Patient education: Managing constipation from your medicines (The Basics)

What is constipation? — 

This is when it is hard to have bowel movements. Constipation is common. Your bowel movements might be:

●Too hard

●Too small

●Hard to get out

●Happening fewer than 3 times a week

Can medicines cause constipation? — 

Constipation can be a "side effect" of some medicines. Many medicines slow down how fast food moves through your stomach and bowels. This makes your stool harder and more difficult to pass.

You might have problems with constipation if you take:

●"Opioid" medicines for pain

●Iron to treat anemia

●Medicines to treat conditions like Parkinson disease, bladder problems, or breathing problems

Do not stop taking your medicine just because you get constipation. Ask your doctor if there is a medicine you could switch to that causes less constipation.

What can I do on my own to treat constipation? — 

You can try these steps:

●Eat foods that have a lot of fiber. Good choices are fruits, vegetables, prune juice, and cereal (figure 1).

●Drink plenty of water and other fluids.

●Go to the bathroom when you need to. Don't hold it.

●Take laxatives. These are medicines that help make bowel movements easier to get out. They come in different forms. Some are pills, powders, capsules, or liquids you swallow. Others go into your rectum. These are called "suppositories" or "enemas."

There are a few kinds of laxatives. Examples include:

•Bulk adding – This helps your stool hold more water and makes it bigger.

•Stool softener – This makes your stool wetter and softer. It does not stimulate your bowel in any way.

•Lubricant – This coats your bowel and stool to make stools easier to pass. It also helps prevent your intestines from absorbing water from your stool.

•Osmotic laxatives – These draw more water into your stool to make it wetter and softer.

•Stimulant – This increases movement in your bowels.

Talk with your doctor or nurse about the best kind of laxative for you.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if you:

●Do not have a bowel movement for a few days

●Are in a lot of pain

●Have white or chalk-colored bowel movements

●Are vomiting along with having constipation

●Have other symptoms that also worry you (for example, bleeding, weakness, weight loss, or fever)

More on this topic

Patient education: Constipation in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Constipation in children (The Basics)
Patient education: High-fiber diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Side effects from medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing diarrhea from your medicines (The Basics)

Patient education: Constipation in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Constipation in infants and children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: High-fiber diet (Beyond the Basics)