Published 03/02/2019 · Comments: · Reading time: 6 min · Views: Post Views: 3,549
Delay and absence of stool, difficulty in defecation are a common ailment. This condition often occurs against the background of errors in nutrition, lack of fluid intake, physical inactivity, and may be evidence of a disease. If constipation is not chronic, it is permissible to solve the problem yourself with the help of laxatives, enemas or suppositories. Constipation suppositories are quite safe, easy to use and inexpensive.
Which laxative is best to buy?
For irregular constipation in children and adults, for poisoning and other symptoms requiring immediate bowel movement, osmotic drugs are recommended. The expected effect from them appears within 1-2 hours, but taking in large doses often provokes diarrhea and nausea.
If you have constant problems with stool due to age-related intestinal atony, as well as after taking medications, anthraglycosides, diphenols, plant fibers and drugs that soften stool will help. Such drugs are usually taken in a course, and the effect after them occurs after 6-8 hours and lasts up to 3 days.
Constipation is an undesirable phenomenon with hemorrhoids, causing severe pain attacks, cracks and bleeding. If you have such an illness, you should not take fast-acting medications. It is better to choose preparations with prebiotics and complexes with plant fibers.
During pregnancy, anthraglycoside and osmotic laxatives are prohibited. For constipation, expectant mothers are prescribed lactulose-based complexes, which normalize the intestinal microflora, do not cause addiction or side effects, and are absolutely safe for the health of the unborn child.
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8 best laxatives
Stool lubricant
Sounds strange, doesn't it? The inventor of Vaseline, British-American chemist Robert Chesbrough, used a spoonful of Vaseline daily. In a dosage that is not digested by the body, fats envelop the transport route, thereby facilitating the movement of feces.
Robert Chesbrough miraculously lived to be 96 years old. Surprising, because the body of someone who takes fat-containing stool lubricants every day loses a lot of essential fat-soluble vitamins A, B, E and K, which are excreted along with feces. This is a serious disadvantage of oil laxatives.
Vaseline is not an official stool lubricant (so it should not be eaten). The well-known lubricant in the form of paraffin oil does not have a pronounced long-term effect. It is used as a temporary remedy , for example, in the presence of microcracks or hemorrhoidal cones in the terminal intestine. In such cases, this is an excellent remedy that does not cause pain during bowel movements and prevents ruptures.
For this purpose, ballast substances that produce gel are also used. Drugs in this group are sold in pharmacies, are well tolerated by the body and are the safest.
The best laxatives that irritate intestinal receptors
A group of drugs based on defenols and anthraglycosides irritates the receptors of the large intestine, due to which defecation occurs after 6-8 hours.
Such products do not interfere with the absorption of nutrients, so they are suitable for regular use for chronic constipation and age-related intestinal atony.
Such laxatives also have disadvantages. Thus, they form an addiction and often provoke stomach colic and flatulence.
Boehringer Ingelheim International GMBH "Dulcolax" - a mild laxative with a prolonged effect
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
98%
buyers recommend this product
Laxative tablets contain 5 mg of diphenylmethane derivative. The drug is prescribed to adults and children over 4 years of age for chronic constipation caused by intestinal hypotension, as well as in preparation for operations.
The minimum daily dosage is 1 tablet, and for long-term treatment of an adult it can be increased to 10 mg.
Additional components of the composition are castor oil and vegetable wax. Long-term use of the drug and increasing the dose often provoke abdominal cramps, diarrhea, hypotension and dizziness.
Avoid taking Dulcolax during pregnancy, in case of intestinal obstruction and acute forms of abdominal diseases.
Advantages:
- Mild laxative effect;
- Provides bowel movement after 6 hours;
- Suitable for regular use;
- Can be prescribed from 4 years of age;
- Minimum contraindications;
- Affordable price (200 rubles).
Flaws:
- Contraindicated for pregnant women;
- Addictive.
Dulcolax is recommended for regular use for chronic constipation by people who do not have diseases of the digestive system. To avoid bowel movements at night, take the product before bed.
Senokot – herbal stimulator of intestinal motility
4.8
★★★★★
editorial assessment
96%
buyers recommend this product
A herbal laxative in tablet form is suitable for adults and children over 10 years of age. A product based on senna stimulates the peristalsis of the large intestine and ensures bowel movements after 8-12 hours.
