Difference Between Stool Softener And Stimulant Laxative

But which one should you choose to cure your constipation.

Difference between stool softener and stimulant laxative. Laxatives come in liquid tablet gum capsule granule or powder forms. Stool softeners prevent or treat constipation by making the stools less hard. A big difference that can be seen between stool softeners and laxatives is that the former does not stimulate bowel movements. Using a stimulant laxative or a stool softener every once and awhile isn t a big deal as long as you re not depending on them regularly.

They do not directly cause bowel movements. Fiber supplements make your stool bulkier so it s easier to pass. A stool softener is a type of. Bisacodyl also called by the brand name dulcolax senna also called by the brand name senokot sodium picosulfate.

These stimulate the muscles that line your gut helping them to move poo along to your back passage. Stool softeners differ from laxatives in their effectiveness functions and side effects. Among laxatives stool softeners are considered to be the safest. When bowel movements are slow some people really do need stimulant laxatives dr.

The best kind of laxative to use depends on the cause of constipation. The stool eventually gets bigger which causes movements in the intestine and help the stool to pass quickly. Stimulant laxatives such as bisacodyl and cascara trigger contractions in the bowels that push the stool along. Stool softeners and stimulant laxatives differ in how they function.

They take 6 to 12 hours to work. These laxatives form a gel in your stool and thereby help in holding more water in your stool. The first choice she recommends is a senna based stimulant laxative. Mechanical and chemical processes break food down into molecules that are absorbed through your intestines and the resulting waste is eliminated during a bowel movement.

Stool softeners are only a type of laxative. A laxative is a substance that you use to help you have a bowel movement. Psyllium one type of bulk forming laxative has been used with a proper diet to treat high cholesterol. By contrast stimulant laxatives such as cascara bisacodyl and castor oil.

First of all let s sort out the difference between stool softeners and laxatives. Because of this most stool softeners take one to three days to be effective. They work by drawing water into the stool making it softer and more comfortable to pass.