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Beauty and Anti-Aging

Types of Laxatives and How They Work

November 11, 2023

3 min read

If you’ve ever had trouble having a bowel movement, then you’ve likely taken or considered taking a laxative. Constipation is far from an uncommon affliction, in fact, about 4 million have frequent constipation.

While laxatives may seem like an easy fix to your constipation, if you’ve ever gone to the pharmacy for some relief, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. This is your body and wellness at stake, so you don’t want to just take anything.

Learning about the different types of laxatives and how they work can help you the next time you're in the pharmacy wondering which option is the best for you.

What Are Laxatives?

Laxatives are a type of medicine that treats constipation. If you’re struggling to poop, then a laxative may be able to help. They can help you if you’re experiencing hard or dry poops that are difficult to pass or if you had a bowel movement but still feel like you should pass more.

How Do You Prevent Constipation?

Before you opt for laxatives, the first thing you should do is make some changes to your lifestyle. Changing your diet to include probiotics and foods high in fiber can help prevent constipation, along with including daily exercise into your routine.

When lifestyle changes still don’t help, it’s time to try laxatives.

What Are the Types of Laxatives and How Do They Work?

There are many types of laxatives and each one works in a different way.

Bulk-forming laxatives

Bulk-forming laxatives add soluble fiber to the stool, resulting in your stool absorbing more water, becoming larger and softer, and making it easier to pass. These larger stools also signal your intestine to start acting to pass the stool.

These types of laxatives are often considered to be the safest; however, drink lots of fluids and start slowly when you begin using them.

Some common bulk-forming laxative brands include:

Metamucil
FiberCon
Citrucel

Stool softeners

Stool softeners soften stools by decreasing the surface tension of stools, allowing them to absorb more fluids and thereby making them easier to pass. Colace is a popular example of a stool softener laxative

Osmotic laxatives

These laxatives trigger the intestines to release more fluids, making stools softer and easier to pass.

Some osmotic laxative brands include:

Miralax
Constulose
Generlac

Stimulant laxatives

These laxatives stimulate the muscles in your intestines to get things moving and speed up bowel movements.

Dulcolax is a brand of stimulant laxatives.

Lubricant laxatives

Lubricant laxatives cover your bowels with a waterproof film. This lubricates the intestines allowing stools to more easily pass through your bowels while also allowing your stools to retain more moisture.

These laxatives may take up to 6 to 8 hours to start working. Mineral oil is a common example of lubricant laxatives.

Hyperosmotic laxatives

These types of laxatives draw water into the intestines, increasing the volume of water in your bowels. By doing so they increase the amount of fluid in your stools, making them easier to pass.

Suppositories

If you want immediate relief, suppositories may be your best bet. Unlike other laxatives that require you to mix a powder with water or take a tablet, suppositories are inserted into your rectum.

After they’re inserted, the medicine in suppositories dissolves and enters your bloodstream, allowing for fast relief within 15 to 30 minutes.

Dulcolax and Fleet Glycerin are brands of suppositories.

Risks of Laxatives

While laxatives can be bought over the counter without a prescription, they should be taken with caution. Because many laxatives draw water into your bowels, they can dehydrate you if you’re not careful. They can also result in an electrolyte imbalance, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and electrolytes.

If you’re taking any medications, make sure there are no drug interactions with the laxatives you’re taking.

If you’re pregnant, speak with your doctor before you take any laxatives.

Lastly, be wary of how often you’re taking laxatives. Taking them regularly can result in a disruption of your natural bowel movements. So if constipation persists, speak with your doctor.

General information, not medical advice

This article can't account for your health history or current treatment. Talk to a qualified clinician before you change anything about your care.

Read our medical disclaimer →

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