Welcome to Pints & Pelvic Floors: The Podcast. In Episode 37 I give you the rundown of the four types of laxatives and how they work!
Tl;dl:
- There are four types of laxatives: bulk-forming, osmotic agents, stimulants & stool softeners.
- Bulk-forming: forms a gel in the stool to help it hold water which in turn makes the stool soft and bulky so it’s easier to push out (ex: Metamucil, Benefiber)
- Osmotic agents: draw water into the bowel to make the stool softer and increase frequency of pooping (ex: MiraLAX, Milk of Magnesia)
- Stimulants: speed up the gut motility (movement of stool through the large intestine) by stimulating the GI tract nerves (ex: Dulocolax, Ex-lax/Senna)
- Stool Softeners: draws water in to soften the hard stool to make it easier to pass with less straining (ex: Colace)
- Other things that help with constipation include movement, fiber intake, abdominal massage, water intake
- Check out Episode 18: Soluble vs Insoluble Fiber Types to learn more
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