Treatments for Constipation
Treatments for Constipation:
Treatment plans for constipation are individualized depending on the underlying cause, the presence of coexisting diseases, the age and medical history of the patient, and other factors. Treatment generally involves a multifaceted plan that addresses the cause, minimizes the discomfort of constipation and softens the stool so it can be passed normally.
Many cases of constipation can be treated simply by increasing exercise and water intake and fiber in the diet. Fiber can be found in high amounts in whole grains and fruits and vegetables and in supplements. It is also important to empty the bowels as soon as the urge is felt and to establish a usual time to empty the bowels.
Medications that can help prevent or treat constipation include stool softeners. Over-the-counter laxatives are used by many people to treat constipation but overuse of laxatives can lead to laxative dependency. Both stool softeners and laxatives can also have side effects, such as abdominal cramps and diarrhea and should only be taken under the direction of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner.
Treatment of constipation that is caused by the life-threatening condition of intestinal obstruction, includes hospitalization, surgery, intravenous fluids and medications. Colorectal cancer and colon cancer is generally treated with surgery and possible chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Diverticulitis is treated with antibiotics and a liquid diet short a period of time. Some serious cases of diverticulitis may require hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics and surgery. Ileus is treated by hospitalization and removing all the air and contents of the stomach. This is done for a limited time with a long tube that is attached to suction and passed through the nose, down the esophagus into the stomach.
Treatment List for Constipation
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Constipation
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Alternative Treatments for Constipation
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Constipation may include:
Constipation: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Constipation may include:
Hidden causes of Constipation may be incorrectly diagnosed:
Constipation: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Constipation:
Constipation: Research Doctors & Specialists
- Pregnancy & Fertility Health Specialists:
- Baby & Newborn Health Specialists:
- Womens Health Specialists:
- Child Health Specialists (Pediatrics):
- more specialists...»
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Drugs and Medications used to treat Constipation:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Constipation include:
- Bisacodyl
- Alophen
- Bisac-Evac
- Besacodyl Uniserts
- Correctol Tablets
- Doxidan
- Dulcolax
- Emilax
- Fleet Bisacodyl Enema
- Fleet Stimulant Laxative
- Gentlax
- Modane Tablets
- Veracolate
- Apo-Bisacodyl
- Carter's Little Pills
- Dehydrocholic Acid
- Docusate and Casanthranol
- Peri-Colace
- Dousate and Senna
- Senokot-S
- Glycerin
- Bausch & Lomb Computer Eye Drops
- Fleet Babylax
- Fleet Glycerin Suppositories
- Fleet Glycerin Suppositories Maximum Strength
- Fleet Liquid Glycerin Suppositories
- Osmoglyn
- Sani-Supp
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Dulcolax Milk of Magnesia
- Phillips' Milk of Magnesia
- Magnesium Hydroxide and Mineral Oil Emulsion
- Phillips' M-O
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Malt Soup Extract
- Methylcellulose
- Citrucel
- FiberEase
- Polycarbophil
- Equalactin
- FiberCon
- Fiber-Lax
- FiberNorm
- Konsyl Tablets
- Phillips Fibercaps
- Miralax
- Polyethylene Glycol-Electrolyte Solution
- Psyllium
- Fiberall
- Genfiber
- Hydrocil
- Konsyl
- Konsyl-D
- Konsyl Easy Mix
- Konsyl Orange
- Metamucil
- Metamucil Smooth Texture
- Modane Bulk
- Perdiem Fiber Therapy
- Reguloid
- Serutan
- Novo-Mucilax
- Senna
- Agoral Maximum Strength Laxative
- Evac-U-Gen
- Ex-lax Maximum Strength
- Fletcher's Castoria
- Senexon
- Senna-Gen
- Sennatural
- Senokot
- Senokot Children's
- SenokotXTRA
- X-Prep
- Sodium Phosphate
- Fleet Enema
- Fleet Phospho-Soda
- Accu-Prep
- Visicol
- Fleet Phospho-Soda Oral Laxative
- Frangula
- Granocol
- Normacol Plus
- Fybogel
- Ispaghula
- Poloxamer - mainly used to treat constipation in children
- Coloxyl Drops - mainly used to treat constipation in children
- Durolax SP
- Sodium Picosulfate
- Picolax
- Sorbitol
- Sorbilax
- Carbosorb S with Charcoal
- Microlax
- Medevac
- Aquae
- Aloe Vera
- Flaxseed
Latest treatments for Constipation:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Constipation:
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Constipation
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Constipation:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Constipation,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Constipation:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Constipation:
Discussion of treatments for Constipation:
Constipation: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Although treatment depends on the cause,
severity, and duration, in most cases dietary and lifestyle changes will
help relieve symptoms and help prevent constipation.
