How long dependent on laxatives

Chewing breaks down food for easier processing by the body. In the stomach, digestive acids and enzyme further process the food, before emptying into the small intestine. In the small intestine, digestion continues with the help of enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver. From there, waste products move into the large intestine.

The rectum, at the lower end of the large intestine, stores stool until it can be pushed out of the anus during a bowel movement. After taking laxatives for a period of time, the body begins to rely on the help of the laxative in order to move waste through the body.

People become both psychologically and physically dependent on laxatives, more quickly than many realize. Constipation: Laxatives are used to treat constipation, but when abused, laxatives can actually cause constipation to worsen.

Laxatives work by artificially stimulating, or irritating, the nerves in the large intestine. This stimulation makes the intestinal muscles contract and move the stool out of the body. But when used for too long or at too high of a quantity, laxatives can damage the nerves.

Keeping the colon empty is also risky. When the muscles in the colon are prevented from working as they should, they weaken over time. Together, these side effects interfere with normal bowel movements. The person may become dependent on higher and higher doses of a laxative to move stool out.

People who have abused laxatives can go weeks without a bowel movement. Constipation can be extremely uncomfortable. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain and overall discomfort.

Combination of constipation, diarrhea, and gas: Laxative use traps gas in the intestines, leading people to feel full and bloated.

This can cause the laxative user to try to treat those symptoms with more laxatives, setting up a vicious cycle. In some people, the frequent bowel movements that come from diarrhea also irritate the rectum and anus, resulting in sores, bleeding or pain while using the toilet. Diarrhea also can interfere with participating in exercise or other social activities because of the need to run frequently to the bathroom.

When too much fluid is lost in diarrhea caused by laxative abuse, people may become dehydrated. Dehydration puts stress on the organs, and can be fatal if not treated promptly. Symptoms include thirst, decreased urination, headache, light-headedness, diminished sweating, dry mouth, weakness and fatigue.

Electrolyte abnormalities: Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride are lost at abnormally high rates in diarrhea. This can lead to weakness, irregular heartbeats and sudden death. Without having to work to eliminate waste, the body stops moving waste through the intestines on its own. Impaired intestinal function: After long-term laxative abuse, the intestines lose normal muscle function and nerve response, and can no longer contract to evacuate stool normally.

Instead, waste sits in the intestines for far longer than normal. Laxative abuse is also associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Those with a past of laxative abuse can go weeks without having a bowel movement. This can cause unpleasant physical symptoms such as cramps and bloating, as well as emotional symptoms such as shame, irritability, and anxiety.

The effects may be reversible, but recovery may be a slow process. They may be marketed as laxatives or as fiber supplements. Stool softeners add moisture to stools to make them softer and easier to pass. Mineral oil, a lubricant, helps stools "slide on by" if the stools feel stuck low in your bowels, if you have an internal tear or "fissure," or if you have pain from hemorrhoids during bowel movements. Don't take mineral oil at the same time as stool softeners.

Take 1 tablespoon at breakfast or lunch. But don't use it for more than a few days, because mineral oil interferes with absorption of some vitamins and if inhaled it can cause pneumonia.

Consider wearing a protective pad in your undergarments to absorb any leakage. If the conservative route doesn't work, Dr. Wolf recommends the osmotic laxative MiraLAX or a generic version. These hold water in stool to soften it and increase bowel movements. Common side effects are gas, bloating, and nausea. Another option that works for some people is diet candies containing the sweetener sorbitol.

These essentially trigger a mild case of the runs. You may experience bloating and gas along with the laxative effect, however. Another option would be a magnesium-based laxative, such as milk of magnesia or magnesium citrate. These are members of a larger class of laxatives called saline osmotics, which draw water into the bowels and trigger bowel movements.

The active ingredients include magnesium, sulfate, citrate, and phosphate. But don't take more than the recommended amounts of these laxatives, or use them long-term, because they can throw off your chemistry. Combined with an underperforming kidney or heart failure, saline osmotic laxatives can be dangerous. Stimulant laxatives such as bisacodyl and cascara trigger contractions in the bowels that push the stool along. You can purchase prepared enemas, an enema bulb, or fountain syringe at your local pharmacy to use for this sole purpose.

Typically, after holding the liquid in place for a few minutes, there is an intense urgency to move the bowels. An enema may cause uncomfortable bloating and cramping; however, it usually leads to urgent elimination of the contents of the rectum and colon, doing away with constipation. Physicians and other healthcare providers associated with the GI Society do not recommend the use of colonic irrigation. In fact, these procedures could negatively affect the natural pH balance of the colon, cause electrolyte imbalances, upset the natural bacterial and yeast milieu necessary for good digestion, and could even cause permanent physical damage to the bowel.

This approach may worsen existing digestive conditions. A common complication of pregnancy is constipation. If making the appropriate dietary and lifestyle adjustments to reduce constipation for a pregnant or nursing woman do not work, then her primary physician may recommend either stool softeners or bulk-forming laxatives, depending on the frequency and duration of constipation. It is very important that she drink plenty of water while taking a laxative, as some can be high in salt and might dehydrate the expectant or nursing mother.

Others require sufficient fluid intake to work properly, as with bulk-forming laxatives. Always consult a pharmacist or physician before taking medications while pregnant or nursing, as some formulas of over-the-counter or prescription laxatives can negatively affect the infant. By preventing straining during a bowel movement, dietary fibre and bulk-forming laxatives can also assist in the prevention of hemorrhoids, a common pregnancy and delivery concern.

It is important for individuals to follow the instructions given by a healthcare provider and those supplied by the product manufacturer when taking an over-the-counter laxative. Unless otherwise directed by a medical professional, remember that over-the-counter and prescription laxatives are only intended for short-term use and you should not exceed the dosage on the label. With all types of laxatives, it is important to consume at least cups mL or 8oz of liquids preferably water every day plus an additional glass with every laxative dose taken, unless otherwise advised by your healthcare provider.

Ensure plenty of fluid intake to prevent dehydration. Laxative abuse can lead to serious dysfunction of bowel motility such as intestinal paralysis, cathartic colon, lazy or laxative gut, irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis, and other problems.

Using laxatives regularly, except for bulk-forming agents and stool softeners, can lead to these problems. Therefore, it is important to use laxatives in moderation and under the supervision of a physician or other regulated healthcare provider. If you have chronic constipation, where it is a daily issue or occurs more than once a week, then seek the care of a medical professional before self-treating with over-the-counter laxatives.

Bulk-Forming Your body does not digest bulk-forming laxatives; instead, the fibre they contain absorbs and retains a large quantity of fluid, thereby forming a soft, bulky stool formed feces. Stool Softeners Stool softeners enable easier incorporation of water into the stool to keep it soft and easier to pass. Lubricants Lubricant laxatives simply coat the colon and stool in a waterproof film allowing it to remain soft and easier to slip through the intestine while retaining its moisture, usually within hours.