Constipation!

My husband is constantly suffering from constipation . The doc has prescribed Cosmocol which seems ineffective . He takes Enzalutamide\Xtandi . Do any of you have any more effective laxatives ?

I make sure he has a good diet with plenty of fruit and veg .

[Hidden]

I did try giving him prunes which he does not like . I hide them in a smoothie . Might have another go with them and up the amount !

[NPfisherman]

The key to dealing with constipation is fluids. Drinking 8-12 sixteen ounce glasses of water daily in addition to other beverages like tomato juice, etc will help a lot. Most people do not drink enough fluids daily to resolve their constipation. You may wish to try senna (senokot) which is a mild laxative in addition to the cosmocol...If he does not go for 3 or more days, and has emesis (throwing up) then be seriously concerned because bowel obstruction can be deadly. That would be ER time. The other thing to try is having him do a full liquid diet every few days with soups, smoothies, juices, etc,,,,no bread, cheese, meats, etc...That helps get people going also. Of course, there are fleets enema available at Walmart, CVS, etc as a last resort.

[Derektwright]

My husband had luck with miralax he takes it everyday but has worked great for him

[chascri]

I have had opioid induced contipation for about 3 years now. Prescription Movantik is the best thing I I have found that works. One tablet on rising with a full glass of water at least an hour before eating usually results in a bowel movement within one to two hours daily. I also take stool softener daily and a simethicone tablet before are after meals for stomach pain and gas. Hope this is helpful.

[Hidden in reply to chascri]

Will ask the doc about Movantik at the next appointment. Thanks.

[PartnerRoger]

A quick thought on what works for me... every time. Cups of coffee as well as vitamin C tablets, 1000mg.

[Kimmilemo]

Hit baths with lots of epson salt.

[JimVanHorn]

Just ask your doctor because you may have other medical conditions we do not know about.

[j-o-h-n]

Cold Prune juice... tell him to drink a full 8 oz glass twice a day... Also tell him to drink it all at once and not to stop, cause when you stop that's when it tastes awful. Also snack on refrigerated pitted prunes (plums) and /or pitted apricots. Lots of water.

If all that doesn't work then it's time for TNT...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 01/11/2019 5:27 PM EST

[MontyB]

I had it very bad after a surgery and was taking pain medication regularly which added to the problem. I was prescribed Senna laxative, Reglan, and given Glycolax (Miralax). Those worked for me.

Previously I had tried prune juice, coffee, water, stool softener, mineral oil, exercising, and magnesium citrate. None of these helped.

[kaptank]

I posted a reply some months ago to someone else with the problem. In essence:

The best laxatives work through osmosis. They are salts or sugars that are not easily absorbed and cause the transfer of water from bloodstream back into the intestine. Most other laxatives are habit forming in the sense that progressively larger doses are required and they work by stimulating the bowel, sometimes uncomfortably.

The best known osmotic laxative is Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) which can be bought at the supermarket or pharmacy. You need to take care to find the right dose. Too much can give a very quick case of the runs. I find a teaspoon full dissolved in water about right for me. Start low and build up. Start on about 1/4 teaspoon. If no reaction after about 12-24 hours, try 1/2 teaspoon, then after about 24 hours try a level teaspoon, then a heaped teaspoon a day after. Don't overdo it. This stuff always works. The other common osmotic laxative, less severe in effect, is found in many pharmacy laxatives such as Movicol. The compound to look for is macrogol 3350. A laxative that lists that as the main active will be an osmotic type.

At the other end of the spectrum, diarrhoea, the simple and safe remedy is the compound Loperamide, often in the form of the hydrochloride. The pharmacy medicine Imodium is an example. All of these are useful and safe materials to manage bowel issues.