safe laxative

[ijregner]

I would appreciate suggestions for a safe laxative. Grateful.

[rosyG]

What is safe depends on the individual so check with your doctor who knows your medical historyI was prescribed Laxido while in Epsom for knee surgery and My GP has also let me have it. I like it as you don't get bad stomach ache etc!

[Becksagogo]

You could also check with the pharmacist as long as you let them know what other medication you are on.

[Maggimunro]

My life long battle with constipation, despite drinking loads of water and eating a plant based diet, resolved quite smoothly once I started taking magnesium in the evening for my heart health.

[pottypete1]

I’m with rosyG I find Macrogel very gentle Laxido contains Macrogel.

[Nannysue1]

My gastroenterologist has me on lactose which is natural and very gentle.

[Ppiman]

Having a longer than normal bowel down there, constipation is always waiting in the wings. I can honestly tell you that I have tried so many variants and suggestions but have settled for years on two. Each day I eat 6 large, plump prunes and take a glass of Sunsweet prune juice. Nothing else comes close to keeping me going! The prunes are special, as is the juice. I buy the organic Bulgarian ones from Amazon as, after gentle stewing, they swell to near plum size and are a treat, so different from the slimy mass that supermarkets often sell cheaply. Sunsweet juice is maybe twice as potent as the supermarkets' own brands, too.

If those ever fail, which happens, then I have a terrible day or two but any magnesium salt comes to the rescue, either as Milk of Magnesia or Andrew's Liver Salts. Magnesium salts are safe and are standard laxatives in many countries, but less so in the UK where we seem to prefer more expensive branded versions such as Senokot and Dulcolax presumably for marketing reasons.

Steve

[Threecats in reply to Ppiman]

Would definitely second the prunes- work wonders for me, too👍

[Ppiman in reply to Threecats]

If you haven't tried them, then maybe give these a go. Stew them lightly in a mix of prune juice and water and leave them to swell. They are better than any other prune I've ever tasted - but do need to that gentle stewing.

amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07...

I know some people who think, oh, only prunes, how can they be an effective laxative? But they are and work really well.

Steve

[Threecats in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you for the link Steve, I’ll give those a go on my next order. I’ve previously been getting the Chefs & Co ones. They still quite soft and very delicious, so I tend to munch them straight from the bag! There’s definitely a prune sweet spot - around four is just right for me😊

[Ppiman in reply to Threecats]

I’ve tried similar to the ones you use, They do work but the Bulgarian ones are sun dried and such a large prune to be almost a plum. I think you’ll like them.

Do give the Sunsweet juice a go, too. One glass is usually effective. I’m never sure which one is working!

Steve

[Threecats in reply to Ppiman]

I will indeed, they sound very good. My husband used to rave about Sunsweet prune juice, too😊 As for what’s working, I don’t care, so long as it does😀

All the best to you, TC

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Ppiman]

HiTry COLOFAC 140mg. It relaxes the colon and bowel.

1st thing in morning with a big glass of water.

Prescribed by a surgeon who did my bowl to colon examination.

He said "you have the longest colon bunched up that he had ever seen.

Kiwifruit 1 on porridge a day.

Cheese bungs me up if my diet lacks fruit. Figs, prunes help.

But Colofac wins if really bad. Bad after hospital stay.

cheri. JOY. 73. (NZ)

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

HiI take a large glass of water with COLOFAC. Before breakfast and wait an hour.

It's a relaxant and it works like a treat.

An Australian Dr prescribed here in NZ after a bowel to colon examination.

cheers JOY. 73. (NZ)

[Leggylady]

Hi! I have suffered with constipation intermittently through my life. I was recommended to take linseed about 20 years ago and it’s been absolutely fine since then. Two tablespoons daily - however you wish to take it. I’ve mixed with yoghurt or taken in fresh orange juice.

I cannot recommend it highly enough. X

[jeanjeannie50]

On an empty stomach try eating half a tin of peaches in natural juice.

Jean

[Buffafly]

Eat a large slice of fresh pineapple every morning. It works like a charm for me and has other benefits. Of course you probably need something to get started first.

[Belle11]

2 tsps psyllium husks with plenty of water help me treat and avoid constipation - and loose stools too, as it forms a soft gel in the gut. Doctors prescribe it with added artificial sweetener as Fybogel. I buy it without sweetener from a health food shop, as Lepicol or just as psyllium husks.

People have already mentioned magnesium, then there's good old prunes and dried apricots that can often help.

[john-boy-92]

You could try linseed provided that you soak it or take sufficient water with it.

[Auriculaire]

Dried fruit such as prunes, figs or apricots. Ginger root- even candied will do. Magnesium citrate.

[Sylviep7]

Drink more water, preferably filtered, 2 - 3 litres a day. It's also helpful to take a probiotic. Psyllium husk - 2 teasp in water is a natural gentle laxative. Also magnesium has a laxative effect. Worth checking your diet ...eat more fruit and veggies etc.

[belindalore]

There's also Miralax. Over the counter. I agree with Jean about the peaches. Fresh are a little better. They work for me. Good luck.

[Tomred]

Magnesium Citrate, keeps me running smooth.

[Hidden]

I have had some success with senna tea, and it is usually my go to when things get backed up . I also had some success with making overnight oats with linseed or chia seed.

I do have to say I was having terrible constipation issues for years, then I did an almost 3 day fast in which I only had liquids (in preparation for a colonoscopy) and I’ve actually been regular for over 2 months since. So I think next time I get repeated bouts of constipation I’m going to do a fast for a few days to ”reset”.

[Autumn_Leaves]

I have had low transit colon problems for years and this is what currently helps me. I use 5-8g ground flaxseed/linseed 3x daily sprinkled on each meal. I also take about 4g psyllium husk mixed in 250-300ml lukewarm water about 30 minutes before breakfast every morning (equivalent to 1 sachet Fybogel available OTC or on prescription).

Grinding your own flaxseed/linseed is cheaper than buying it prepared. You can toast the seeds beforehand or not.

I’ve tried just about every OTC and prescription medication. I had to stop prucalopride because it gave me palpitations and an increased HR so I don’t recommend it. Linoclatide gave me terrible gas and having settled all those symptoms with the low FODMAP regime (under the supervision of an NHS Registered Specialist Dietitian - don’t attempt to do this on your own) so that wasn’t any good. Macrogol /Miralax works for some but made me bowel incontinent. Senna does nothing and bisacodyl work me up at 5am with a burning stomach so I had to discontinue that one. So quite a long history of nothing working all that much.

I’m a great believer in gut health and the microbiome. I have predominantly (not exclusively) plant based diet that includes a diverse range of fibre types, plus fermented foods, as well as the flaxseed and psyllium husk. It’s a way of life for me. I’m not saying this to prove I’m all virtuous and I’ve seen the light. I haven’t! We’re all unique and sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to find what works for us. Maybe persistence with working on my gut health and microbiome has helped, I don’t know, but if it has it has taken a long time. I spent an absolute fortune on probiotics that did nothing at all, so I always recommend the food first approach. What suits me might not suit you. All I can say is think long term. I just had to persevere even when I didn’t see any change.

[2000RedRose]

2 cups of coffee a day !Hope it works for you too. 2000RedRosen

[bassets]

My doctor recommended Fybogel which works well, but I now have prunes in apple juice once a day. I also take flaxseed.

[Fibber222]

I find either prunes, dried soft apricots if apricots out of season on cereal each morning or lactalose at night.