Diet
A diet with enough fiber (20 to 35 grams each day) helps form
soft, bulky stool. A doctor or dietitian can help plan an appropriate
diet. High-fiber foods include beans; whole grains and bran cereals; fresh
fruits; and vegetables such as asparagus, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and
carrots. For people prone to constipation, limiting foods that have little
or no fiber such as ice cream, cheese, meat, and processed foods is also
important.
Lifestyle Changes
Other changes that can help treat and prevent
constipation include drinking enough water and other liquids such as fruit
and vegetable juices and clear soup, engaging in daily exercise, and
reserving enough time to have a bowel movement. In addition, the urge to
have a bowel movement should not be ignored.
Laxatives
Most people who are mildly constipated do not need
laxatives. However, for those who have made lifestyle changes and are
still constipated, doctors may recommend laxatives or enemas for a limited
time. These treatments can help retrain a chronically sluggish bowel. For
children, short-term treatment with laxatives, along with retraining to
establish regular bowel habits, also helps prevent constipation.
A doctor should determine when a patient needs a laxative and which
form is best. Laxatives taken by mouth are available in liquid, tablet,
gum, powder, and granule forms. They work in various ways:
- Bulk-forming laxatives generally are considered the safest but can
interfere with absorption of some medicines. These laxatives, also known
as fiber supplements, are taken with water. They absorb water in the
intestine and make the stool softer. Brand names include
Metamucil®, Citrucel®, Konsyl®, and
Serutan®.
- Stimulants cause rhythmic muscle contractions in the intestines.
Brand names include Correctol®,
Dulcolax®, Purge®, Feen-A-Mint®,
and Senokot®. Studies suggest that
phenolphthalein, an ingredient in some stimulant laxatives, might
increase a person's risk for cancer. The Food and Drug Administration
has proposed a ban on all over-the-counter products containing
phenolphthalein. Most laxative makers have replaced or plan to replace
phenolphthalein with a safer ingredient.
- Stool softeners provide moisture to the stool and prevent
dehydration. These laxatives are often recommended after childbirth or
surgery. Products include Colace®,
Dialose®, and Surfak®.
- Lubricants grease the stool enabling it to move through the
intestine more easily. Mineral oil is the most common lubricant.
- Saline laxatives act like a sponge to draw water into the colon for
easier passage of stool. Laxatives in this group include Milk of
Magnesia®, Citrate of Magnesia®, and Haley's M-O®.
People who are dependent on laxatives need to slowly stop
using the medications. A doctor can assist in this process. In most
people, this restores the colon's natural ability to contract.
Other Treatment
Treatment may be directed at a specific cause. For
example, the doctor may recommend discontinuing medication or performing
surgery to correct an anorectal problem such as rectal prolapse.
People with chronic constipation caused by anorectal dysfunction can
use biofeedback to retrain the muscles that control release of bowel
movements. Biofeedback involves using a sensor to monitor muscle activity
that at the same time can be displayed on a computer screen allowing for
an accurate assessment of body functions. A health care professional uses
this information to help the patient learn how to use these muscles.
Surgical removal of the colon may be an option for people with severe
symptoms caused by colonic inertia. However, the benefits of this surgery
must be weighed against possible complications, which include abdominal
pain and diarrhea.
(Source: excerpt from Constipation: NIDDK)
Why Am I Constipated: NIDDK (Excerpt)
In most cases, following these simple tips will help:
- Eat a variety of foods. Eat a lot of beans, bran, whole grains,
fresh fruits, and vegetables.
- Drink plenty of liquids.
- Exercise regularly.
- Do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.
- Understand that normal bowel habits are different for everyone.
- If your bowel habits change, check with your doctor.