The mild drug does not have a toxic effect, so it can be taken for a long time. The recommended daily dosage for adults is up to 4 tablets, while children are given the drug 1 capsule no more than 2 times a day.
Exceeding recommended doses leads to flatulence, nausea, stomach pain, dehydration and allergic reactions.
Taking Senokot during pregnancy provokes increased contractions of the uterus and can cause miscarriage.
Avoid this medicine if you have diseases of the cardiovascular system, as its long-term use provokes arrhythmia.
Advantages:
- Plant composition;
- Can be taken for a long period;
- At recommended dosages, adverse reactions are unlikely;
- Has a prolonged action;
- Suitable for children from 10 years old.
Flaws:
- Prohibited during pregnancy.
Senokot is a mild laxative for regular use, recommended for the treatment of age-related intestinal atony.
Herbion KRKA dd “Laksana” – bowel brush
4.8
★★★★★
editorial assessment
96%
buyers recommend this product
The herbal laxative contains 33.5 mg of senna bifolia leaves. The drug in tablet form stimulates the colon, ensuring bowel movements after 8 hours.
The drug is taken in the evening after meals, 1-2 tablets. The duration of treatment varies from person to person, but do not take the complex for more than 2 weeks without a doctor’s prescription.
Herbion Laxana is suitable for the treatment of constipation from the age of 12, but with a long course it becomes addictive and requires increasing dosages, which makes its use impractical.
The drug is contraindicated for pregnant women, intestinal obstruction and chronic stomach diseases. Do not exceed recommended doses to avoid allergic reactions, stomach pain, diarrhea, dehydration and heart rhythm disturbances.
Advantages:
- Plant composition;
- Soft action;
- Suitable for long-term use;
- In small doses it does not provoke adverse reactions;
- Affordable price (150 rubles).
Flaws:
- Addictive;
- Contraindicated for pregnant women.
Gerbion Laxana is a relatively safe laxative that can be taken for regular constipation if it is temporarily impossible to see a doctor.
Diet and its features for constipation in older people
In addition to laxatives, there are a number of recommendations related to nutrition , without which the fight against constipation will be difficult:
- Up to 50% of the diet should include fermented milk products, vegetables and fruits, fresh and cooked. It is also recommended to eat dried fruits, whole grain cereals, lean meat and fish.
- The consumption of coffee drinks, strong tea, carbonated drinks, fatty meat and fish, baked goods and confectionery products should not be allowed. Pickles, marinades and coarse fiber are excluded.
- Meals should be divided into 6 times a day. However, chopping food is not recommended.
- The temperature of food consumed should vary between 150C - 600C.
Following these recommendations will greatly simplify the fight against constipation in older people and will allow you to no longer encounter this problem.
The best osmotic laxatives
Osmotic laxatives contain salt derivatives, due to which they attract water from cells. This causes an increase in the volume of intestinal contents, stimulation of contraction of its walls, softening of the masses and their painless passage.
The effect of taking such medications is the fastest, but do not take them for long courses, otherwise you will get a salt imbalance and dehydration of the body.
Moscow pharmaceutical factory "Lavakol" - first aid for constipation
5.0
★★★★★
editorial assessment
100%
buyers recommend this product
Granules for preparing a solution based on macrogol and salts increase osmotic pressure in the intestine and enhance peristalsis.
The drug is indicated for irregular constipation in adults at a dosage of 2 sachets per day. The laxative effect occurs 1-3 hours after administration and lasts up to 2 days.
The drug is contraindicated in children under 18 years of age, with heart failure, intestinal obstruction, dehydration and gastric ulcers.
At the discretion of the doctor, Lavacol can be taken daily for up to 1 month, but without consulting a specialist, do not use it for more than 2 days in a row.
Due to insufficient clinical data on the safety of macrogol, avoid taking the medication during pregnancy and lactation.
Advantages:
- Quick effect;
- Suitable for occasional and course use;
- Can be used before x-ray examinations and operations;
- When taken once, there are no adverse reactions;
- Price 200 rubles.
Flaws:
- There is little clinical data on the safety of the active substance.
Lavacol in maximum dosages is usually prescribed before examinations and surgical interventions that require the absence of contents in the intestines. Taking 1-2 sachets of the complex is an effective and safe first aid for irregular constipation.
