relieve constipation when cleaning before medical examinations, or for bowel movements after surgery, as well as intestinal atony (weakness). It is not recommended to take the medicine for acute hemorrhoids and proctitis, for bleeding, for intestinal inflammation and obstruction.
The dosage for the treatment of constipation in adults is up to 3 tablets, which must be chewed before swallowing. The drug is not given to children under 6 years of age. It is also not recommended to treat pregnant and lactating women, and people with a diseased liver or unhealthy kidneys.
Bisacodyl-Acree
Bisacodyl-Acri is a Russian-made drug (KhFK Akrikhin, Moscow region), available in packages of 3 or 4 cards, each containing 10 tablets for constipation. 1 tablet contains 5 mg of bisacodyl.
Laxacodil
Laxacodyl is a drug made in India (Torrent Pharmaceuticals), 10 blisters of 10 tablets for constipation, each containing 5 mg of bisacodyl.
Laxatin
Laxatin is a Russian drug (Geopharma LLC, Moscow), available in cartons of 10 tablets for constipation, each containing 5 mg of bisacodyl.
Laksabene
Laxabene is an Austrian drug (“LUDWIG MERCKLE”), available in packages of 3, or 5, or 25 blisters (each contains 10 tablets for constipation, 5 mg of bisacodyl per tablet).
Dulcolax
Dulcolax is a French drug (Boehringer Ingelheim), tablets are supplied in plastic bottles, 30 pcs. in each, or in cardboard packages of 3 cartons (each contains 10 tablets for constipation, 5 mg of bisacodyl).
Medicinal laxatives and their types
Absolutely all drugs and preparations, based on their effects, are divided into the following groups:
- prebiotics or laxative effects;
- osmotic effect;
- fillers;
- irritating action.
When purchasing a laxative, it is very important to be aware of the side effects and contraindications. If these are tablets or pharmaceutical suppositories, read the instructions
. For example, long-term use of irritating drugs for cleaning is prohibited (undesirable), especially for chronic constipation. In such a situation, it is better to give preference to prebiotics, since with their help you can restore the microflora and improve intestinal function. Additionally, to improve and consolidate the effect, it is suggested to use an enema or laxative; it is very good if it is supplemented with oil. The most effective use of an enema will be when used during one-time constipation.
Osmolytics and enteric fillers
Osmolytic laxatives act by increasing the volume of stool and thinning its consistency.
These medications are considered completely safe for the intestines because they do not irritate its walls.
In addition, these laxatives are the most inexpensive and most effective of all medications - the process of defecation begins 1-2 hours after administration, so it is not recommended to use osmolytics while driving a car or while at work.
Osmolytic medications for constipation include:
- geyser Karlovy Vary salt. It is used for chronic and acute constipation, as well as other diseases in order to normalize the water-salt balance of the body. As a laxative, you should drink Carlsbad salt in the morning, half an hour before meals, diluting 1 tbsp. l. powder in a glass of water for adults, and 1 tsp. in ½ glass of water for children;
- "Fortrans" ("Macrogol", "Transipeg"). Available in the form of powder sachets that must be diluted in water. The dosage of Fortrans is calculated based on the fact that 1 liter of the finished solution should be per 15 kg of human body weight;
- Epsom salt (magnesia, bitter salt) is a medicine with magnesium sulfate heptahydrate as an active ingredient. Indicated for use in the treatment of constipation, it is available in sachets that dissolve in ½ glass of water.
Rapid-acting osmolytic constipation medications are most often used for one-time cleansing of the intestines from feces during colonoscopy and other gastrointestinal procedures.
The advantageous difference between these drugs and other laxatives is that they are inexpensive and do not cause “lazy bowel” syndrome when taken.
Therefore, the use of osmolytics can be continued for a long period of time, up to 3 months.
Intestinal fillers are used as effective medications for constipation - substances that are almost indigestible by the gastrointestinal tract and increase the volume of fecal matter, which means that they help to quickly relieve constipation.
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The action of such drugs is based on the fact that, by absorbing water from the intestinal walls, they swell and stretch it, leading to reflex peristalsis.
These are mainly food products containing methylcellulose, sterculia, psyllium husk and other substances that have a good effect on intestinal motility.
Intestinal fillers are considered laxatives with a delayed effect; when taken, disposal of feces occurs after a long period of time - from 12 to 24 hours.
In case of chronic constipation, the use of this kind of laxatives is questionable, because filling the colon does not always lead to an improvement in intestinal motility; most often in such cases, patients complain of flatulence.
Therefore, women at risk of miscarriage should not use intestinal fillers.
