Bulking agents, such as fibre
This type of laxative acts within the bowel by absorbing water
and swelling up which, in turn, softens the stool and stimulates
the squeezing
action of the colon; this may take 24-36 hours to work.
For bulking
agents
to work properly you must drink plenty of liquids, and could
be a problem for elderly patients or anybody with a restricted
fluid intake.
Bulk-forming laxatives can take up to two days to work,
and are not considered an ideal remedy where faster treatment
of acute constipation is needed.
A recent review has shown that increasing the bulk forming dietary fibre intake can make symptoms worse in severe chronic constipation1. If you have any concerns, you should seek the advice of your healthcare professional, who will be able to advice you on what is the best treatment.
References
1. Müller-Lissner SA, Kamm MA, Scarpignato C, Wald A. Myths and Misconceptions About Chronic Constipation. American Journal of Gastroenterology 2005; www.amjgastro.com
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