Means for constipation for the elderly: candles, tablets, syrups
Constipation is a common problem among people of any age, but more often it affects the elderly. Stool retention can be associated with diseases of the digestive system, slowing down the body's functionality, psychoemotional shaking and stress, and lowering physical activity. Treatment of the problem should be comprehensive. Constipation for elderly people is prescribed only if the difficulties of defecation can not be eliminated by other means.
All medicines have side effects, which in one way or another can adversely affect the structure and functional value of the intestine. Therefore, it is important to accurately choose the right drug. Since older people can take several types of medicines at the same time, it can harm the intestines, and the positive effect of treatment will not be achieved.
Groups of drugs
In pharmacology, there are several groups of drugs that can be used as effective agents for constipation in elderly patients:
- Osmolytic laxatives;
- irritating laxatives;
- bulk laxatives;
- prebiotics;
- oil.
Osmolytic laxative
Once inside the intestine, they retain fluid in its lumen and soften the stools, facilitating easier defecation. The drug starts to work after 6 hours after admission.
Such drugs for constipation for the elderly are safe for infrequent use, not addictive, but with prolonged regular use can adversely affect the health of the heart and blood vessels against the background of a large loss of water and potassium and sodium salts.
Representatives of osmolytic agents are Frötrans, Sodium sulfate, Karlovy Vary salt.
Annoying laxatives
This group of drugs affects the neural receptors of the colon, resulting in increased peristalsis, and feces quickly move to the rectum and anus. The remedy starts working 12 hours after admission.
You can use these medications for constipation in elderly people occasionally, infrequently, as abuse of them can lead to such serious complications as intestinal atony, persistent constipation, abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction and even oncology. Despite this, annoying laxatives are popular with the elderly due to their availability and effectiveness.
Representatives of this group of laxatives with constipation in the elderly are issued in the form of candles, tablets and drops. These are preparations Bisacodyl, Senadé, Regulax.
Bulk laxatives
These are specific medicamentous fillers, which, falling into the intestine, begin to attract water, increase in volume and contribute to excretion of stool. The effect of the drug comes in 8-12 hours, less often after a few days.
For normal operation of these drugs against constipation for the elderly, one important condition must be observed: drink at least 2 liters of liquid. This is a fairly mild laxatives of plant origin, therefore, with strong constipation, it is useless to use them.
The representative of the group is Mukofalk.
Prebiotics
Preparations that promote the growth and reproduction of useful sour-milk microflora, which normalizes the work of the intestine. But, at the same time, prebiotics have a partial effect as osmotic and irritating laxatives. They draw water into the lumen of the intestine, dilute the stool, irritate the receptors of the colon and stimulate the progress of feces.
Thus, prebiotics can be used as a mild laxative for constipation for the elderly. You can use them regularly, for a long time. Prebiotics include Lactulose, Portalac, Prelax.
Oily purgative
Familiar castor and almond oils, petroleum jelly are also the drugs of choice for laxatives for constipation for the elderly. They soften the feces, and then promote their easier movement through the intestines. The effect of oil-based products develops in 2-4 hours.
This type of laxative is especially recommended for persons suffering from hypertension, hemorrhoids, abdominal hernia. It must be remembered that prolonged uncontrolled intake of oil laxatives can cause periodic involuntary release of stool.
Overview of drugs
Consider the most commonly prescribed laxatives for the elderly.
FORLAX
The drug is a group of osmolytics. Effective cure for constipation in the elderly, which is allowed to take up to 3 months. In the future, this normalizes the work of the intestine, if you combine the treatment with diet and moderate physical activity.
Forlax is prescribed for the treatment of constipation of an unsystematic nature, but in elderly persons it can be prescribed in cases of chronic and drug constipation. The drug is taken in the amount of 1-2 packets per day.
The advantages of osmolytic laxatives is the absence of adsorption in the intestine, they work regardless of the state of its microflora. The drug purposefully increases the fluid content in the stool and mildly removes them. Does not cause flatulence, pain in the abdomen and rectum, does not enhance the processes of fermentation.
