More than half of the population of civilized countries now suffers from constipation. This is due to a lot of stress, unhe althy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. But few people who suffer from this problem go to the doctor. After all, pharmacies have a large selection of laxatives. These drugs are among the most common, although most of them have many side effects. And the main one is that they are addictive and require a larger dose. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right drug for constipation so that it really helps. It is advisable to use only laxatives that are not addictive. But the problem is that only a doctor can recommend such a drug, and many people buy drugs based on advertising or the advice of friends.
How to get rid of constipation
To manyfamiliar with this condition. The elderly and women are especially affected by constipation. This is not only unpleasant, brings suffering to a person, but also very harmful to he alth, as the body is poisoned by decay products. Due to their stagnation in the intestines, the processes of decay begin. Therefore, for those who suffer from constipation, there is an acute question of how to choose laxatives that are not addictive. But, unfortunately, most drugs have a one-time effect, and a successful cure for constipation is possible only after eliminating their cause. Without the establishment of a diet, a proper lifestyle, the patient will need more and more doses of drugs, and it often happens that a person without a laxative cannot go to the toilet at all.
Causes of constipation
- Unhe althy diet: snacking, passion for fast food, semi-finished products and flour products, overeating and a small amount of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet.
- Crazy rhythm of life, a lot of stress and anxiety, overwork and lack of sleep.
- Wrong lifestyle: sedentary work, little physical activity and lack of fresh air.
- Bad habits, addiction to certain drugs.
What are laxatives
But even those people who lead the right way of life sometimes have constipation. If this is a rare problem, any drug can be used. But for those who suffer from constipation for a long time, it is very important to choose laxatives,not addictive. To do this, you need to know that all such drugs are divided into several groups:
1. Irritant laxatives. They increase intestinal motility and, irritating its receptors, promote emptying.
2. Osmotic laxatives. These drugs contain substances that increase the osmotic pressure in the intestine and prevent the absorption of fluid.
3. Prebiotics are the best non-addictive laxatives. After all, their effect is based on changing the intestinal microflora and filling it with beneficial bacteria that improve its work.
4. Filler preparations are recommended only for relatively he althy people with mild constipation. They swell and increase pressure in the intestines, causing it to empty.
Why irritant laxatives are dangerous
It is these drugs that most often cause the body to become addictive and worsen the patient's condition with prolonged use. But for some reason they are the most purchased and common drugs. This is a large group of laxatives, and they have a strong and fast effect. They are prescribed even to patients with intestinal atony. But among them it is difficult to choose a laxative without addiction. The peculiarity of the action of such drugs is that they irritate the intestinal receptors. It can cause abdominal pain, and if taken for a long time, it can be highly addictive. The intestine stops working without such drugs, its tone decreases, so you constantly have to increase the dose of the drug. But with acute constipation, they can be takenone time as they are very effective.
Such laxatives include Senadexin, Bisacodyl, Guttalax, Regulax and others. In addition, there are many herbal remedies available in the form of tablets or herbs. These are buckthorn bark, senna leaf, rhubarb root or joster fruit. Irritating drugs also include castor oil or various constipation suppositories. All of them have many contraindications and side effects.
Osmotic drugs
These are laxatives without bowel habituation. They do not reduce its tone, but they also cannot be taken for a long time. Although these drugs are not addictive, they have equally dangerous side effects. With prolonged use, these drugs lead to dehydration, loss of electrolytes and minerals. Therefore, most often they are recommended for a one-time bowel cleansing in case of poisoning and acute constipation. Such drugs are never taken for more than 2-3 months, they are also not recommended for children and people with heart disease. These remedies include Karlovy Vary s alt, magnesium sulfate, Fortrans, Lavacol and others.
