In this Article

• What is constipation?
• What causes constipation?
• When should a doctor be consulted for constipation?
• What non-drug measures can you take for constipation?
• What over-the-counter preparations can be used for constipation?
• Bulk-Forming Laxatives
• Stool Softeners (emollient laxatives)
• Lubricant Laxatives
• Stimulant Laxatives
• Saline Laxatives
• Enemas and Suppositories
• Laxatives for Constipation At A Glance
• Laxatives For Constipation Glossary
• Laxatives For Constipation Index

When should a doctor be consulted for constipation?

Many people have a life-long tendency toward constipation while others tend to have occasional constipation alternating with a normal bowel pattern or even diarrhea. While mild and intermittent constipation in these individuals is usually not a cause for concern, a doctor should be consulted under the following circumstances:

• A new onset of constipation or recent change in bowel habits;
  
  
• Moderate to severe constipation, or constipation that does not respond to self-treatment with simple bulking agents that provide fiber;
  
  
• Constipation that is accompanied by rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and cramps, nausea and vomiting, and involuntary weight loss; and
  
  
• Constipation during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

What non-drug measures can you take for constipation?

Mild constipation that does not have an underlying cause (such as medications, an under-active thyroid, or colon obstruction) can often improve with life-style modifications that include:

1. Increasing fiber in the diet. Fiber improves bowel function by adding bulk and softening the stool. Examples of foods that are high in fiber content include:

• vegetables,
  
  
• fruits (include the skin),
  
  
• whole grain breads,
  
  
• whole grain cereals,
  
  
• prunes,
  
  
• corn,
  
  
• whole beans (such as kidney beans and pinto beans),
  
  
• oat bran,
  
  
• corn, and
  
  
• barley.
  
  
• over-the-counter fiber supplements can also be taken.

2. Increasing fluid intake.

3. Regular exercise such as walking, swimming, or running.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Hemorrhoids - In-depth article on hemorrhoids: symptoms, causes, and treatments including exactly what haemorrhoids (also known as piles) are. Read details about internal and external hemmorrhoids, and the different types of over-the-counter treatments.
• Constipation - Read details about constipation and the different treatments available for constipation including laxatives, dietary fiber, enemas, suppositories, drugs, and surgery.
• The Digestive System - Read about the digestive system from chewing food, swallowing, emptying into the stomach, through the small and large intestines, and then expelling waste through the anus.

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