![]() Osmotic laxatives work by increasing the amount of fluid in the large bowel by drawing fluid into it (osmosis). You can increase your fibre intake by food as well as medication. It stays in your gut and is passed in the stools. Fibre is the part of plant food that is not digested. The increase in the bulk of your faeces stimulates the muscles in your gut to squeeze faeces along and out of the body. They partly work by absorbing water (a bit like blotting paper). They increase the bulk of your stools (faeces) in a similar way to fibre. How do laxatives work?īulk-forming laxatives are sometimes called fibre supplements. In many cases, the cause is not clear.įor more information see the separate leaflet called Constipation. It can also be a side-effect of certain medicines, or related to an underlying medical condition. You may also feel bloated and feel sick if you have severe constipation.Ĭonstipation may be caused by not eating enough fibre, or not drinking enough fluids. Sometimes crampy pains occur in the lower part of your tummy (abdomen). It is a change from your usual pattern that may mean that you are constipated. For others, 2-3 times per week is normal. Some people normally go to the toilet to pass faeces 2-3 times per day. ![]() Note: there is a large range of normal bowel habit. These include prucalopride, lubiprostone, and linaclotide. ![]() These don't all necessarily work by their direct effect on the gut. There are also a number of newer medicines for constipation, which work differently to the groups above. Some laxatives work in more than one way. For example, arachis (peanut) oil enemas, and liquid paraffin. For example, bisacodyl, docusate sodium, glycerol, senna and sodium picosulfate. For example, lactulose, macrogols, (also called polyethylene glycol, or PEG), phosphate enemas and sodium citrate enemas. Unprocessed bran is a cheap fibre supplement. For example, ispaghula (psyllium) husk, methylcellulose and sterculia.
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