Irritant drugs
These medications are usually used in cases of impaired intestinal motility and atony. The number of drugs of this type is huge, among them Sodium picosulfate and Bisacodyl
. As for herbal preparations, they contain natural elements:
- buckthorn bark;
- hay;
- Castor oil;
- rhubarb root.
The peculiarity of these drugs is their speed, and a pleasant addition is the price, because they are relatively inexpensive. That is, a person takes this drug closer to bedtime to cleanse the intestines in the morning. These drugs have such a laxative effect due to irritation of the large and small intestines. Emptying is a one-time procedure. However, it will have a good effect only if used infrequently.
Pros and cons of drugs
- the electrical balance in the blood is disrupted;
- laxative disease and intestinal atony develop;
- addiction to the drug appears;
- The tone of the colon decreases and its receptors are depleted;
- in the intestinal area the pain is severe.
That is why it is advisable to use these drugs only for severe (acute) constipation.
Use is prohibited in cases of chronic constipation, as well as during pregnancy and lactation. Not recommended for young children.
A contraindication is if you have pain in the abdominal area, acute hemorrhoids, various internal bleeding, as well as an acute inflammatory process in the abdominal organs. It is also prohibited to use in case of intestinal obstruction and in case of impaired water-salt metabolism.
Constipation medications with probiotics
The safest for the body, although the slowest-acting laxatives, are constipation tablets containing beneficial live bacteria - probiotics.
These bacteria strengthen human immunity, produce folic acid, and restore the composition of microflora in the intestines. The basis of these constipation tablets is most often lactulose.
Acting slowly, such laxatives often have a greater effect than peristalsis stimulants, since they eliminate not the symptoms, but the very cause of constipation.
“Goodlac”, “Duphalak”, “Romphalak”, “Lactulose-Normaze” are probiotics with lactulose as an active substance, which effectively softens stool, promotes better excretion of feces and has a beneficial effect on the formation of beneficial microflora in the gastrointestinal tract.
Indications for the use of Duphalac are dysbiosis with acute constipation, hepatic encephalopathy, pain after removal of hemorrhoids. These drugs are available in the form of tablets and syrups.
They are taken according to the indications for use and depending on the specific disease.
Bifidumbacterin is considered one of the most inexpensive and effective probiotics.
Available in the form of capsules containing light gray powder, tablets and a powder base for preparing a solution.
"Bifidumbacterin" is used to treat the following diseases:
- intestinal dysbiosis caused by taking antibiotics;
- infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- food and alcohol poisoning;
- in case of acute and chronic constipation;
- pancreatitis, cholecystitis and other chronic gastrointestinal diseases;
- acute respiratory viral infections.
There are practically no contraindications for use of Bifidumbacterin tablets. It is used in accordance with medical indications for a specific disease.
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Inexpensive laxatives that effectively restore intestinal microflora include a medicine based on hydrocarbon alcohol “Lactitol”.
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The positive effect of its use occurs within 12 hours. Available in bottles with powder or in bags for preparing a solution.
You need to drink it once a day, adults – 20 g of powder. Children from 1 to 6 years old - 2-5 g of powder, from 6 to 12 years old - 5-10 g, from 12 to 16 years old - from 10 to 20 g of Lactitol per dose.
Use in case of constipation sennosides
These are the drugs that contain Senna. The list of drugs includes: Tisasen, Regulax, Gerbion, Senade and Laxana
. These drugs have a fast-acting effect and promote rapid emptying. Their main advantage is that they are not addictive.
These drugs are recommended for use both for hemorrhoids and for atonic or spastic constipation. This drug should be taken closer to bedtime. Sometimes after using the drug the following side effects may occur:
- manifestation of weakness;
- decreased blood pressure;
- severe pain in the abdominal area;
- water-electrolyte imbalance;
- dehydration or “dryness” of the body.
It is forbidden to give these drugs to children in the first trimester of pregnancy, for the reason that they have an irritating and nervous effect.
Doctors' opinions on the use of laxatives
Doctors warn that long-term use of medications causes electrolyte imbalance
Doctors do not deny the effectiveness of laxatives in treating stool retention, but remind that medications do not fight the cause of constipation. They note that some people take drugs uncontrollably, without taking into account contraindications, causing harm to their health.
Doctors warn that prolonged use of medications causes electrolyte imbalance and the development of intestinal atony due to addiction to the active ingredient.
Even the use of relatively safe drugs can lead to unpleasant consequences. Therefore, before you start using laxatives, you should consult a specialist.
Important! Only a doctor can help you select the most effective and safe drug and prescribe the correct dosage after examining you and identifying the factors that caused constipation.
To solve the problem in a timely manner, you should pay more attention to your diet and lifestyle.