Valenta Pharm "Exportal" - a restorer of intestinal flora with a laxative effect
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
98%
buyers recommend this product
An osmotic laxative is used for constipation, dysbiosis and hepatic encephalopathy. The product in powder form for preparing a suspension contains 500 g of lactitol monohydrate.
In the intestines, the product is transformed into organic acids, increasing, softening and facilitating the passage of feces. In addition to relaxation, the complex stimulates the proliferation of acidophilus bacteria, normalizing the intestinal microflora.
The drug can be prescribed to adults and children from 1 year of age, the minimum daily dosage is 5 g, the maximum is 20 g.
Exceeding these doses results in diarrhea, dizziness and dehydration. Unlike other osmotic drugs, the expected effect of Exportal is delayed and occurs within 12-24 hours.
Advantages:
- Suitable for occasional use;
- Prescribed to children from 1 year;
- Normalizes intestinal microflora;
- Used before examinations and operations;
- High efficiency.
Flaws:
- Delayed action.
Exportal is recommended for eliminating irregular constipation in children and adults with impaired intestinal microflora.
How Portalak works
- Portalac syrup has a gentle physiological effect.
- Unlike other laxatives, it does not irritate the intestinal walls.
- Promotes the growth of beneficial microflora.
- Has a detoxifying effect - promotes the removal of breakdown products of protein foods.
How does constipation (obstipation) occur?
Under the influence of various factors, fecal stasis forms in the intestines: the process of natural bowel movement is disrupted. Feces accumulate in the large intestine and become compacted.
EFFECT OF PORTALAC syrup in the treatment of constipation
In the large intestine, lactulose is broken down into molecules that attract water. The volume of intestinal contents increases and its contents soften significantly.
As a result of softening and increasing the amount of feces, intestinal motility is stimulated, and feces move forward through the intestines to the exit.
Portalac enhances the growth of beneficial bacteria necessary for normal intestinal functioning and reduces the growth of potentially dangerous bacteria. Regular intake of Portalac syrup normalizes intestinal function and restores the physiologically normal rhythm of bowel movements.
The best laxatives with plant fibers
Such preparations contain fiber from plants, fruits and cereals, necessary for the formation of feces and normal intestinal motility.
Safe products for regular use for chronic constipation normalize microflora, have a detox effect and prevent the formation of gallstones.
PharmaMed "Fitomucil Norm" - the key to normal intestinal function
5.0
★★★★★
editorial assessment
100%
buyers recommend this product
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Powder made from crushed plum fruits and plantain seeds is a rich source of dietary fiber that normalizes intestinal motility.
Once in the body, they turn into a gel that softens the stool, making it easy and painless to pass.
The drug is recommended for children over 3 years of age, pregnant women, the elderly and anyone who suffers from chronic constipation, hemorrhoids, excess weight, obesity and dysbacteriosis.
Fitomucil is taken regularly, 1-4 teaspoons with a glass of liquid before or after meals. Due to its natural composition, the product has no adverse reactions, but refrain from taking it if you have intestinal obstruction and acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Advantages:
- Safe herbal composition;
- Minimum contraindications;
- Mild laxative effect;
- Can be taken regularly;
- Normalizes intestinal microflora;
- Used in complex therapy of obesity.
Flaws:
- Does not have an express effect.
Phytomucil is a safe food supplement that normalizes intestinal function and is suitable for almost every person.
Evalar "Fibralax" - a mild laxative for everyone
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
98%
buyers recommend this product
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Laxative from psyllium seeds in powder form is suitable for the treatment of episodic and chronic constipation, even for children, pregnant women and the elderly.
The product in powder form in individual packages must be taken 1 sachet up to 3 times a day.
For symptomatic treatment of constipation, take Fibralax for 2 days. The duration of therapy for chronic illness is 4 weeks.
The complex is contraindicated in case of diabetes mellitus and allergies to the active substance. When taking it for constipation, drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
Advantages:
- Plant composition;
- Painless defecation;
- Prolonged action;
- Minimal contraindications;
- Has no adverse reactions;
- Can be taken occasionally and long-term.
Flaws:
- The expected effect occurs only after 16-24 hours.
Fibralax ensures painless passage of stool for hemorrhoids and anal fissures.
