MICROLAX® can relieve constipation within 30 minutes.
First, try drinking a cup of warm water, wait 30 minutes, and then gently massage your lower abdomen to try to stimulate the area. If that doesn't seem to help, take a hot shower, with the water concentrated on your lower back.
The fastest way to get constipation relief is to use OTC laxatives that are administered rectally. These include saline and mineral oil enemas as well as glycerin and bisacodyl rectal suppositories. Common OTC products in this group include Fleet enema, Pedia-Lax, and the Magic Bullet.
Dulcolax® Soft Chews work faster than MiraLAX. Dulcolax® works in as little as 30 minutes (works in 30 minutes to 6 hours) while MiraLAX works in 1–3 days (based on product labeling).
Movement and exercise can help you empty your bowels. Increasing activity will help you to improve your bowel function. Aim for 30 minutes of activity a day, for example, swimming, walking or gardening.
Most professionals recommend spending no more time on the toilet than it takes to pass a stool. Studies have shown that the average bowel movement takes 12 seconds. Sometimes it does take longer, however, so at maximum, you should not spend more than 10 minutes on the toilet.
Tenesmus is a frequent urge to go to the bathroom without being able to go. It usually affects your bowels, but sometimes your bladder. Severe inflammation that irritates the nerves involved in pooping or peeing is often the cause. Your nerves overreact, telling your muscles that you constantly have to go.
Try natural laxatives that work fast for constipation relief, which include: aloe vera, leafy greens, chia and flax seeds, high fiber fruits, probiotic foods, and coconut water. Also make sure to drink plenty of water/fluids when consuming natural laxatives, since these work with high fiber foods to help soften stool.
Usually constipation will go away on its own within a couple of days to a few weeks. But if you're experiencing pain or haven't pooped in more than two weeks, it's time to see a healthcare provider. You should also get medical treatment if you have a fever in addition to constipation or if there is blood in your stool.
Drink more liquids, aiming for at least eight 8-ounce glasses a day. Liquids can help keep stools soft. Good choices include water, prune juice, warm juices, decaffeinated teas and hot lemonade. A hot beverage may help to stimulate a bowel movement.
“Usually, if someone takes longer than a minute [to poop] while also needing to push hard, they are likely constipated,” he says. Constipation is an indication that the diet is lacking fiber and water, so eat more leafy greens, oats, and other high-fiber foods. In addition, drink more water to flush things out.
Holding in poop on occasion is not harmful, but doing this often can lead to constipation, impaction, inflammation, and more severe complications. People who hold in their poop too often may start to lose the urge to poop, which may result in fecal incontinence.
Pooping shouldn't be a drawn-out process. You're better off keeping your toilet time to less than 10 to 15 minutes, says Gregory Thorkelson, M.D., a psychiatrist in the department of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh.
Eating When you Have Constipation. Try these things to relieve your constipation: Do not skip meals. Avoid processed or fast foods, such as white breads, pastries, doughnuts, sausage, fast-food burgers, potato chips, and French fries.
Olive oil – consuming a teaspoon of olive oil in the morning on an empty stomach can encourage stool to flow through the gut. The oil acts as a lubricant in the digestive system, meaning it's easier for solids to slide through. It also softens up the stool, making it easier to empty your bowels completely.
Eat high-fiber foods such as whole-wheat grains, fresh vegetables, and beans. Use products containing psyllium, such as Metamucil, to add bulk to the stools. Try to drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid a day (unless you have a medical condition that requires you to restrict your fluid intake).
Stimulant laxatives such as Senokot (made from senna pods) and Dulcolax (active ingredient: bisacodyl) are the fastest-working oral laxatives, with overnight results.
A doctor may recommend oral laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol (MiraLax) or bisacodyl (Dulcolax). A person should take the tablet as the doctor, pharmacist, or instruction leaflet advises. Polyethylene glycol comes as a powder to dissolve in water or another drink.
Along with prunes, grandma should have prescribed raisins. This snack contains stool-softening magnesium and fiber—and most people think raisins taste better than prunes, too. Figs, also a good source of fiber, are another good choice for anyone looking for natural laxatives.