Understanding Laxatives: A Guide to Safe and Effective Purchase

When you are constipated and miserable, shopping is probably the last thing you want to do. But, if you are going to buy a laxative to help relieve your problem, following a couple of guidelines will point you in the right direction.

Instructions

• 1

  Know what you're shopping for. There are several types of laxatives that can be administered in a couple of different ways, orally or rectally. Most people choose oral laxatives unless otherwise recommended by their doctor. Coming home from the drugstore with the wrong type is a surprise most people don't want.

• 2

  Analyze your symptoms. Paying attention to the hardness and consistency of your bowel and stools will help you choose the best form of laxative. Bulk-forming laxatives are designed to absorb liquid in your intestines and form a soft, bulky stool. Hypersomotic laxatives draw water into the bowel from other body tissues, thereby encouraging bowel movements. Lubricant laxatives coat your stool in your intestine with a waterproof film, retaining its moisture and making it easier to pass. Stimulant laxatives work by increasing muscle contractions on the wall of your intestine, therefore encouraging bowel movements.

• 3

  Read the box. Many over-the-counter laxatives have more than one type of laxative, so it is very important to know what type of laxative you are getting, and what the possible side effects are for each element.