Colace (docusate) softens the stool, but may not stimulate a bowel movement as quickly as a laxative. Treats constipation. Citrate Of Magnesia (Magnesium Citrate) works well if you need to really get things moving, but it's not a good medicine to manage chronic constipation. Safer than laxatives.
Magnesium helps to increase the amount of water in the intestines, which can help with bowel movements. It may be used as a laxative due to these properties, or as a supplement for magnesium deficiency.
Food Versus Supplements
It's better to eat a diet filled with fiber-rich foods to keep your stool soft than to take fiber supplements to soften your stool. These foods come along with other essential nutrients as well as fiber.
Magnesium is not a good choice for treating chronic constipation or constipation that requires ongoing treatment. Using it too often can lead to excessive dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Doctors often use higher doses of magnesium citrate as colon cleansers before surgery.
Magnesium relaxes the muscles in the intestines which helps to establish a smoother rhythm. Magnesium also attracts water; this increased amount of water in the colon serves to soften the stool, helping to make stools easier to pass.
Some people find relief from using magnesium citrate, a supplement that can relax your bowels and provide a laxative effect.
Magnesium citrate is one of the most popular types of magnesium supplements and easily absorbed by your body. It's mainly used to raise magnesium levels and treat constipation.
Stool softener: Magnesium draws water into the intestines, working as an osmotic laxative. This increase in water stimulates bowel motion, or motility. It also softens and increases the size of the stool. This prompts a bowel movement and helps to make stools easier to pass.
Too much magnesium from foods isn't a concern for healthy adults. However, the same can't be said for supplements. High doses of magnesium from supplements or medications can cause nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
In general, bulk-forming laxatives, also referred to as fiber supplements, are the gentlest on your body and safest to use long term. Metamucil and Citrucel fall into this category.
Over-the-counter stool softeners are effective for some people. However, in controlled clinical trials, there is no evidence that they improve symptoms. While they only are intended for short-term relief of constipation, using a daily stool softener long-term probably is not harmful.
If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication: severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, sudden change in bowel habits over the previous 2 weeks. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed.
Magnesium oxide cleanses small intestines and colon. It has been used for over a century in naturopathic medicine as a safe natural laxative to cleanse the entire digestive tract with oxygen - It is gentle and non-habit forming.
Treatment may include: Diet modifications. A diet with 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily helps in the formation of soft, bulky stool. While adding foods such as beans, whole grains, bran cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables is helpful in adding fiber to the diet.
Taking laxative medications: Various constipation medications may help with passing a hard stool, including: Osmotic laxatives: These laxatives draw water into the colon, which helps to soften stool. Polyethylene glycol is a first-line osmotic laxative for constipation in adults and children.
While all the new prescription products provide more treatment options, Wald says, most people don't need them. Instead, over-the-counter drugs such as polyethylene glycol (Miralax and generic), bisacodyl (Dulcolax laxative tablets and generic), or senna (Ex-Lax, Senokot, and generic) are a far better choice.
Bulk-forming fiber supplements include calcium polycarbophil (Equilactin, Fibercon), methylcellulose fiber (Citrucel), and psyllium (Fiber-Lax, Konsyl, Metamucil), and wheat dextrin (Benefiber). Unlike other laxatives, you can take these every day. They make the stool bigger and softer.
Magnesium citrate is a saline laxative that is thought to work by increasing fluid in the small intestine. It usually results in a bowel movement within 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Kids under the age of 6 should not take magnesium citrate without help from a pediatrician. Let the doctor know if you're taking any other medications as magnesium citrate can make them less effective.
Magnesium Glycinate
Overall, the glycinate form absorbs better and is least likely to cause digestive distress. More commonly, you will find magnesium glycinate in capsule form.
Stool softener
Magnesium draws water into the intestines, which softens and increases the size of the stool. This helps to make stools easier to pass.
Stool softeners like docusate (Colace) work by reducing the hardness of stools, which should make them easier to pass. Problem is, they won't do much if you're already constipated, since they take three of four days to kick in, he adds. But they can help treat chronic constipation.