Constipation

[PennyMary]

I had ablation 2 months ago. So far successful. However I am on amiodarone and other drugs which make me constipated. Does anyone know of a laxative that is compatible with amiodarone. Senna and other derivatives are said to be incompatible in the leaflet with amiodarone

[Physalis]

You could try eating ten prunes each day. That's very effective.

[CDreamer]

My OH has same problems on Amiodarone. He sometimes takes Dulcolax with no consequences but taking any laxative can be problematic. I discourage other than occasional use.

You can ask your GP as I understand there are none laxative meds which improve motility without the consequences of laxatives.

Stay very well hydrated & movement & walking are best remedies to stay regular I find, once you get moving.

[Buffafly]

Our GP prescribed Movicol for my husband and that is what I had after my spinal op. The dose and frequency can be adjusted as required. I don’t know about compatibility with drugs, the best person to ask is a pharmacist.

[Paul0208]

Ground flax seeds. approx 1 tablespoon per day

[CDreamer in reply to Paul0208]

I hope soaked as if you take those dry and then drink water you may get a blockage, which is what happened to my father-in-law!

[Paul0208 in reply to CDreamer]

So sorry. I thought it was obvious to put them in something like porridge or yoghurt that I didn't think to add extra info.

[Peony4575]

I started taking magnesium citrate to help with palpitations . Only take two 100mg capsules spaced out and it has transformed the slowest bowl in England to a happy daily habit.Don’t know if you are able to take magnesium . I use Biocare brand

[Hidden]

Have you tried a glass of pure orange juice and a bowel of All Bran from breakfast for a couple of weeksThat is what they used to give in hospitals after people who had bowel operations and it certainly did the trick much easier on the bowel than laxitives.

[secondtry]

Maybe try a warm large glass of your favourite squash with a pinch of Baking Soda (not baking powder!) in the morning. I have been doing that for a while and think it helps. I also have a small portion of All Bran several times a week.

[rubyred]

That’s rotten when caused by medication. All I can suggest is white grape juice which was recommended to me years ago by a pharmacist. It’s may also be there is a food that runs through you. I find fresh beetroot one of these foods.

[Ppiman]

Having had IBS and now diverticular issues, constipation is something that I live with but need to avoid. Over the years, I must have tried every known treatment and, although many do work, most are quite griping and, thus, rather painful in their action; also, many are not natural or are not recommended for long term use. Of the artificial ones, lactulose is said to be the best but I find it a very uncomfortable choice.

My own recommendation is to try dried, pitted prunes that have been home stewed in prune juice. My preference is for the really large organic prunes available from an internet company called Zoya, along with a prune juice called "Sunsweet" (Sunsweet prunes are also not bad, but no prunes taste as nice, or work as well as the large organic ones in my experience). The reason, I gather, is that the large prunes and the Sunsweet juice both contain far higher amounts of a natural sugar called sorbitol, which is what helps with the constipation.

This is a link to where I buy the dried organic prunes:

zoya.bg/en/Pitted-Dried-Pru....

I buy a few kilos each time to keep the postage costs low. My wife stews them gently in prune juice and water until the skins soften a little and we store them in the fridge, eating about 6-8 each morning with a glass of Sunsweet prune juice (which is available in supermarkets such as Tesco and Morison's). They work really well and completely comfortably. On the rare occasion these fail, 30-40ml of Milk of Magnesia works best if taken just before sleep.

I hope you find relief. It's a very uncomfortable condition to have to deal with.

Steve

[Raylpa]

My GP prescribed Fybogel, orange flavour powder add water and drink. Pleasant taste and works gentle on system. The benefits of taking Fybogel are that the stools are softer and bulkier and so move more easily through the bowel.

[PennyMary]

Thank you so much for your helpful replies. I will try the prunes at first. My father used to have a bowl of prunes in his fridge all the time now I think about it. I have tried Allbran and cereals but really don't like them. Have to force myself to eat them. I do actually eat a lot of fruit and veg anyway. I think some drugs affect people in different ways. Do love this site, so many helpful people

[Challiefan]

Prunes are a guaranteed solution for me, but if you get sick of them I've also found that lots of fruit does the trick as well. I vary which fruits, but bananas, apples and oranges all work for me.

[Opoho]

Add a kiwi fruit a day to your prunes and your insides will be happy 😃

[cuore]

Right now I am on a seed concoction which seem to also be helping for constipation. But, in the past, I put one teaspoon of psyllium husk on my oatmeal that did the trick.

[LHDLondon]

Lactulose would help, taken daily first thing.