What you need to do to avoid frequent use of drugs:
- increase the volume of fluid consumed;
- cook food in the oven or steam;
- include soups in your diet;
- eat more raw vegetables and fruits, as they contain coarse fiber;
- exclude fried foods and smoked foods from the menu;
- reduce alcohol consumption.
To stimulate the work of the intestinal muscles, a person needs to move, so it is necessary to increase physical activity and massage the abdomen.
Suppositories - fast-acting laxative
Very often, during constipation, people use candles, because this remedy is easy to use. They make it possible to simplify the passage of hardened feces, so suppositories are a fast-acting laxative for cleansing the intestines. This drug has both stimulating and irritating effects.
. It is forbidden to use during constipation, if there are hemorrhoids, after surgery, heart attack and during the lactation period. Side effects from suppositories:
- itching in the anus;
- severe allergic reaction;
- Evacuation reflexes are impaired.
Delayed laxative – prebiotics. Prebiotics are a mild laxative for cleansing the intestines.
What you need to know before using laxatives
Regular use of laxatives can worsen the condition
If you are worried about constipation, using laxatives, it is important to understand that medications serve the function of facilitating bowel movements, and do not eliminate the cause.
Regular use of medications can aggravate the condition and cause adverse reactions; the wrong choice of medication can complicate the course of chronic diseases.
Obstacles to the use of laxative drugs are:
- internal bleeding;
- polyps and other neoplasms;
- intestinal obstruction;
- colitis;
- heart failure;
- severe disturbances in the functioning of the liver and kidneys.
Medications should be used with caution after surgery, in patients with diabetes and asthma.
Attention! There are separate contraindications for each class of drugs. For patients with chronic pathologies, elderly patients, children and pregnant women, only a specialist selects the medicine.
Laxative during pregnancy
Drugs that can be used both during pregnancy and lactation, and even given to children, as they have a mild effect. The composition of these drugs includes: nutritional elements and carbohydrates
. Thanks to these drugs, the intestinal microflora is restored, and this is certainly the best treatment. They, of course, do not have a fast-acting effect, but they are completely safe. A distinctive feature is that they have virtually no side effects; in some cases, slight flatulence may occur. These drugs are recommended for use both for constipation and dysbacteriosis. Thanks to these drugs, phosphorus and calcium are better absorbed.
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Types of tablets for constipation
When buying medications for constipation, a person wants them to be cheap, fast-acting, effective and inexpensive tablets.
At the same time, you need to know that different medications for constipation affect the body differently.
All remedies for constipation are divided into 4 groups:
- laxative tablets that have a stimulating effect on the intestines;
- drugs intended to restore intestinal microflora;
- bowel filler medications;
- saline laxatives.
When deciding for oneself the question of which pills to choose for constipation, a person most often gives preference to stimulant drugs, since they are the most effective.
By enhancing intestinal motility, these drugs promote bowel emptying within 8 hours after administration. The laxative tablets included in this group of drugs are mostly inexpensive.
These include “Bisodil” (“Bisacodyl”, “Laxacodil”, “Laxatin”, “Pirilax”). These tablets are prescribed for recurrent constipation, idiopathic constipation and to prepare for colonoscopic procedures.
Take 1 tablet of Bisodil at night. Bowel movement occurs 6 to 8 hours after administration. Children under 6 years old should not take Bisodil.
The group of laxatives that irritate intestinal motility includes numerous herbal remedies, including Fitolax chewable constipation tablets.
The active ingredient in this medicine is senna extract. “Fitolax” is a dietary supplement because it contains extracts from various herbs. It is used for constipation in adults and for hemorrhoids.
The drug "Fitolax" is considered one of the most time-tested, inexpensive and effective medicines. These anti-constipation pills are very popular among older people.
This medicine is produced in the form of lozenges, tea bags, solutions or even bars.
1 Fitolax lozenge contains dried apricots (170 mg), hay extract (100 mg) and dill fruits (7.5 mg).
Fitolax tablets are taken at night, 1-2 pieces, chewed or dissolved and not washed down with water. "Fitolax" is prohibited for use by children under 14 years of age.
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In addition to the above tablets for constipation, effective and inexpensive drugs that have a stimulating and irritating effect on the intestines include laxatives based on sodium picosulfate.
These include “Pikolaks” and “Slabilen”. Sodium picosulfate softens stool, facilitates bowel movements and acts without leaving the colon, so medications with it can be taken by children from 4 years of age.
It is best to take them at night, without chewing and with water, 1 tablet for adults, and ½ tablet for children under 14 years of age.
It must be emphasized that all medications in this group cannot be taken regularly, otherwise this can lead to “lazy bowel” syndrome, when natural peristalsis ceases to function.
