Remedy for constipation: effective drugs to eliminate constipation
Constipation is a common condition that can affect people of any age. This means that a person does not have a regular stool or he can not completely empty the intestine. In such cases it is necessary to consult a doctor and choose an effective remedy for constipation.
However, it should be remembered that with constipation, medications are not the main treatment. Before using them, patients should change their diet and lifestyle.
Overview of effective agents for constipation
Treatment of constipation depends on the cause of its development, duration and severity of symptoms. In many cases, the best remedy for constipation is a change in diet and lifestyle. In the case of insufficient effectiveness of these measures, pharmacotherapy is started.
There are several groups of drugs against constipation. As a rule, all these medicines have a laxative effect or facilitate the passage of stools through the intestines.
In adult patients, various laxatives are used to treat constipation.
Laxatives, increasing the volume of feces
As a rule, with constipation, doctors first prescribe these drugs with a mild effect. They help the calves keep the liquid. This means that the volume of the contents of the intestine increases, and it also softens, which makes it easier to pass.
When using these drugs against constipation, you need to drink plenty of fluids. Relaxing funds for constipation should not be taken at night, although the effect of taking these medications occurs, usually after 2-3 days.
Psyllium( shell of psyllium seeds)
This is a herbal remedy for constipation based on fiber. Assign it for chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. An example of such a laxative drug for constipation is Mukofalk. This drug for constipation can be used in adults and children aged more than 6 years.
Children from 6 to 12 years are recommended to take 1.25-2.5 grams of psyllium 2-6 times a day, diluting it in a glass of water just before consumption. For children over 12 years and adults, appoint 2.5-7.5 grams of psyllium 2-6 times a day, diluting it in a glass of water just before consumption.
Contraindications include hypersensitivity to the drug, intestinal obstruction, fecal obstruction, symptoms of an acute abdomen, gastrointestinal bleeding.
Side effects of taking psyllium are bloating and a feeling of bowel overflow.
Methylcellulose
This remedy helps to restore regular stools with chronic constipation and constipation associated with irritable bowel syndrome. It is prescribed for adults and children over 6 years. Typically, constipation products containing methyl cellulose are available in the form of tablets or powder.
Children aged 6 to 12 years are prescribed 500 mg( 1 tablet) orally up to 6 times a day, which should be taken with a glass of water. Children over 12 years and adults are prescribed 2 tablets( 1000 mg) orally up to 6 times a day.
Contraindications to the use of methylcellulose include hypersensitivity to the drug, intestinal obstruction, fecal obstruction, symptoms of appendicitis or acute abdomen, bleeding from the digestive tract.
Sterkulia
This is a natural herbal remedy that helps to treat constipation, which is obtained from the gum of the wood of the sturcium stinging. An example of such a drug for the treatment of constipation is Normakol - a mini-enema for rectal use.
Use Normakol can only once, for 5-20 minutes before defecation. Contraindications to its use - allergy to the drug, intestinal obstruction, age to 6 years.
Side effects may include dehydration, local irritation of the rectum, skin rashes.
Osmotic laxatives
If the stool continues to be firm after taking laxatives that increase the volume of stool, doctors can prescribe medications with an osmotic mechanism of action.
Osmotic laxatives for constipation also increase the amount of fluid in the intestines, which softens the stool and stimulates its passage through the digestive tract. When treating these drugs, it is important to remember the use of a sufficient amount of liquid.
Lactulose
Lactulose is part of the Dufalac formulation. This drug for constipation in adults is prescribed in a dose of 15-30 ml of solution once a day, in some patients, sometimes 60 ml is administered. Children under the age of 3 years are prescribed 5 ml per day, from 3 to 6 years - 5-10 ml per day, from 7 to 14 years - 15 ml per day.
The drug is contraindicated in patients with galactosemia, allergy to lactulose or other components of the drug, intestinal obstruction. With caution apply lactulose in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Macrogol( polyethylene glycol)
Fortran is an example of this effective and powerful constipation. The drug is used only in adults. The contents of 1 package of the drug are diluted in 1 liter of water and drunk for 30-60 minutes.
Typically, this agent is rarely used to treat constipation, it is often used in preparation for surgery or endoscopic research methods.
Contraindications include hypersensitivity reactions to the drug, intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, ulcerative colitis, and gastric carcinoma.
Stimulant laxatives with constipation
If the patient has a soft consistency in the stool, but still has constipation, doctors can prescribe stimulant laxatives. This type of drugs stimulates the muscles of the intestine, helping him to move the stool to the anal passage.
These relatively fast-acting constipation agents can only be used for a short time, the effect of their use comes in 6-12 hours.
Based on senna
These drugs include Senadexin - an inexpensive drug for constipation of plant origin. Its dose for children from 6 to 12 years is half a tablet at a time, for children over 12 years old and adults - 1 tablet a day.
Contraindications - allergy to the components of the drug, intestinal obstruction, ulcerative colitis, symptoms of appendicitis or an acute abdomen, bleeding from the digestive tract.
