Laxative: for the elderly, children and other patients

A modern laxative against constipation acts on the bodye worse enema. At home, such drugs effectively remove from the intestine accumulated slag and toxins. This helps to eliminate problems in the digestive tract or to prepare an organ for diagnostic or surgical intervention.

Effective laxatives can be either synthetic or natural. All of them have features - different mechanism of action, method of application and dosage form.

How does a laxative for constipation work?

It is important to treat constipation seriously, finding out the causes of the pathology and reviewing the diet. For example, if there is not enough fiber in the diet, it is not surprising that the intestine works poorly. If a change in the diet does not help, with frequent constipation you can use laxatives.

Preparations begin to work in the large intestine. Some laxatives soften feces by attracting water and activate intestinal peristalsis. Other drugs help not only to ease the act of defecation and eliminate constipation, but also to normalize the condition of the intestinal microflora.

Laxatives may take the following forms of release:

• drops;
• teas;
• syrup;
• powder;
• microclysters;
• candles;
• tablets.

When is a laxative necessary?

Slagging of the body adversely affects human health in general.

Polluted intestines can cause the following symptoms:

• frequent colds;
• respiratory system diseases;
• fast fatigue;
• reduced performance;
• persistent flatulence, problems with stools;
• dermatological diseases.

The listed signs are a signal of slagging of the intestine, a congestion in it of a huge volume of toxins. Improve the situation can the appointment of a laxative agent of natural or synthetic origin for the purification of the intestine. The main thing is to select the drug correctly. Learn more about cleansing the body of toxins →

Laxatives are irritating

This is the most effective and powerful laxative that are assigned to work at a sluggish bowel. These include laxative suppositories and Bisacodyl tablets. The advantage is a quick result, as their evening reception in the morning leads to defecation.

drug is prescribed as a good laxative quick action in spontaneous and acute constipation, but not for chronic problems. Contraindicated taking them to nursing and pregnant women, children up to 8 years, as well as in cystitis, peritonitis, bowel perforation, acute hemorrhoids, proctitis, colitis, abdominal pain of unknown origin.

According to the instructions, the laxative effect of this group of drugs occurs as a result of chemical stimulation of the large intestine receptors, which leads to an increase in its peristalsis. This stimulation helps to empty the intestines 8-12 hours after taking the drug.

Laxatives osmotic action

effective laxative preparations for simultaneous purgation for poisoning, acute constipation, as well as for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures of the gastrointestinal tract organs( prior to colonoscopy) are osmotic laxatives.

They are safe, if you compare them with irritant drugs, do not form an intestinal atony and addiction syndrome. But, like most drugs, they can not eliminate the cause of constipation, having only a symptomatic effect. You can use them up to 3 months.

Good laxatives of this group are Karlovy Vary salt, Lavakol, Sodium sulfate, Magnesium sulfate( Magnesia).

According to the instructions, the active substance of the drug keeps water in the lumen of the intestine, which allows effectively softening and increasing the volume of feces. Increased osmotic pressure causes a laxative effect.

Contraindications to the appointment of osmotic laxatives is dehydration of the body, chronic constipation, pain in the intestine of an unknown etiology.

Laxative prebiotics

This is an effective laxative for daily use in the elderly, children and pregnant women. Prebiotics are food components that are not digested in the stomach, manifesting themselves as stimulants for the development of beneficial intestinal microflora.

Remedies are mild laxatives for every day, since they act harmlessly and slowly, creating a sure therapeutic effect, compared with osmotic and irritating laxatives. These include Lactulose, Inulin, bran.

Prebiotics combine two mechanisms of action, working as osmotic and irritating laxatives, but the effect of them will be softer. They practically have no side effects, except flatulence, which passes quickly enough - 72 hours after the start of treatment. Indications for the appointment of prebiotics are chronic and acute constipation, treatment of intestinal dysbiosis, hepatic encephalopathy. There are no contraindications.