Defi Healthcare "Intestinorm" - plantain seed with detox effect
4.8
★★★★★
editorial assessment
96%
buyers recommend this product
Plant dietary fiber has a mild laxative and detoxifying effect. Powder from crushed plantain is recommended for chronic constipation, obesity, allergies and skin rashes.
The drug is available in a sachet for single use. The contents of the sachet must be dissolved in 200 ml of liquid and taken before or after meals with a glass of clean water. Frequency of administration: 2-3 times a day.
The product can be taken from the age of 14, including during pregnancy and lactation. In addition to stimulating peristalsis, the complex has antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory effects.
Intestinorm is a safe food supplement that has no adverse reactions, but its use is contraindicated in case of intestinal obstruction and type 2 diabetes.
Advantages:
- Plant composition;
- Prolonged action;
- Mild laxative effect;
- Not addictive;
- Minimum contraindications.
Flaws:
- There is no quick effect.
Intestinorm is recommended for the treatment and prevention of constipation for people who are not suitable for synthetic laxatives.
After constipation: three-day rule
Many doctors prescribe laxatives without telling the patient about the “three-day rule.” If there are no stools within three days after taking a laxative, there is no need to worry. It should take about three days for the intestines to fill again.
The colon of the large intestine consists of three sections: ascending, transverse and descending. When going to the toilet, the contents of the last section are removed. Within a day or two, the emptied section is filled again, and everything repeats.
If we take strong laxatives, the intestines can empty completely in all three sections. It should take about three days before the last section is filled with feces again.
Due to ignorance of this fact, the person the next day after taking a laxative and having a bowel movement expects stool to normalize, but there is no stool (since three days have not passed). And the person takes a second dose of laxative. A vicious circle is formed.
Best emollient laxatives
This group of drugs acts in the small intestine, softening stool and improving intestinal motility.
The main active ingredients in such medications are vegetable oils and glycerin, and they should be taken occasionally for irregular constipation.
Emollient laxatives are recommended for bedridden patients, during the postpartum period, for heart attacks and other conditions when overexertion is contraindicated.
When used regularly, they slow down the absorption of nutrients by the intestines and increase the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer.
MosPharma "Glycelax" - relieves constipation in 20 minutes
5.0
★★★★★
editorial assessment
100%
buyers recommend this product
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Glycerol-based rectal suppositories melt quickly under the influence of body heat and provide defecation within 20 minutes after the procedure.
Usually the drug is used once for acute and chronic atonic or hypotonic constipation. If necessary, treatment can last up to 7 days with a frequency of use of 1 suppository per day.
Glycelax is contraindicated for hemorrhoids, fissures, as well as inflammatory and tumor diseases of the rectum. The product stimulates the contractile function of the uterus, therefore it is prohibited for pregnant women.
Advantages:
- Express effect;
- Can be used for up to 1 week;
- If the recommendations are followed, there are no adverse reactions;
- Affordable price;
- Safe composition.
Flaws:
- There are contraindications;
- Does not have a prolonged effect.
Glycelax suppositories are a safe first aid remedy for occasional constipation. But do not use them regularly to avoid addiction and decrease the tone of the intestinal walls.
Materia Bio Profi - an alternative to osmotic laxatives
5.0
★★★★★
editorial assessment
100%
buyers recommend this product
Laxative suppositories with castor and cocoa oils are an emergency remedy for constipation, poisoning and the need to cleanse the intestines before medical procedures.
The drug softens stool and has an antispasmodic effect on the intestinal muscles, providing the expected effect within 30 minutes.
Suppositories are used rectally 1-2 times a day for no more than 3 days in a row. The list of contraindications for use includes stomach diseases, uterine and intestinal bleeding, chronic constipation, pregnancy, lactation and age under 12 years.
Advantages:
- Fast action;
- Affordable price (about 350 rubles);
- Have no adverse reactions;
- Safe composition;
- Soft action.
Flaws:
- Not suitable for regular use.
Castor suppositories are a safe analogue of osmotic laxatives, recommended for preparing the intestines for surgery and diagnostic procedures.
The best laxatives with lactulose
Laxatives with lactulose act slowly but surely, ensuring normalization of stools in 1-2 days. This substance stimulates the proliferation of lactic acid bacteria in the small intestine, increasing osmotic pressure and ensuring normal peristalsis.
Typically, medications of this group are prescribed to pregnant women, because constipation is common during this period, and other drugs can increase the tone of the uterus.
