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Laxatives For Constipation Center - Dothan, AL

Dothan Gastroenterologist Doctors for Laxatives For Constipation

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Dothan *

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Robert P Albares
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Jeffrey J Crittenden
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Stavros A Diavolitsis
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
James L Griffith
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Daniel F Jackson
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
William D McLaughlin
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Travis Rutland
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Samuel J Tarwater
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Robert R Brinson MD
Robert R Brinson
451 St Lukes Dr
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 271-1205

Thomas D Bianchi MD
Thomas D Bianchi
80 Herren Hill Rd
STE E
Tallassee, AL 36078
(334) 283-3862

Comm Med Arts Center
Alexander Robbins
875 Friendship Rd
STE F
Tallassee, AL 36078
(334) 283-6460

Internal Medicine Associates PC
George G Gilbert
121 N 20th St
STE 6
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 749-3385

Internal Medicine Associates PC
W P McGehee
121 N 20th St
STE 6
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 749-3385

Montgomery Gastroenterology Specialists
Richard E Ginsburg
4146 B Carmichael Rd
Montgomery, AL 36107
(334) 262-3737

Dothan, Alabama

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Laxatives For Constipation

What is constipation?

Constipation is a condition that is characterized by infrequent bowel movements that are painful or difficult, or stools that are hard in consistency. Infrequent bowel movements alone are not a reliable indicator of constipation because bowel frequency can vary between three times a day to once a week among normal individuals. Therefore, hard stools that are difficult to pass or infrequent stools accompanied by abdominal pain, back pain, and abdominal bloating define important constipation.

What are the causes of constipation?

There are many causes of constipation including:

  • Diets low in fiber. Fiber is vegetable material that is resistant to digestion. It promotes soft stools by adding bulk to the stool and causing water to be retained in stool.
  • Side effects of medications such as narcotic pain killers, antidepressants, iron supplements, calcium channel blockers (a class of medications for high blood pressure), and certain types of antacids.
  • Narrowing or blockage of the large intestine (colon) due to colon cancer or advanced diverticulosis.
  • Ineffective contraction or spasm of the colon's muscles due to irritable bowel syndrome or other diseases of the colon's muscles.
  • Hormonal (endocrine) disturbances such as an under- active thyroid gland and diabetes mellitus with nerve damage.
  • Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurologic conditions.

Examples of common medications that can cause constipation:

  • Narcotic pain medications: codeine (Tylenol #3), oxycodone (Percocet), and guaifenesin/hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and others
  • Antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil), fluoxetine (Prozac), and imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Anticonvulsants: phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol)
  • Iron supplements
  • ...

Recommended Reading Related to Laxatives for Constipation

Melanosis Coli »

What is melanosis coli?

Melanosis coli is a condition usually associated with chronic laxative use in which dark pigment is deposited in the lamina propria (one of the lining layers) of the large intestine (colon). The pigment deposition results in a characteristic dark brown to black discoloration of the lining of the large intestine. This condition is sometimes called pseudomelanosis coli because the pigment deposits consist of a pigment known as lipofuscin and do not contain melanin as implied by the term "melanosis." Lipofuscin is a cellular pigment that forms when cells are destroyed, often called "wear and tear" pigment that can be found throughout the body.

The dark color of the intestinal lining may be uniform or patterned, and the discoloration may be slight or very pronounced. The intensity and pattern of the discoloration may even vary among different sites in the colon of a patient. The condition may also be reversed upon disc...

Emergency Contact for Dothan

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Dothan Hospitals *

Southeast Alabama Medical Center
1108 Ross Clark Cir
Dothan, AL 36301
(334)793-8111

HEALTHSOUTH Rehab Hospital of Dothan
1736 E Main St
Dothan, AL 36301
(334)712-6333

Flowers Hospital
4370 W Main St
Dothan, AL 36305
(334)793-5000

Campbellton-Graceville Hospital
5429 College Dr
Graceville, FL 32440
(850)263-4431

Dale Medical Center
126 Hospital Ave
Ozark, AL 36360
(334)774-2601

Medical Center Enterprise
400 N Edwards St
Enterprise, AL 36330
(334)347-0584

Early Memorial Hospital
11740 Columbia St
Blakely, GA 39823
(229)723-4241

Jackson Hospital
4250 Hospital Dr
Marianna, FL 32446
(850)526-2200

Wiregrass Medical Center
1200 W Maple Ave
Geneva, AL 36340
(334)684-3655

Donalsonville Hospital
102 Hospital Cir
Donalsonville, GA 39845
(229)524-5217

Northwest Florida Community Hospital
1360 Brickyard Rd
Chipley, FL 32428
(850)638-1610

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