Seniors
Home Care for Constipation: Demystifying Choices at the Drug Store
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Sep 23, 2013 - 3:54:49 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - ROCHESTER, Minn. - The array of drug store products to address constipation can be daunting. The September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter sorts out the choices and offers advice on when to see a physician.

Constipation is common among older adults. Signs and symptoms include straining, passing lumpy or hard stools, a sensation of incomplete evacuation or sensation of blockage. Frequency of bowel movements isn't a reliable indicator of constipation. Healthy adults can have anywhere from three bowel movements a week to three a day.

In most cases, constipation symptoms can be reduced by gradually increasing fiber in the diet, drinking plenty of non-caffeinated fluids and taking 1 to 2 tablespoons of fiber supplement containing psyllium (Metamucil, others) or methylcellulose (Citrucel).

Short-term, occasional use of osmotic laxatives may help things get moving. This category includes:

• Saline laxatives, such as magnesium hydroxide (Phillips' Milk of Magnesia) and Epsom salts. They often work within hours but shouldn't be used by people with kidney problems.

Another option is stool softeners (emollients) such as docusate calcium (Surfak) and docusate sodium (Colace). They add lubrication to the stool but don't cause a bowel movement.

If symptoms don't improve after three weeks of home care, seeing a physician is recommended. A doctor will evaluate and address any underlying conditions that may be contributing to chronic constipation. The care provider may recommend a stimulant laxative. They are available in pill form or as suppositories. They are effective but should be used under a physician's supervision.

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Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call 800-333-9037 (toll-free), extension 9771, or visit Mayo Clinic Health Letter Online.

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,700 physicians, scientists and researchers, and 50,100 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has campuses in Rochester, Minn; Jacksonville, Fla; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.; and community-based providers in more than 70 locations in southern Minnesota., western Wisconsin and northeast Iowa. These locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education, visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com) is available as a resource for your health stories.

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