Constipation Treatments

Understanding Normal Bowel Movements

Talk to your doctor about what is a normal frequency of bowel movements for you. The range of normal is quite broad. Some people have several stools a day; others have one stool every several days.

Making Lifestyle Changes

• Eat a healthful, balanced diet that is high in fiber (unprocessed bran, whole-wheat grains, fresh fruit, and cereals). Limit your intake of processed and fatty foods.
• Exercise regularly.
• Drink at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Taking Laxatives, Stool Softeners, or Glycerin Suppositories

Regularly using laxatives or enemas can be habit forming. Your bowels can become accustomed to these products and require them in order to produce a stool. Stool softeners, though, are not habit-forming. Ask your doctor about how often and for how long to use these products.

Examples of medications include:

• Polyethylene glycol 3350 (eg, MiraLax)—a type of laxative
• Psyllium (eg, Fiber Eze, Fiberalll, Metamucil)—a bulk laxative
• Docusate (eg, Colace, Surfak)—a stool softener
• Lactulose (eg, Cephulac, Enulose, Generlac, Kristalose)—a type of laxative
• Lubiprostone (eg, Amitra)—a medication that increases fluid in stool
• Tegaserod (eg, Miralax)—a medication that brings fluids to the colon
• Cochicine—medication used to treat gout; sometimes used for constipation
• Botulism injections—may be used to treat certain types of constipation

Future Treatments

• Prucalopride (eg, Reslolor)—not currently approved but showing promise in clinical trials
• Cisapride—only available as an investigational drug

Bowel Retraining

Set aside the same time each day to move your bowels. Typically this works best after breakfast and coffee. Sit on the toilet for 15-20 minutes. Over time your body will learn to have regular bowel movements at the same time each day.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback works by attaching sensors to the body. A therapist helps you understand your body’s signals and then you use them to help you move your bowels.

Treating Underlying Medical Conditions

Work with your doctor to treat other conditions that may be causing your constipation.

Changing Medications

If you're taking medication that causes constipation, ask your doctor for an alternative.

If you are taking opioids to relieve pain, you may have constipation. A study found that the medication methylnaltrexone (Relistor) can rapidly relieve this side effect. *