Forlaks as other osmoliticheskie laxatives constipation in the elderly, when uncontrolled use can lead to leaching from the body of minerals - sodium, potassium and calcium, which could adversely affect the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, and musculoskeletal system. Therefore, without the appointment of a physician, Forlax and its analogs( Lavakol, Fortrans, Osmogol, Macrogol) are not recommended.
contraindications to Forlaks are colitis, Crohn's disease, acute inflammatory diseases of the digestive organs suspected perforating gastrointestinal tract, local narrowing of the intestine( megacolon), fructose intolerance.
Senade
The drug is a group of irritant laxatives. The medicine is used for constipation in the elderly. The active ingredient is senna extract that is hollow, containing cenosides - plant components that have irritating effect.
It is prescribed as an effective remedy for the treatment of hypotonic constipation in old age and relief of defecation with hemorrhoids, anal fissures and proctitis.
Advantages of Senad are a quick result, coming in 6-12 hours after taking the drug, and lack of addiction.
The disadvantages of Senada include side effects: abdominal pain, flatulence, a feeling of heaviness in the intestine. With uncontrolled long-term use of the drug may develop dehydration, loss of salts, lethargy and atony of the intestine. The drug is contraindicated in acute inflammatory pathologies in the digestive organs, internal bleeding, water-electrolyte disorders.
This laxative for constipation for the elderly is prescribed for 1 tablet at night. Sometimes a doctor can prescribe 2-3 tablets if stagnant phenomena in the intestine are pronounced. Senadé analogues are Senalex, Senadexin, Regulax and other laxatives for constipation for the elderly.
Portalak
Laxative group of prebiotics. The active ingredient is lactulose. The agent is not practically digested by the digestive tract and does not penetrate into the blood, which makes this drug from constipation more urgent for use in the elderly. After all, many of them suffer from chronic pathologies and, concomitantly with the intake of laxatives, they undergo additional medication.
Portalac is prescribed for chronic constipation, intestinal dysbiosis. Advantages of the drug is a softer action in comparison with irritating and osmotic laxatives, the possibility of prolonged use without harm to health, the growth of useful intestinal microflora.
Portalaka The disadvantages include flatulence, rumbling, and abdominal pain, lack of effect on intestinal motility, resulting in many older people on this medication for constipation refuse. Means is contraindicated in intestinal obstruction, suspected appendicitis and peritonitis, bleeding in the digestive tract, congenital intolerance of lactulose.
Portalak is assigned a course of 1-2 months. In the first 3 days, the drug is taken in the amount of 15-45 ml, then a maintenance dose of 15-30 ml is established. The mild effect of Portalalak makes it possible to use it as a laxative for constipation for elderly recumbent patients. The analogues of Portalalak are Lactulose Stade, Goodluck.
Mukofalk
The drug refers to natural laxatives with constipation for the elderly group of bulk fillers. Psyllium seeds, which are part of Mukafalk, normalize the work of the intestines, soften the feces, regulate their excretion from the intestine.
When entering the intestine, hydrophilic fibers of plantain seeds attract water, increasing in volume and simultaneously increasing the volume of feces. As a result of this effect, peristalsis is intensified, and the fecal masses move more actively to the rectum.
The drug is indicated for chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, difficulties of defecation with hemorrhoids, anal fissures and in the postoperative period. Advantages Mukofalka are the absence of addiction to the drug, the impossibility of its adsorption, a positive effect on the beneficial intestinal microflora.
The disadvantages of Mukofalk include a feeling of heaviness in the intestines, flatulence. Contraindicated for people with diabetes, intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, violation of water-electrolyte equilibrium.
The drug as a medicine for constipation for the elderly is assigned to 1 packet 2 to 6 times a day, depending on the patient's condition. During the reception of Mukofalka it is recommended to drink at least 6 glasses of clean water daily. Analogues of the drug are Methyl Cellulose, Sterkulia.
Elderly people often face stagnation in the intestines, due to age-related changes in the body. Do not ignore this problem, as it can lead to irreversible consequences.
There are effective constipation medications for elderly patients with a mild and safe effect. The main thing is to select the drugs together with the attending physician, taking into account the age features of the person.
Author: Olga Rogozhkina, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru
