US Brand Names

• A-3 Revised
• Alocass
• Amitiza
• Benefiber
• Black-Draught
• Cholan-HMB
• Citrate Of Magnesia
• Citrucel
• Colace
• Colyte
• Doc-Q-Lax
• Docucal
• Dulcolax
• Enemeez Plus Mini Enema
• Epsal
• Fibercon

• Fleet Mineral Oil
• Genteal
• GlycoLax
• Kristalose
• Mag-Gel 600
• Metamucil
• Nulytely
• Phillips Milk of Magnesia
• Phospho-Soda
• Purge
• Resource Benefiber
• Rite Aid Senna
• Senna-S
• Senokot
• Unifiber

Canadian Brand Names

• Acilac
• Alpha-Lac
• Aromatic Cascara Fluid Extract
• Biolax Cascara Sagrada
• Biolax Sp
• Bulk Fiber Therapy

• Cascara Sagrada Aromatic Fluid Extract
• Castor Oil
• Cephulac
• Ce-Vi-Sol
• Chronulac

Description

Oral laxatives are medicines taken by mouth to encourage bowel movements to relieve constipation.

There are several different types of oral laxatives and they work in different ways. Since directions for use are different for each type, it is important to know which one you are taking. The different types of oral laxatives include:

Bulk-formers—Bulk-forming laxatives are not digested but absorb liquid in the intestines and swell to form a soft, bulky stool. The bowel is then stimulated normally by the presence of the bulky mass. Some bulk-forming laxatives, like psyllium and polycarbophil, may be prescribed by your doctor to treat diarrhea.

Hyperosmotics—Hyperosmotic laxatives encourage bowel movements by drawing water into the bowel from surrounding body tissues. This provides a soft stool mass and increased bowel action.

There are three types of hyperosmotic laxatives taken by mouth—the saline, the lactulose , and the polymer types:

• The saline type is often called "salts." They are used for rapid emptying of the lower intestine and bowel. They are not used for long-term or repeated correction of constipation. With smaller doses than those used for the laxative effect, some saline laxatives are used as antacids. The information that follows applies only to their use as laxatives. Sodium phosphate may also be prescribed for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
• The lactulose type is a special sugar-like laxative that works the same way as the saline type. However, it produces results much more slowly and is often used for long-term treatment of chronic constipation. Lactulose may sometimes be used in the treatment of certain medical conditions to reduce the amount of ammonia in the blood. It is available only with your doctor's prescription.
• The polymer type is a polyglycol (polyethylene glycol), a large molecule that causes water to be retained in the stool; this will soften the stool and increase the number of bowel movements. It is used for short periods of time to treat constipation.

Lubricants—Lubricant laxatives, such as mineral oil, taken by mouth encourage bowel movements by coating the bowel and the stool mass with a waterproof film. This keeps moisture in the stool. The stool remains soft and its passage is made easier.

 

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