Bisacodyl
This agent is available for oral administration and for rectal administration. At oral intake of adults recommended 5-10 mg, with rectal use - 1-2 suppositories per day. Children aged 6-12 years are prescribed a dose of 5 mg.
Contraindications include drug intolerance, intestinal obstruction, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, symptoms of an acute abdomen.
Sodium picosulphate
The substance is part of the product from constipation Picholax. The drug is available in the form of drops or tablets for oral administration. Adults and children over 10 years of age are prescribed 10-25 drops or 1 tablet once a day. Children aged 4-10 years are prescribed 7-13 drops of Pikolaks per day.
The drug is contraindicated in people with allergies to it or intolerance to any of its components, intestinal obstruction, acute abdomen, nausea and vomiting, it can not be taken during pregnancy.
Laxative products that soften the stool
These constipation preparations are surfactants that reduce the surface tension of stool. They also increase the water and fat content in the stool, softening its consistency.
Dokuzat
An example of this remedy is the mini-enema Norgalax. Adults are injected into the rectum at 1 dose of Norgalax per day.
The drug is contraindicated in allergies to its components, intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, in children under 15 years of age.
Saline laxatives
These medications are used only in acute cases of constipation provided there is no mechanical intestinal obstruction. They lead to the osmotic retention of fluid in the intestines, which increases the volume of fecal masses and intensifies peristalsis.
Magnesium preparations( hydroxide, citrate and magnesium sulfate)
Used to quickly eliminate constipation. Magnesium sulfate is used in adults in a dose of 10-30 g of powder diluted in 100 ml of warm water.
Contraindications - allergy to the drug, the symptoms of an acute abdomen, intestinal obstruction, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.
Other laxatives
These drugs have different mechanisms of action, leading to an increase in fluid in the intestines and a decrease in constipation symptoms.
These include:
- Lubiprostone is an activator of chloride channels that increases the fluid content in the lumen of the intestine. It is recommended for the treatment of chronic constipation, especially if they are caused by irritable bowel syndrome. Adults with chronic constipation appoint 24 mcg twice a day, with irritable bowel syndrome - 8 mcg twice a day. Contraindications include allergy to the drug, intestinal obstruction, severe diarrhea, severe hepatic insufficiency, children's age.
- Linaclotide is an activator of the guanylate cyclase receptors, which increases the secretion of fluid in the intestine. It is used to treat chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. Linaclotype is administered to adults in a dose of 145-290 μg once a day on an empty stomach 30 minutes before the first meal. The drug is contraindicated for children, if there is an allergy, intestinal obstruction.
How long can I take laxatives?
If a person has constipation that is short-lived, doctors usually recommend stopping laxatives immediately after softening the stool and emptying the bowel. However, if constipation is caused by an existing disease or the taking of any medication, the patient has to take laxatives much longer, perhaps even for several months or years.
Unfortunately, there is no medication for constipation without addiction. Sooner or later the intestine adapts to their action anyway, therefore it is necessary to cancel laxative preparations during their long reception, gradually reducing the dose. The cancellation process may even take several months.
Probiotics for constipation
Probiotics can be called drugs, food additives and foods containing bacteria useful for the intestine. With constipation, as with diarrhea, the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract is disturbed, so the use of drugs to restore intestinal microflora can be useful in this condition.
But you need to understand that the effect of these drugs can not be fast, and not all patients are effective. Nevertheless, almost half of the patients with constipation experience relief from taking probiotics, and these funds are quite safe and cheap.
The most commonly used drugs are lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and saccharomycetes, which are useful for the intestines and for improving digestion with constipation, as well as with bloating.
Treatment of constipation during pregnancy
In pregnancy, it is necessary to use a means of constipation, harmless to the child. Before you start medication, you need to use the most natural means of constipation - changing the diet with a gradual increase in the amount of fiber and use a sufficient amount of fluid.
If these measures are ineffective, doctors prescribe laxatives. These drugs should not be absorbed in the intestine or have a negative effect on the fetus. Most often used macrogol or lactulose. If they are ineffective, doctors can recommend small doses of senna or bisacodyl.
Traditional methods of treatment of constipation
There are no miracle cures for traditional medicine from constipation. Almost all of them are based on achieving softening of the stool and stimulation of peristalsis.
An example of effective folk methods are:
- Bran. People with chronic constipation can consume 1 teaspoon of bran, boiled in boiling water, three times a day for a week, then the portion should be increased to 2 tablespoons.
- Vegetable oil. Every day before eating, you should drink a tablespoon of any vegetable oil.
- Prunes - rich in potassium and fiber, which stimulate intestinal peristalsis.
Constipation is a common problem caused by an incorrect lifestyle and inappropriate nutrition. It is with the correction of these errors that you need to start treating constipation. It is important to remember that the most effective and good remedy for constipation is a change in diet and an increase in physical activity.
Author: Taras Nevelichuk, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru
