Best Drugs for Constipation; Types, Uses

Best Drugs for Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass.^[rx] The stool is often hard and dry.^[rx] Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, and feeling as if one has not completely passed the bowel movement. Complications from constipation may include hemorrhoids, anal fissure or fecal impaction.^[rx] The normal frequency of bowel movements in adults is between three per day and three per week.^[rx] Babies often have three to four bowel movements per day while young children typically have two to three per day.^[rx]

Constipation has many causes.^[rx] Common causes include slow movement of stool within the colon, irritable bowel syndrome, and pelvic floor disorders. Underlying associated diseases include hypothyroidism, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, colon cancer, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.^[rx]^[rx]^[rx]^[rx] Medications associated with constipation include opioids, certain antacids, calcium channel blockers, and anticholinergics.^[4] Of those taking opioids about 90% develop constipation. Constipation is more concerning when there is weight loss or anemia, blood is present in the stool, there is a history of inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer in a person’s family, or it is of new onset in someone who is older.^[rx]

Constipation most commonly occurs when waste or stool moves too slowly through the digestive tract or cannot be eliminated effectively from the rectum, which may cause the stool to become hard and dry. Chronic constipation has many possible causes.

[stextbox id=’custom’]

Stool softeners	Docusate
Stimulant laxatives	Bisacodyl Bisoxatin Cascara Castor oil Dantron Oxyphenisatine Phenolphthalein Senna glycosides Sodium picosulfate
Bulk-forming laxatives	Dietary fiber Ethulose Ispaghula Methylcellulose Polycarbophil calcium Sterculia Triticum
Lubricant laxatives	Liquid paraffin Mineral oil White petrolatum (petroleum jelly)
Osmotic laxatives	Lactitol Lactulose Laminated Magnesium carbonate Magnesium citrate Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) Magnesium oxide Magnesium peroxide Magnesium sulfate Mannitol Pentaerythritol Polyethylene glycol (macrogol) Sodium phosphate Sodium sulfate Sodium tartrate Sorbitol
Enemas	Bisacodyl Dantron Glycerol Oil Sodium laurilsulfate Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate Sodium phosphate Sorbitol
Opioid antagonists	Alvimopan Methylnaltrexone bromide Naloxegol Naloxone (Oxycodone/naloxone)
Others	Linaclotide Lubiprostone Oxyphenisatine Prucalopride Tegaserod Ulimorelin

[/stextbox]

Side Effects of Best Drugs for Constipation

The most common

More common

Diarrhea
full or bloated feeling or pressure in the stomach
a headache, severe and throbbing
joint or back pain
muscle aching or cramping
muscle pains or stiffness
chest pressure or squeezing pain in the chest
excessive sweating
sudden drowsiness or need to sleep
coughing up blood
liver problems–nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
decreased amount of urine

Rare

Anxiety
change in vision
chest pain or tightness
confusion
a cough
Agitation
arm, back, or jaw pain
blurred vision
chest pain or discomfort
convulsions
extra heartbeats
hallucinations
a headache
irritability
lightheadedness
cold and clammy skin
fast and shallow breathing
swelling of your feet, legs, or hands purple spot on your skin caused by internal bleeding
fast or abnormal heart rate or palpitations
loss of appetite
lower back, side, or stomach pain
mental depression
muscle pain or cramps
yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
upper stomach pain

References

[bg_collapse view=”button-orange” color=”#4a4949″ expand_text=”Show More” collapse_text=”Show Less” ]

[/bg_collapse]