JSC Otispharm "Dinolak" - a safe laxative for children and adults
5.0
★★★★★
editorial assessment
100%
buyers recommend this product
A combined laxative with lactulose and simethicone normalizes the intestinal microflora, providing a mild laxative effect.
The complex in the form of a suspension has no age restrictions for use and is indispensable during pregnancy, but avoid taking it if you have diabetes.
The maximum daily dosage for children is 5 ml; adults are prescribed 30-45 ml. The duration of treatment is individual.
Exceeding recommended doses results in dizziness, nausea and diarrhea. But thanks to the presence of simethicone in the composition, Dinolak does not cause gas formation, unlike other products with lactulose.
Advantages:
- Safety;
- Has no age restrictions;
- Allowed during pregnancy and lactation;
- Not addictive;
- Does not cause bloating;
- Affordable price (300 rubles).
Flaws:
- Effective only when taken regularly.
Dinolak is a safe laxative recommended for pregnant women and people suffering from constipation due to impaired intestinal microflora.
Evalar "Lactulose Forte" - a prebiotic with a laxative effect
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
98%
buyers recommend this product
The laxative complex in individual sachets for one-time use is recommended for digestive disorders, increased gas formation and chronic constipation. The product for adults and children over 3 years of age is taken 1-2 sachets per day for up to 10 days.
The drug contains: lactulose, lactitol, fennel and chamomile extracts. This formula effectively softens stool, relieves spasms, alleviates unpleasant symptoms of hemorrhoids, normalizes intestinal microflora and improves intestinal motility.
The expected effect of taking the medicine is noted on the second day, and it persists even after the end of the therapeutic course. Lactulose Forte is an absolutely safe product that can be taken during pregnancy and lactation.
Advantages:
- Safe composition;
- Complex positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- Prolonged action;
- Convenient release form;
- Allowed for children and pregnant women.
Flaws:
- Does not have an immediate effect.
Lactulose Forte is a laxative prebiotic recommended for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract at any age.
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The best laxatives for children
Gas, colic, and constipation are common symptoms in infancy and early childhood that require emergency care.
In such cases, special laxatives for children will help, which do not have a toxic effect, do not provoke addiction and lazy bowel syndrome.
If a child has chronic constipation, it is dangerous to self-medicate, but if there are occasional difficulties with bowel movements, the following medications will quickly relieve the child from suffering.
Johnson&Johnson "Microlax" for children - for the little ones
5.0
★★★★★
editorial assessment
100%
buyers recommend this product
Microenemas for children from the first days of life to 3 years will quickly relieve constipation caused by immaturity of the digestive tract.
The drug in the form of a solution for rectal use contains sodium citrate, sorbitol and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate.
This formula stimulates the flow of water into the intestines, softening of stool and its painless passage within 10 minutes after the procedure.
Microlax is an emergency drug that has no side effects or contraindications. But using it for more than 2 days without consulting a doctor is not recommended.
Advantages:
- Convenient release form;
- Quick positive effect;
- Suitable from the first days of life;
- Does not give adverse reactions;
- Provides painless bowel movements.
Flaws:
- Not suitable for regular use.
Microlax, as an emergency remedy, is necessary in every home where a baby lives. In a few minutes it will relieve intestinal colic and constipation.
Yug “Pomogusha” laxative syrup – a delicacy with a probiotic and laxative effect
4.8
★★★★★
editorial assessment
96%
buyers recommend this product
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Any little one will gladly take this sweet syrup to improve intestinal motility. The drug for children over 3 years old contains lactulose, as well as extracts of caraway, anise, fennel, cherries, apples and strawberries.
This formula regulates the functioning of the digestive system, and also has a carminative and mild laxative effect.
The drug for a course of treatment is prescribed 1 teaspoon 3 times a day for up to 2 weeks. The expected laxative effect occurs 2-3 days from the start of therapy and persists after treatment. A safe herbal remedy is contraindicated only if you are allergic to the components of the formula.
Advantages:
- Prolonged action;
- Complex positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- Normalizes intestinal microflora;
- Plant composition;
- Low price (100 rubles).
Flaws:
- It will not give a quick effect.
Laxative syrup "Pomogusha" is recommended for the treatment of chronic constipation caused by disturbed intestinal microflora in children aged 3 to 6 years.