Natural laxatives of vegetable origin

Laxative tablets of plant origin, getting into the intestines, attract water, as a result of which they swell and increase the volume of feces while stretching the walls of the organ. Against this background, there is excitation of peristalsis, and further evacuation of the intestine is the result of a reflex reaction.

As active ingredients in plant laxatives are natural substances that are almost not digested in the stomach. Here are two examples of the best laxatives of natural origin - Phytolax and Senada.

Fitolax perfectly fights with constipation, working delicately and carefully. The composition of Phytolax includes senna extract, plantain, apricot flesh, fruits of dill. Form release - chewing tablets and tablets. Indications for use are atonia and bowel weakness, constipation. Contraindicated in pregnant and lactating. The course of treatment with Phytolax takes 2 weeks, the drug is taken at night in the amount of 1-2 tablets.

Senadé is a popular drug for choosing laxatives for the elderly due to its low cost and effectiveness. This drug, being in the intestines, enhances peristalsis, promoting feces to the anus. The active substance of the drug is senna extract.

Indications for the appointment may be constipation, hemorrhoids, impaired intestinal peristalsis. Contraindicated to take Senada to persons with bleeding and acute inflammatory phenomena in the digestive organs, intestinal obstruction. The drug is administered orally, at night in the amount of 1 tablet.

How to make laxatives yourself

Laxatives at home are easy to prepare: for this purpose, suitable indulgent plants, fruits( prunes), vegetable oil, castor oil and other safe natural ingredients. Castor oil has a laxative effect. Cleansing begins with a small intestine, so it is important for a person to stop taking food before and after the procedure for 5-7 hours. The drug is dosed at a rate of 1 g per 1 kg of the patient's weight. To enhance the effect of cleansing, after taking oil, you need to drink lemon juice in a double volume from the amount of castor oil. The result of the procedure can be expected in 1-2 hours.

Instead of a laxative enema, which not everyone can do at home on their own, folk recipes in the form of decoctions and tinctures with alcohol, prepared on the basis of leaves of Senna, dill, aloe, bark of buckthorn are suitable. You can also buy ready-made vegetable dues, which are easy to prepare, based on instructions.

It's no secret that the treatment of stool delay should begin with a correction of nutrition. One of the effective and at the same time delicious means of constipation is a dessert of dried fruits, bran and kefir.

Safe laxatives for pregnant and children

For constipation, a laxative for children and pregnant women should be light and, preferably, odorless and tasteless. The drug should not cause addiction, interfere with the absorption of nutrients, provoke spasms in the intestines and digestive disorders.

Suitable laxatives for the baby and the expectant mother are glycerin suppositories, Dufalac and Miclax enemas, which have an effect after 15 minutes. There are no contraindications to their use.

Laxative for the elderly

In the elderly, the choice of laxatives should be approached, given the patient's health. Most often doctors prescribe elderly people irritating laxatives and preparations of natural origin.

This can be:

• Guttalax. The drug, gently acting on the intestines and not causing addiction, which allows you to take it a long time.
• Slabilen. Assigned when running locks. Drops of Slabilen irritate the receptors of the large intestine, causing a laxative effect.
• Dibrolaks. The drug is based on Senna, which has the effect of an irritating laxative.

Laxatives for recumbent patients

For patients who are forced to be in a recumbent position for a long time, a "slow" laxative is indicated.

These include:

• Portalak. The drug is prescribed for chronic constipation, its most important effect is the elimination of ammonia.
• Forlax. It is an osmotic laxative. The result comes in 8-12 hours, sometimes in two days. Do not take more than 3 weeks. At course treatment can normalize the work of the intestines, which in the future will need to be supported by moderate physical loads and proper nutrition.

Before receiving any laxatives, read the instructions. Elderly people, pregnant women and children should not take laxatives without the knowledge of the treating doctor. The effectiveness of well-chosen drugs is undeniable.

Author: Olga Rogozhkina, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru

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