Understanding Laxatives
Unless your doctor told you differently, you should take one or more laxatives daily if you’re taking opioids.
Laxatives fit into four main groups. Laxatives that 1) make things move, 2) add extra water, 3) soften the stool, or 4) come at the problem from a different angle.
Go to your Medicine Cabinet to learn more about your laxatives, how they work, and their side effects. Your Medicine Cabinet gives suggestions on how to adjust your laxative medications to stay regular. The laxatives in your medicine cabinet are organized into “My Daily Constipation Plan” and “My Constipation Rescue Plan.”
My Daily Constipation Plan
Your Daily Constipation Plan includes laxative medications that should be taken daily to prevent and manage constipation. The daily constipation plan includes any laxatives your doctor has prescribed. It also includes Senna (Senakot) and polyethylene glycol (Miralax), two over-the-counter medicines that are safe to increase or decrease.
This plan also has step-by-step instructions for how to adjust your Senna (aka Senakot) and polyethylene glycol (Miralax) if you are still constipated. It also goes over what to do if you have diarrhea.
Tap to learn more about adjusting your laxatives to stay regular.
My Constipation Rescue Plan
Your Constipation Rescue Plan goes over what to do if you have severe constipation and your daily constipation plan is not working.
You should always call your care team if you need to use your rescue plan.
We recommend using the rescue plan if:
-
You have not had a bowel movement in 4 or more days, or
-
If you are still constipated despite taking maximum doses of Senna (Senakot) and polyethylene glycol (Miralax)
What are the differences between Senna and Miralax?
Senna (Senakot),
8.6mg
Polyethylene glycol
(Miralax), 17g
Laxative
How it's taken
Tablets, taken once or twice a day
Powder mixed in liquid, taken once or twice a day
Sometimes works faster
Less likely to cause cramping
May cause cramping
Need to mix with 8 oz of fluid and drink, can cause bloating
Common starting dose
2 tablets in AM, and
2 tablets in PM
17 g, once per day
Maximum dose recommended
4 tablets in AM, and
4 tablets in PM
Max = 8 tablets per day
17 g in AM,
and
17 g in PM
Max = 34 g
per day
Common Questions when Using Laxatives
Common over-the-counter laxatives
Suppositories
Enemas
ALWAYS ask your care team if enemas and suppositories are safe for you before using them.
