difference between a laxative and a stool softener
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Difference Between Laxative and Stool Softener Laxatives are designed to stimulate your intestines and make a bowel movement come, but stool softeners simply soften stool. These are slightly different functions, but it makes laxatives and stool softeners very different. Someone suffering from constipation should not use a stool softener.
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How Does MiraLAX Work? The active ingredient in MiraLAX is polyethylene glycol 3350 (sometimes abbreviated as PEG-3350), which is an osmotic laxative. This drug works by drawing water into the colon, softening the stool, and increasing the frequency of bowel movements. MiraLAX will usually cause a bowel movement in one to three days. The product comes as a powder, which is dissolved in four to eight ounces of liquid and swallowed by mouth. It is usually used once a day. If you do not have a bowel movement right away, do not take more than the standard dosage. Also, do not use this medication for more than seven days unless a healthcare provider tells you to do so. (For more information on how this laxative works, click MiraLAX.
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How Do Laxatives Work? In general, a laxative is any medication that will cause a person to have a bowel movement. 1  Laxatives vary widely both in their form and in their effectiveness. Laxatives that are used before a colonoscopy, for example, are going to work quicker and with more vigor than ones that are used for a case of occasional constipation.
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DulcoEase Â® Stool Softener with HydroSoft Action It works with your body by allowing more water into stool, making the stool softer, and producing a bowel movement in 12 to 72 hours. 1  Stimulant-free constipation relief. 2  The #1 doctor recommended stool softener ingredient. 3  Contains the active ingredient docusate sodium.
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DulcoEase Â® Stool Softener with HydroSoft Action Dulcolax® Stool Softener is a stimulant-free laxative that softens dry, hard stools, making it easier and more comfortable to have a bowel movement. 1  Gently relieves constipation and irregularity.  Softens dry, hard stools, making it more comfortable to go to the bathroom.
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- Relieving occasional constipation and preventing dry, hard stools. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. Colace is a stool softener. It works by helping fat and water into the stool mass to soften the stool.
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- Quick Answer. Suppositories for constipation are made of glycerin, a laxative which works by drawing water into the intestine, generally producing a bowel movement within an hour of administration, according to WebMD. Using suppositories or any type of laxative too frequently can cause a loss of bowel function.
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- MorgueFile. Stool softeners help relieve constipation and discomfort during bowel movements. They treat constipation, which can be caused by irritable bowel syndrome, prolonged hospitalization or bed rest, slowing of the intestines, or use of medications, such as narcotics that can cause constipation.
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Constipation - What is the difference between colace and miralax? Responses (1) This medication helps fluids to mix with the stool to keep them from becoming hard or dry. It is used to treat constipation. This medication is used to treat occasional constipation. It works by holding water in the stool to soften the stool and increases the number of bowel movements. It is known as an osmotic-type laxative.
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- Laxatives vary based on how they work and the side effects they have. Certain stimulant, lubricant and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas under certain circumstances. Sufficiently high doses of laxatives may cause diarrhea.
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- Rectal laxatives provide immediate relief and are a good alternative for someone who cannot take oral medication. Some enemas can work in 5 minutes or less, while suppositories work within an hour. Oral laxatives work over a longer period of time and can be used when immediate relief is not necessary.
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Stool softeners Stool softeners should not be taken on a routine basis. They can cause liver damage and can increase the toxicity of other medicine that are taken at the same time. Docusate sodium is in Colace and Dialose.
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Top 30 Doctor insights on: Stool Softeners Vs Laxatives Stool softeners: Occasional constipation can be managed at home with stool softeners, such as docusate and polyethylene glycol 3350. A stimulant laxative, such as senna or bisacodyl, can be added if the stool softener alone is not effective, but should not be taken continuously without physician supervision.et help from a doctor now ›. Yes: Long term use of harsh laxatives like milk of magnesia or castor oil can cause nutritional problems but mainly they cause the colon to become more and more sluggish, causing more laxative use.
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Top 30 Doctor insights on: Too Much Stool Softener 1 When should I use a laxative with a stool softener? Dr. Quang Nguyen Dr. Nguyen. Efficacy: When you are still constipated on stool softeners, a laxative can be tried. A better method is to find out the cause of the constipation so you are not just treating the symptoms.
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Top 40 Doctor insights on: Colace Slight difference: Colace (docusate sodium) is a stool softener. Pericolace is a stool softener plus a laxative. Treatment for anal fissure and internal hemorrhoid is to keep the stools formed and soft. Drink plenty of water and get plenty of fiber in your diet. Colace (docusate sodium) is probably better especially when combined with a high fiber diet. ...Read more.
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Types of Laxatives for Constipation Fiber supplements soften the stool and stimulate a bowel movement. There are three basic types, each of which uses a different ingredient: psyllium, calcium polycarbophil, or methylcellulose. As with all laxatives, it is essential to drink plenty of fluids. And not all fiber supplements are the same.
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- Save. Colace is a stool softener used to treat temporary constipation, making it easier to pass hard stools. Unlike stimulant laxatives, it promotes easier bowel movements by making stools softer, reducing strain and rectal pain associated with constipation. It does not stimulate the gastrointestinal tract.unction. Colace relieves constipation by mixing liquid with the stool, making it softer. When Colace is ingested, it absorbs water from the large intestine and then mixes the water with the stool.
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- Draw Backs: 1  Not recommended for use in conjunction with mineral oil or other lubricant laxatives. 2  Stool softeners can increase the toxicity and absorption of ingested lubricant laxatives. 3  Once absorbed into the body, they can cause an increase in inflammation of the liver, spleen, and lymph glands.
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Top 30 Doctor insights on: Too Much Stool Softener 1 doctor agreed: Good question: A stool softener causes bulk to the stools and pulls liquid from the walls of the colon to aid in making the stools earier to pass. A laxative irritates or changes the physiologic function of the bowel to cause it to increase its contractions and expel stool. ...Read more.
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Nonprescription Medicines and Products - Bulking Agents, Stool Softeners, and Laxatives This extra fluid in the intestines makes the stool softer and easier to pass. Drink plenty of water when you use this type of laxative. Stimulant laxatives (such as Correctol, Ex-Lax, and Senokot) make stool move faster through the intestines by irritating the lining of the intestines.
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- Stool Softener Side Effects. Stool softeners help relieve constipation and discomfort during bowel movements. They treat constipation, which can be caused by irritable bowel syndrome, prolonged hospitalization or bed rest, slowing of the intestines, or use of medications, such as narcotics that can cause constipation.
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Overview Types of laxatives. The main laxatives used in the UK are: bulk-forming laxatives – such as ispaghula husk and methylcellulose, which work in the same way as dietary fibre; they increase the bulk of your stools (faeces) by helping them retain fluid, encouraging your bowels to push the stools out.
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What You Need to Know About Stool Softeners Stool softeners work by increasing the amount moisture to your stools, which makes them softer and easier to pass. 1  This then sets you up for a more comfortable bowel movement, one that should not require straining. The primary active ingredient in over-the-counter stool softener products is docusate.
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Types of Laxatives for Constipation There are three basic types, each of which uses a different ingredient: psyllium, calcium polycarbophil, or methylcellulose. As with all laxatives, it is essential to drink plenty of fluids. And not all fiber supplements are the same. Psyllium breaks down in the gut and becomes a food source for the good gut bacteria.
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Understanding The Benefits and Drawbacks of Laxatives You can expect to see results from a stool softener one or two days after initial use. However, every individual is different so it can take from three to five days for results. While stool softeners are generally safe and effective, be aware that there can be some interaction with other over-the-counter medications.