What types of laxatives are available?
In general there are five classes of laxatives. The classification is dependent upon the mechanism of action of the agents. The five groups are bulk forming (roughage), emollients, lubricants, saline and stimulants. • Bulk forming laxatives (eg. Metamucil) takes up water, swells and thereby increases the bulk of the faeces and facilitates evacuation • Emollients soften the faeces by facilitating the admixture of aqueous and fatty substances • Saline laxatives attract water into the intestines thereby swelling and faecal contents and stimulating intestinal motility • Stimulants (eg. Senekot) exert their effect by producing local irritation and stimulating accumulation of water in the intestines, thereby increasing intestinal motility • Lubricant laxatives soften faecal contents by coating them and thus preventing absorption of faecal water into the intestines. How does Agarol® laxative relieve constipation? Agarol is a lubricant laxative. The active ingredient, paraffin liquid, is a min
