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Laxatives For Constipation Center - Duluth, MN

Duluth 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 Duluth *

Duluth Clinic
Johannes Aas
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Johan S Bakken
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Robert V Erickson
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Teresa Smith
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Steven J Squillace
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

Duluth Clinic
Michael D VanNorstrand
400 E 3rd St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 722-8364

St Luke's Hospital and Regional Trauma Center
Agata Bednarz
915 E 1st St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 249-5555

Northland Gastroenterlogy PA
Daniel McKee
1420 London Rd
STE 202
Duluth, MN 55805
(218) 724-3411

Duluth, Minnesota

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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 Duluth

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Duluth Hospitals *

Miller-Dwan Medical Center
502 E Second St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218)727-8762

St Mary's Duluth Clinic Health System
407 E Third St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218)786-4000

St Luke's Hospital
915 E 1st St
Duluth, MN 55805
(218)249-5555

St Mary's Hospital Superior
3500 Tower Ave
Superior, WI 54880
(715)395-5400

Cloquet Community Memorial Hospital
512 Skyline Blvd
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218)879-4641

Lake View Memorial Hospital
325 11th Ave
Two Harbors, MN 55616
(218)834-7300

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