How long laxatives take

If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.

If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.

You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Stimulant laxatives usually work within hours.

A bedtime dose is recommended so you are likely to feel the urge to go to the toilet sometime the following morning. However, you may try taking it at different times in the day to find the best time of day for you. Some people naturally have their bowel movements later in the day rather than in the morning. Laxatives that are given via the back passage rectum - suppositories or enemas - usually work within minutes.

Stronger osmotic laxatives such as phosphate enemas can be used to clear the bowel quickly, in just a few minutes. This depends on what type of constipation you have. Most people only need to take a laxative for a short time, to get over a bout of constipation. Once the constipation eases, you can normally stop the laxative. Some people get into the habit of taking a laxative each day 'to keep the bowels regular' or to prevent constipation. This is not advised, especially for laxatives which are not bulk-forming.

Some people have persistent chronic constipation and this can be more difficult to treat. In some situations, laxatives are needed for longer periods sometimes even indefinitely and they should not be stopped suddenly.

Chronic constipation is sometimes complicated by a backlog of hard stools faeces building up in the bowel faecal loading or even partially blocking it impaction. If loading and impaction occur they need to be treated first, often with much higher doses of laxatives. Then a normal maintenance dose of laxatives is used to keep the bowels moving.

It is not possible to list all the possible side-effects of each laxative in this leaflet. However, as with all medicines, there are a number of side-effects that have been reported with each of the different laxatives. If you want more information specific to your laxative then you should read the information leaflet that comes with the medicine. Laxatives very rarely cause serious side-effects. Common side-effects include wind flatulence , cramps, diarrhoea, feeling sick, and bloating.

Most of the side-effects can be avoided or reduced by starting off on a low dose and increasing the dose of oral laxatives gradually. If you are taking bulk-forming laxatives, you may notice an increase in flatulence and tummy abdominal bloating. This is normal and tends to settle down after a few weeks as the gut becomes used to the increase in fibre or bulk-forming laxative. Occasionally, bulk-forming laxatives can make symptoms worse if you have very severe constipation.

This is because they may cause abdominal bloating and discomfort without doing much to clear a lot of stools faeces which are stuck further down the gut. See a doctor if you feel that bulk-forming laxatives are making your symptoms worse. These medicines sometimes react with other medicines that you may take.

So, make sure your doctor knows of any other medicines that you are taking, including ones that you have bought over the counter. See the leaflet that comes with your particular brand for a full list of possible side-effects and cautions. It is important that you drink plenty of fluid when taking any laxative. This means drinking at least two litres per day cups. An osmotic laxative can make you dry dehydrated. If you take a bulk-forming laxative and you do not drink enough fluid this can cause a blockage in the gut.

The stools faeces may become dry and difficult to pass. Taking too much of some laxatives can lead to diarrhoea and losing too much salt from the body. Taking too much of a bulk-forming laxative, or not drinking enough fluid with a bulk-forming laxative, causes a blockage in the gut rather than diarrhoea. If you take bran, it is best to build up the amount gradually. Start with two teaspoons a day, and double the amount every five days until you reach about tablespoons per day.

You can sprinkle bran on breakfast cereals, or mix it with fruit juices, milk, stews, soups, crumbles, pastries, scones, etc. The information above is about laxatives that are commonly prescribed. However, it is well known that certain foods have laxative properties and some people prefer to try natural remedies.

Foods that have laxative properties mainly work because they are high in fibre but some foods may also have some stimulant or osmotic properties. The following are two examples of natural laxatives. Prunes dried plums have long been thought of as effective for constipation. Up until recently, there had been little scientific proof of this.

However, a small research trial published in see 'Further Reading and References' at the end of this leaflet lends support to the belief that prunes are good for treating constipation.

In the trial, 40 adults with persistent chronic constipation were studied as to the effect of prunes versus ispaghula psyllium - a commonly used treatment for constipation. Briefly, on average, 50 g of prunes about six prunes twice daily seemed to be better at easing constipation than 11 g ispaghula taken twice daily. This is just one small trial, but does seem to confirm the common belief that prunes are good for easing constipation.

This recipe detailed below was studied in a research trial that involved older people in a care home. A treatment group was compared to a non-treatment group. The conclusion of the study stated that: 'The Beverley-Travis Natural Laxative Mixture, given at a dosage of two tablespoons twice daily, is easy to use, cost-effective, and more effective than daily prescribed laxatives at producing normal bowel movements.

If you think you have had a side-effect to one of your medicines you can report this on the Yellow Card Scheme. You can do this online at www. The side effects you may get will depend on the type of laxative you're taking, but common side effects of most laxatives include:.

Ask a GP for advice if you get any particularly troublesome or persistent side effects while taking laxatives. Using laxatives too often or for too long can also cause diarrhoea , the bowel becoming blocked by large, dry poo intestinal obstruction , and unbalanced salts and minerals in your body.

Find out more about preventing constipation. Page last reviewed: 10 June Next review due: 10 June Overview - Laxatives Contents Overview Considerations.

Types of laxatives There are 4 main types of laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives Bulk-forming laxatives work by increasing the "bulk" or weight of poo, which in turn stimulates your bowel.

They take 2 or 3 days to work. Bulk-forming laxatives include: Fybogel ispaghula husk methylcellulose Osmotic laxatives Osmotic laxatives draw water from the rest of the body into your bowel to soften poo and make it easier to pass.

They include: lactulose also called by the brand names Duphalac and Lactugal macrogol also called by the brand names Movicol, Laxido, CosmoCol, Molaxole and Molative polyethylene glycol Stimulant laxatives These stimulate the muscles that line your gut, helping them to move poo along to your back passage.

They take 6 to 12 hours to work. They include: bisacodyl also called by the brand name Dulcolax senna also called by the brand name Senokot sodium picosulfate Poo-softener laxatives This type of laxative works by letting water into poo to soften it and make it easier to pass. They include: arachis oil docusate Which laxative should I use? Unless there's a reason why a type of laxative may be more suitable for you than another: start with a bulk-forming laxative if your poo remains hard, try using an osmotic laxative in addition to, or instead of, a bulk-forming laxative if your poo is soft but is still difficult to pass, try taking a stimulant laxative in addition to a bulk-forming laxative Speak to a GP or pharmacist if you're unsure which laxative to use.

Things to consider Laxatives are not suitable for everyone. They're not usually recommended for: children unless advised by a doctor people with certain health conditions, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Find out more about the considerations about laxatives How to take laxatives How you take a laxative depends on the form it comes in.