Getting severe constipation since started to take heart medecine.

[Fawzi]

Hi,Since I started to take aspirin, cardioace, triatec-ramipril, plavix-clopidogrel, aspavor-stating, am getting severe constipation, high difficulty for bowel movement.

This is persistent even though am eating banana, drinking water 2 litres, and other precautions.

Can you please advise for a solution

[Hidden]

Hello

Been constipated can be a side effect of your medications

You need to drink fresh orange juice , eat prunes , foods that contain fibre as well as drinking your water

I know it is a very unpleasant thing to be suffering from and if none of these things work then speak with your Doctor who can either suggest something that will be safe to take or prescribe you something x

[Enwau in reply to Hidden]

Yes I agree that medication can give you constipation. I am on 6 drugs but the only drug we have in common is Clopidogrel. I solved the problem by taking four prunes in juice lunchtime together with All Bran in the morning. Hope this helps.

[Parminter]

Fawzi, I have very severe constipation, fallout from other drugs. After years of searching, I find that the best solutions are natural, with fiercer options when things don't work well.

So, every day I take a mixture of three sorts of mucilaginous seeds - linseed, chia and psyllium husk. I have them all mixed together in a large jar. All cheap bulk formers, and harmless. Three or four teaspoons in the mouth, then rapidly knocked back with plenty of water. (Never become dehydrated).

On top of that I take Normacol Plus, also made from natural substances, a good old remedy that my mother used to take. Excellent, but not cheap.

If no joy there, I take senna, two or three tablets. Also natural.

If you take these natural things daily, it will keep the stool soft, and avoid the very real possibility of a ruptured colon. A medical emergency.

If all that is still insufficient, take Dulcolax. But don't take Dulcolax without all the natural bulk-formers. (Very occasionally I will take a Dulcolaz suppository).

I loathe things like Movicol, which make me want to vomit. Toxic to me. I cannot get it down at all!

Complicated, but it should become something you do religiously every day.

[Orchidlady27 in reply to Parminter]

I find adding ground golden flaxseed to my food very helpful. It has no taste and I mix a spoonful with yoghurt, cereal, soup, anything really. Recommended to me by a gastroenterologist. Maybe worth a try for you!

[Fawzi in reply to Parminter]

Hi, thank you very much, do you blend the linseed

[Parminter in reply to Fawzi]

I used to, then my machine broke down. I just swallow. Grinding is probably best for food value, but the mucilage is on the outside, so either way is fine.

[TeresaMay]

Prunes! I have also found extra sugar works well. I remember when working as a volunteer on a hospital trolley shop the nurses would advise the patients to eat marshmallows when they had a constipation issue.

[Cat04]

Prunes, dates or figs and a banana every day. A daily glass of natural juice - apple, orange or tomato work for me, plus drink plenty of water. Two senna tablets at night time.Still get constipated sometimes but then have a large dose of Lactulose - guarenteed to unblock me in 3 hours!

[Clerkenweller]

reading this eating my sugar free Alpen with prunes mixed seeds and nuts washed down with apple juice. Will be followed by exercise (after digestion) and fluids throughout the day. Lots of fruit and vegetables. Laxido sachets from the phamacist are always at hand! You’ll sort it out.

[Norton]

hi

I had the same issue several weeks ago and posted on here, glad to say after no longer a problem good plate of red pepper and lentil soup 👍

[Shellac]

I've been suffering the same I've been taking laxido but not very good, eating and drinking ok, I will ask my pharmacist for maybe something stronger

[Harveyone]

Hi yes 5/6 apple or pears a day,walk as much as possible.Goodluck

[richard_jw]

BTW Bananas are not high in fibre.

I take Ispaghula husk. It' very high in fibre and softens the stool. . The med which made me v. constipated was rivaroxaban 20mg.

You can get it on big tubs from amazon.

[pasigal]

I would suggest psyllium husk. Works for me! But note that you generally need to take it 2 hours before or after medication to avoid interfering with absorption. Please check with your cardiologist first, though.

[Qualipop]

I've taken opiates for pain for 20 years and now suffer the side effects- they slow down everything. I take movecol daily prescribed by my GP ( It causes the fewest griping wind pains) and a high fibre diet. Prunes work best for me. DO NOT let it go on, get medical help. Mybest friend just lost her husband because of a blocked bowel.

[MustyK]

H Fawzi. Lots of good advice above. I too suffered from constipations despite eating bran, salad, oranges, prunes, drinking over 2l a day. The GP put me in ducosate (which you can buy over the counter). However, we traced the problem to Ranolazine as it was slowing down the colon. We halved the dosage and pronto the problem disappeared. Speak with your GP to find out which medication might be causing the slowing down of the colon and see whether it can be substituted or reduced

[Fawzi in reply to MustyK]

Thanks very much, l will check, hope it helps

[BHFK967]

Since a change in my medication, I found the same, had a chat with my pharmacist and added a liquid laxative (5 to 10ml) to my program, and this has resolved the issue

[Fawzi in reply to BHFK967]

Can you please advise which laxative it is, l can ask doctor for it then, because am suffering a lot from constipation and it has caused haemorrhoids also.

[Fawzi in reply to BHFK967]

Hi, which laxative please

[BHFnurse_June BHF Nurse]

Hi everyone, just to mention that if you are experiencing ongoing problems with constipation, check in with your GP. And if you are thinking about taking laxatives, ask your GP or pharmacist.

[BHFK967]

I'm using a Lactulose oral solution, side affect a little wind, but works