What is a laxative?
A laxative is a substance that helps you have a bowel movement. Laxatives are used to relieve and prevent constipation, which occurs when it is difficult to have a bowel movement. What types of laxatives are there? There are four types of products for preventing or treating constipation: • Bulking agents. Food such as bran or products such as Citrucel, Metamucil, Fibercon, or Perdiem ease constipation by absorbing more fluid in the intestines. This makes the stool bigger, which gives you the urge to pass the stool. Regular use of bulking agents is safe and often lets you have more stools. • Stool softeners. Products such as Colace lubricate and soften the stool in the intestine, making it easier to pass. Stool softeners do not often cause problems but do not work as well if you do not drink enough water during the day. • Osmotic laxatives. Products such as Fleet Phospho-Soda or Milk of Magnesia and nonabsorbable sugars such as lactulose or sorbitol hold fluids in the intestine and draw