(Source: excerpt from
Why Am I Constipated: NIDDK)
Why Am I Constipated: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Changing what you eat and drink and how much you
exercise will help relieve and prevent constipation. Here are some steps
you can take.
1. Eat more fiber.
Fiber helps form soft, bulky stool. It is found
in many vegetables, fruits, and grains. Be sure to add fiber a little at a
time, so your body gets used to it slowly. Limit foods that have little or
no fiber such as ice cream, cheese, meat, snacks like chips and pizza, and
processed foods such as instant mashed potatoes or already-prepared frozen
dinners. The following chart shows you some high-fiber foods.
High-Fiber Foods
| Fruit |
Vegetables |
Breads, Cereals, and Beans |
Apples
Peaches
Raspberries
Tangerines |
Acorn squash
Broccoli, raw
Brussels
sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots, raw
Cauliflower,
raw
Spinach
Zucchini |
Black-eyed peas
Kidney beans
Lima
beans
Whole-grain cereal, cold (All-Bran, Total, Bran
Flakes)
Whole-grain cereal, hot (oatmeal, Wheatena)
Whole-wheat or
7-grain bread |
2. Drink plenty of water and other liquids such as fruit and vegetable
juices and clear soup.
Liquid helps keep the stool soft and easy to pass, so it's
important to drink enough fluids. Try not to drink liquids with caffeine
or alcohol in them. Caffeine and alcohol tend to dry out your system.
3. Get enough exercise.
Doctors are not sure why, but regular
exercise helps your system stay active and healthy. You don't need to
become a great athlete. A 20- to 30-minute walk every day will do the
trick.
4. Allow yourself enough time to have a bowel movement.
Sometimes
we feel so hurried that we don't pay attention to our bodies' needs. Make
sure you don't ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.
5. Use laxatives only if a doctor says you should.
Laxatives
(LAHK-sa-tivz) are medicines that will make you pass a stool. Most people
who are mildly constipated do not need laxatives. However, if you are
doing all the right things and you are still constipated, your doctor may
recommend laxatives for a limited time.
Your doctor will tell you
if you need a laxative and what type is best. Laxatives come in many
forms: liquid, chewing gum, pills, and powder that you mix with water, for
example.
6. Check with your doctor about medicines you may be taking.
Some
medicines may cause constipation. They include calcium pills, pain pills
with codeine in them, some antacids, iron pills, diuretics (water pills),
and medicines for depression. If you take medicine for another problem, be
sure to ask your doctor about it.
(Source: excerpt from
Why Am I Constipated: NIDDK)
Why Am I Constipated: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Most people with mild constipation do not need laxatives. However,
doctors may recommend laxatives for a limited time for people with
chronic constipation.
(Source: excerpt from Why Am I Constipated: NIDDK)
Facts and Fallacies About Digestive Diseases: NIDDK (Excerpt)
The truth is, habitual use of
enemas is not harmless. Over time, enemas can impair the natural muscle
action of the intestines, leaving them unable to function normally. An
ongoing need for enemas is not normal; you should see a doctor if you find
yourself relying on them or any other medication to have a bowel movement.
(Source: excerpt from Facts and Fallacies About Digestive Diseases: NIDDK)
Constipation -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)
If you become constipated, first see the doctor to rule out a
more serious problem. If the results show that there is no disease
or blockage, and if your doctor approves, try these remedies:
- Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, either cooked or raw,
and more whole grain cereals and breads. Dried fruit such as
apricots, prunes, and figs are especially high in fiber.
- Drink plenty of liquids (1 to 2 quarts daily), unless you have
heart, blood vessel, or kidney problems. But be aware that some
people become constipated from drinking large amounts of milk.
- Some doctors recommend adding small amounts of unprocessed
bran (“miller’s bran”) to baked goods, cereals, and fruit. Some
people suffer from bloating and gas for several weeks after adding
bran to their diets. Make diet changes slowly, to allow the
digestive system to adapt. Remember, if your diet is well balanced
and contains a variety of foods high in natural fiber, it may not
be necessary to add bran to other foods.
- Stay active.
Do not expect to have a bowel movement every day or even every
other day. “Regularity” differs from person to person. If your bowel
movements are usually painless and occur regularly (whether two
times a day or three times a week), then you are probably not
constipated. (Source: excerpt from Constipation -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA)
Buy Products Related to Treatments for Constipation
