MedicineNet

Laxatives For Constipation Center - Dubuque, IA

Dubuque 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 Dubuque *

Dubuque Internal Medicine
Krishnaro V Gorrepati
1515 Delhi St
STE STE 100
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 557-9111

Dubuque Internal Medicine
Cynthia J Konz
1515 Delhi St
STE STE 100
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 557-9111

Dubuque Internal Medicine
Randall W Lengeling
1515 Delhi St
STE STE 100
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 557-9111

Medical Associates West Campus
Brian W Covey
1500 Associates Dr
West Campus
Dubuque, IA 52002
(563) 584-4100

Medical Associates West Campus
Mark D Moglowsky
1500 Associates Dr
West Campus
Dubuque, IA 52002
(563) 584-4100

Quality Care Clinic
Ahmed E Elahmady
2745 Lincolnway
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 242-3208

Gastrointestinal Clinic of Quad Cities
Shashinath Chandrahasegowda
5041 Utica Ridge Rd
STE 100
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 359-9696

Gastrointestinal Clinic of Quad Cities
Sreenivas Chinatalapani
5041 Utica Ridge Rd
STE 100
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 359-9696

Gastroenterology Associates PC
William Davidson
2222 53rd Ave
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 383-2686

Gastrointestinal Clinic of Quad Cities
Bettaiah Gowda
5041 Utica Ridge Rd
STE 100
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 359-9696

Gastroenterology Associates PC
Young B Huh
2222 53rd Ave
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 383-2686

Gastroenterology Associates PC
Anjana Kumar
2222 53rd Ave
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 383-2686

Gastroenterology Associates PC
Erling Larson
2222 53rd Ave
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 383-2686

Gastroenterology Associates PC
David S Pratt
2222 53rd Ave
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 383-2686

Gastrointestinal Clinic of Quad Cities
Bavikatte Shivakumar
5041 Utica Ridge Rd
STE 100
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 359-9696

Gastroenterology Associates PC
Richard L Weyman
2222 53rd Ave
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 383-2686

Gastroenterology Consultants
Rao V Movva
3400 Dexter Ct
STE 120
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 359-9227

Gastroenterology Consultants
Linda J Tong
3400 Dexter Ct
STE 120
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 359-9227

Gastroenterology Consultants
Mohammad Yaseen
3400 Dexter Ct
STE 120
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 359-9227

Gastroenterologists PC
Dean Abramson
931 8th Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 366-8695

Gastroenterologists PC
Sudhakar Misra
931 8th Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 366-8695

Gastroenterologists PC
Douglas J Purdy
931 8th Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 366-8695

Gastroenterologists PC
Leon Qiao
931 8th Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 366-8695

Gastroenterologists PC
Robert A Silber
931 8th Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 366-8695

Gastroenterologists PC
Gary Weinman
931 8th Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 366-8695

Internists PC
Nile Dusdieker
115 8th St NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 363-3565

Unity Hospital
Tibor Fulop
1518 Mulberry Ave
Muscatine, IA 52761
(563) 264-9100

Gastroenterology Associates of Iowa City PC
Roger Joe Ewing
540 E Jefferson St
STE 102
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 337-5997

Gastroenterology Associates of Iowa City PC
Brian O'Meara
540 E Jefferson St
STE 102
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 337-5997

Gastroenterology Associates of Iowa City PC
Thomas Shreves
540 E Jefferson St
STE 102
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 337-5997

Gastroenterology Associates of Iowa City PC
Joseph Truszkowski
540 E Jefferson St
STE 102
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 337-5997

Center for Digestive Diseases
Robert W Summers
200 Hawkins Dr
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 356-4901

Center for Digestive Diseases
Cyrus P Tamboli
200 Hawkins Dr
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 356-4901

Dubuque, Iowa

Upcoming Local Events

2012-06-02
Blue Mound Trail Run
Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
2012-06-30
Stockton 5K Run/Walk
Stockton, Illinois
2012-08-04
2012-08-11
Blackhawk Challenge Triathalon
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
2012-09-01
2012-09-15
2012 Kickapoo BRAVE Ride
Gays Mills, Wisconsin
2012-09-22
2012-09-23
Robbie Ventura's Gran Fondo
Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
2012-11-11
2012-11-11

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 Dubuque

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Dubuque Hospitals *

Mercy Medical Center Dubuque
250 Mercy Dr
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563)589-8000

Finley Hospital
350 N Grandview Ave
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563)582-1881

Midwest Medical Center
1 Medical Center Dr
Galena, IL 61036
(815)777-1340

Southwest Health Center
1400 Eastside Rd
Platteville, WI 53818
(608)348-2331

Mercy Medical Center Dyersville
1111 3rd St SW
Dyersville, IA 52040
(563)875-7101

Grant Regional Health Center
507 S Monroe St
Lancaster, WI 53813
(608)723-2143

Jackson County Regional Health Center
700 W Grove St
Maquoketa, IA 52060
(563)652-2474

Guttenberg Municipal Hospital
200 Main St
Guttenberg, IA 52052
(563)252-1121

Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County
800 Clay St
Darlington, WI 53530
(608)776-4466

*Provider Directory Terms of Use:

The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.

You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.

The Provider Directory is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. WebMD disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, WebMD does not warrant or represent that the Provider Directory or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any Provider you contact through the Provider Directory. WebMD shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information provided in the Provider Directory.

The use of WebMD Provider Directory by any entity or individual to verify the credentials of Providers is prohibited. The database of Provider information which drives WebMD Provider Directory does not contain sufficient information with which to verify Provider credentials under the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) of the Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC).

By using the WebMD Provider Directory, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.