Efficacy of prebiotics for constipation
These are the best non-addictive laxatives. Their advantage over other drugs is that they regulate the intestinal microflora, populating it with beneficial microorganisms, so that it begins to work correctly. They are notnot only eliminate constipation, but also improve the absorption of mineral s alts, and also remove toxins. These are the safest laxatives, besides having a long-lasting effect. They are recommended for taking even infants and pregnant women. But many people suffering from constipation do not like such remedies, since their effect comes after some time. What drugs are prebiotics? The most famous are lactulose preparations: Poslabin, Normaze, Duphalac, Prelax and others.
Features of bulk laxatives
These are also laxatives without addiction. Their effect is the longest, so most often these drugs are used to treat chronic mild constipation. Their action is based on the peculiarity of some plant fibers to swell when absorbing water. Such drugs can be taken for a long time, as these are also laxatives that are not addictive. But you need to know that when using them, you need to drink as much water as possible, otherwise they will have the opposite effect. These excipient laxatives are made from flax seeds, wheat bran, cellulose, or other plant fibers. They have almost no side effects, but not everyone likes them. After all, such drugs do not work immediately, require a lot of water and can cause bloating.
Folk remedies for constipation
- Infusion of rowan berries, cranberries or gooseberries.
- Good for constipation in babies, a decoction of raisins or flaxseed jelly.
- Often even doctors recommendherbal preparations for the treatment of constipation. Buckthorn bark, licorice root, joster berries, fennel and anise seeds have a laxative effect.
- In the diet of a constipated person, salads made from fresh vegetables and fruits, especially pumpkins, beets and carrots, should be included more often.
- Steamed prunes, oatmeal jelly and fermented milk products help with constipation.
How to take these drugs correctly
1. When choosing a laxative, it is imperative to take into account the cause and characteristics of the course of the disease.
2. Chronic constipation often requires continuous medication. In this case, it is recommended to drink them in a minimum dose every three days or every day, but after 5-7 days of taking a break. Only then will the laxative not be addictive.
3. If the patient has not just constipation, but a complex disorder of bowel functions, complex treatment is recommended, for example, along with the usual laxative they drink Motilium, which stimulates peristalsis.
4. It is always necessary to start the treatment of constipation with mild drugs, for example, plant fibers or osmotic ones. Only in the absence of effect can one resort to saline or intestinal stimulant laxatives.
5. These drugs should be taken on an empty stomach.
6. If you need a quick bowel movement, suppositories and microclysters are used.
Which laxatives are not addictive
Recently, senna preparations and other drugs that stimulate intestinal motility are gradually being phased out. Doctors recommend safer remedies for constipation to patients. Among them, it is easy to choose the best laxative without bowel habit:
- One of these drugs is Prelaks. It contains lactulose and helps with both acute constipation and long-term bowel dysfunction. It is very important that this drug not only eliminates constipation, but also normalizes the microflora. And, most importantly, it is not addictive.
- "Guttalax" also has a mild effect. The laxative effect appears 10-15 hours after taking the solution. Prescribe the drug even to children and pregnant women.
- "Forlax" is a herbal medicine with a mild effect and almost no contraindications. It can be taken for a long time without fear of addiction.
- "Phytomucil" is also a herbal remedy that gently releases the intestines and restores its functions. This is the best non-addictive laxative that normalizes the intestinal microflora. Doctors recommend it even to pregnant women and young children. It is now the most popular laxative.
Reviews of some medicines
People who suffer from constipation for a long time are ready to take any drugs, as long as they help them get rid of this problem. Many of them have tried a large number of different medicines and have chosen for themselves the mostefficient. Most speak negatively about irritant laxatives and s alt preparations. After all, they have many side effects, the most dangerous of which is intestinal addiction. Drugs such as Slabilen or Bisacodyl can cause nausea and abdominal pain. In addition, patients note that over time, you need to take an increasing dose, and gradually these drugs stop helping. And magnesium preparations and saline laxatives can lead to dehydration. Many constipated people are turning to new, non-addictive medications.
Especially good reviews about herbal preparations such as Phytomucil, and prebiotics, especially those containing lactulose. People who suffer from constipation for a long time note that taking these medicines, they felt great relief. These are laxatives that do not cause flatulence, nausea and addiction.
