And with the exception of some older osmotic laxatives, none of those drugs are available yet as a low-cost generic. So even with insurance, you may be on the hook for a sizable co-pay. Secretory laxatives including linaclotide Linzess , lubiprostone Amitiza , and plecanatide Trulance work by causing the intestines to secrete more fluid and may also help block abdominal pain.
All the drugs in this category are also FDA-approved for treating irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. About 5 percent of people taking Linzess experience severe diarrhea, research suggests, compared with about 1 to 2 percent with the other drugs in this class. Amitiza is more likely than the other drugs to cause nausea.
Nearly 30 percent of people taking the recommended dose of the drug reported feeling nauseous compared with only 3 percent in the placebo group. Taking the drug with food can reduce that side effect, Lacy says. Prucalopride Motegrity stimulates muscles in the G. Common side effects include abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, and nausea. Most people experiencing diarrhea or headache reported that the symptoms got better in a few days.
In addition, Motegrity carries a warning that it could cause suicidal thoughts or behavior, although the FDA has not conclusively linked the drug to that risk. Few studies have compared constipation medications head-to-head. To get an idea of relative effectiveness, researchers from the U. Opioid pain relievers such as Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycontin are known not only for their risk of addiction but also for constipation. Forty to 80 percent of people taking opioids for long-term pain experience constipation, according to the American Gastroenterological Association.
The FDA has approved three drugs specifically for constipation caused by taking prescription opioids for pain: methylnaltrexone Relistor , naldemedine Symproic , and naloxegol Movantik. These medications, called peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists or Pamoras, relieve constipation by preventing opioids from attaching to receptors in the intestines.
But patients with opioid-induced constipation should still try OTC laxatives before considering a prescription drug, according to AGA guidelines published in As with other prescription constipation drugs, one big drawback of Pamoras is price. The AGA gave methylnaltrexone a conditional recommendation based on a lack of good evidence supporting the drug. The group also noted that it costs far more than other drugs in its class. Amitiza is FDA-approved for treating opioid-induced constipation as well as chronic constipation.
Teresa Carr is an award-winning journalist with a background in both science and writing, which makes her curious about how the world works and eager to tell you about it. She is a former Consumer Reports editor and Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT and has more than two decades' experience reporting on science, health, and consumer issues.
We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Best Drugs for Constipation Expensive prescription drugs are rarely the answer. By Teresa Carr. Before you take an OTC laxative, read the directions on the drug facts label.
This will tell you how much medicine to take and how often to take it. If you have any questions about how much medicine to take, call your family doctor or pharmacist.
Keep a record of the OTC medicines you are using and when you take them. If you need to go to the doctor, take this list with you.
Store all medicines out of reach and sight of young children. Keep medicines in a cool, dry place. This will help prevent them from becoming less effective before their expiration dates.
Do not store medicines in bathrooms or bathroom cabinets. They are often hot and humid. However, sometimes they can cause cramping, gas, bloating, nausea, or diarrhea.
Long-term use or overuse of laxatives can cause health problems. Overusing laxatives may also hide symptoms your doctor should know about.
This could delay finding out about other health problems and starting treatment. Some people are at risk for electrolyte imbalances while taking certain laxatives. They include children and people who have diabetes or kidney disease. Electrolytes are substances in your body. They help your nerves, organs, and muscles work properly. Taking laxatives can cause you to eliminate too many electrolytes. When this happens, you may have side effects. These could include nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, fatigue, and muscle weakness or spasms.
Electrolyte imbalance can be serious. If you have a chronic condition, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking a laxative. Some people may be allergic to psyllium, a key ingredient in 1 type of bulk-forming laxative.
Laxatives can get in the way of how your body absorbs certain medicines and nutrients. This includes oral laxatives taken by mouth and suppositories. Mineral oil and castor oil are sometimes used as laxatives. If mineral oil is used often, it can cause deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Castor oil is a stimulant laxative. Using it a lot can cause you to lose muscle tone in your bowel. This can lead to long-term constipation. Mineral oil and castor oil also interact with some medicines. These include blood-thinners, antibiotics such as tetracycline, and certain heart and bone medicines. Stop taking laxatives and call your doctor if you have any bleeding from your rectum. These could be signs of a more serious problem.
Last Updated: May 12, Never take more than the recommended dose of laxatives as this can be harmful and cause side effects. If your constipation has not improved after taking laxatives for a week, speak to a GP. After taking a laxative, you can make certain lifestyle changes to help stop getting constipated again, such as:.
Do not take laxatives every day to ease your constipation as this can be harmful. Speak to a GP if you're still constipated after making lifestyle changes. In some cases, you may be prescribed a laxative to use regularly, but this should always be supervised by a GP or gastroenterologist a specialist in gut problems. Like most medicines, laxatives can cause side effects.
They're usually mild and should pass once you stop taking the laxative. The side effects you may get will depend on the type of laxative you're taking, but common side effects of most laxatives include:.
Ask a GP for advice if you get any particularly troublesome or persistent side effects while taking laxatives. Using laxatives too often or for too long can also cause diarrhoea , the bowel becoming blocked by large, dry poo intestinal obstruction , and unbalanced salts and minerals in your body. Find out more about preventing constipation. Page last reviewed: 10 June Next review due: 10 June Overview - Laxatives Contents Overview Considerations.
Types of laxatives There are 4 main types of laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives Bulk-forming laxatives work by increasing the "bulk" or weight of poo, which in turn stimulates your bowel. They take 2 or 3 days to work. Bulk-forming laxatives include: Fybogel ispaghula husk methylcellulose Osmotic laxatives Osmotic laxatives draw water from the rest of the body into your bowel to soften poo and make it easier to pass.
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