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Laxatives For Constipation Center - Pittsfield, MA

Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield *

Veronica Deyeso MD
Veronica Deyeso
261 South St
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 443-9082

Surgical Specialists of Western New England PC
Robert D Fanelli
510 North St
STE 202
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 442-2462

Surgical Specialists of Western New England PC
Andrew B Lederman
510 North St
STE 202
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 442-2462

Central Berkshire Gastroenterology
Rangan Murali
777 North St
STE 203
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-8590

Central Berkshire Gastroenterology
Larry J Pellish
777 North St
STE 203
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-8590

Timothy C Counihan MD
Ira J Schmelkin
777 North St
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 447-2745

Central Berkshire Gastroenterology
Jeffrey St John
777 North St
STE 203
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-8590

Central Berkshire Gastroenterology
Arthur H Wasser
777 North St
STE 203
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-8590

Berkshire Gastroenterology
Thomas Dunzendorfer
24 Charles St
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 236-0900

Greylock Gastroenterology
Chi Zhang
77 Hospital Ave
STE 208
North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 664-5445

Hampshire Gastroenterology Associates
David Berkman
10 Main St
STE 6
Florence, MA 01062
(413) 586-8910

Hampshire Gastroenterology Associates
Jeffery S Cooley
10 Main St
STE 6
Florence, MA 01062
(413) 586-8910

Hampshire Gastroenterology Associates
Frank T Meyers
10 Main St
STE 6
Florence, MA 01062
(413) 586-8910

Hampshire Gastroenterology Associates
Joseph P Tassoni
10 Main St
STE 6
Florence, MA 01062
(413) 586-8910

Hampshire Gastroenterology Associates
Geoffrey Zucker
10 Main St
STE 6
Florence, MA 01062
(413) 586-8910

Noble Hospital
Francis D Horrigan
115 W Silver St
Gastroenterology
Westfield, MA 01086
(413) 568-2811

Medical Surgical Specialists of Westfield
Heidi Kolek
115 W Silver St
FL 1
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 562-4456

Diane DeBenedetto MD
Diane M DeBenedetto
132 Cottage St
STE 1
Easthampton, MA 01027
(413) 527-7952

Franklin Gastroenterology
Charles V Casale
5 Park St
Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 775-9292

Western Massachusetts GI Associates PC
Bernard D Clifford
10 Hospital Dr
STE 107
Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 534-1124

Holyoke Specialty Surgeons
Mary E Norris
10 Hospital Dr
STE STE 203A
Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 540-5048

Western Massachusetts GI Associates PC
Robert M Weiss
10 Hospital Dr
STE 107
Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 534-1124

RiverBend Medical Group Chicopee Office
Mark A Hirschkorn
444 Montgomery St
Chicopee, MA 01020
(413) 594-3111

Springfield Medical Associates
David R Kalman
2150 Main St
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 739-5676

Springfield Medical Associates
David L Pleet
2150 Main St
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 739-5676

Springfield Medical Associates
John M Zeroogian
2150 Main St
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 739-5676

Western Mass Gastroenterology Associates
Paul S Farkas
299 Carew St
STE 419
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 737-7951

Western Mass Gastroenterology Associates
Douglas K Hyde
299 Carew St
STE 419
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 737-7951

Western Mass Gastroenterology Associates
Kenneth P Koenigs
299 Carew St
STE 419
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 737-7951

Western Mass Gastroenterology Associates
Barry E Slitzky
299 Carew St
STE 419
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 737-7951

Western Mass Gastroenterology Associates
Peter J Weinstein
299 Carew St
STE 419
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 737-7951

Hampden County Physician Associates LLC
Marc A Goldman
77 Boylston St
STE 201-4
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 734-8254

Baystate Gastroenterology
David J Desilets
3300 Main St
Gastroenterology STE 3A & B
Springfield, MA 01199
(413) 794-7364

Baystate Gastroenterology
Rony Ghaoui
3300 Main St
Gastroenterology STE 3A & B
Springfield, MA 01199
(413) 794-7364

RiverBend Medical Group
Steven M Samuels
305 Bicentennial Hwy
Springfield, MA 01118
(413) 733-4101

Quaboag Gastroenterology
Farhad Navab
25 Marjorie St
Ware, MA 01082
(413) 967-2800

T K Thomas MD
T K Thomas
85 South St
Ware, MA 01082
(413) 967-6211

John G Stagias MD
John G Stagias
428 Hamilton St
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 765-1600

A Tariq Malik MD
A Tariq Malik
250 Green St
Medical Arts Bldg STE 212
Gardner, MA 01440
(978) 632-7530

Edmund J Taylor MD
Edmund J Taylor
2 Narrows Rd
STE 104
Westminster, MA 01473
(978) 874-2662

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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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 Pittsfield

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Pittsfield Hospitals *

Berkshire Medical Center
725 North St
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413)447-2000

BMC Hillcrest Campus
165 Tor Ct
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413)443-4761

Austen Riggs Center
25 Main St
Stockbridge, MA 01262
(413)298-5511

Fairview Hospital
29 Lewis Ave
Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413)528-0790

North Adams Regional Hospital
71 Hospital Ave
North Adams, MA 01247
(413)664-5000

Samaritan Hospital
2215 Burdett Ave
Troy, NY 12180
(518)271-3300

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
100 Hospital Dr
Bennington, VT 05201
(802)442-6361

Albany Memorial Hospital
600 Northern Blvd
Albany, NY 12204
(518)471-3221

St Mary's Hospital Troy
1300 Massachusetts Ave
Troy, NY 12180
(518)268-5000

Northampton VA Medical Center
421 N Main St
Leeds, MA 01053
(413)584-4040

Stratton VA Medical Center at Albany
113 Holland Ave
Albany, NY 12208
(518)626-5000

Albany Medical Center
43 New Scotland Ave
Albany, NY 12208
(518)262-3125

Albany Medical Center South Clinical Campus
25 Hacket Blvd
Albany, NY 12208
(518)262-1200

Capital District Psychiatric Center
75 New Scotland Ave
Albany, NY 12208
(518)447-9611

Columbia Memorial Hospital
71 Prospect Ave
Hudson, NY 12534
(518)828-7601

St Peter's Hospital
315 S Manning Blvd
Albany, NY 12208
(518)525-1550

Cooley Dickinson Hospital
30 Locust St
Northampton, MA 01060
(413)582-2000

Noble Hospital
115 W Silver St
Westfield, MA 01086
(413)568-2811

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