Struggling with weight for years or wanting to lose weight rapidly may have caused you to consider using a laxative, such as Dulcolax, to aid your weight loss efforts. Dulcolax irritates the smooth muscle of large intestine and causes the colon to...
Constipation, according to the American College of Physicians "Complete Home Medical Guide," is most common in females, children and the elderly. It is characterized by stool that is hard, small and difficult to pass. Constipation can be...
Dulcolax, known generically as bisacodyl, may be used to stimulate the movement of the bowels and is sold over the counter, meaning no prescription is necessary. Dulcolax also may be used before a colonoscopy, surgery, X-rays and other...
Dulcolax is a well-known stool softener that comes in pill and suppository forms. Its primary uses are to clean out the intestinal tract and relieve constipation. It's given before before childbirth, and before and after surgery, to clean out the...
Dulcolax is a stool softener that is also called Bisacodyl by its generic name. This drug helps to relieve constipation by accumulating fluid in the colon to evacuate bowel movements. Your doctor may also prescribe Dulcolax if you need to clean...
A colonoscopy is a procedure conducted by gastroenterologists in order to diagnose certain colon abnormalities such as colon cancer, colon polyps, bleeding sites, inflammation and ulceration. In order for a colonoscopy to be successful, the colon...
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a physician inserts a flexible tube with a camera through the rectum and uses it to see the entire length of the colon. The colonoscopy procedure has become increasingly important in diagnosing numerous...
In most cases, changes in diet and lifestyle can prevent constipation. While a high-fiber diet and active lifestyle are the first line of defense against this common, uncomfortable condition, severe cases may require an immediate solution. The...
The colon, also known as the large intestine, is located in the digestive tract and absorbs water, salts and minerals into the body. The remains of the food then pass into the rectum as feces and are excreted from the body through the anus....
Constipation is a common complaint among Americans; however, after a laparotomy, surgeons advise patients to avoid straining with a bowel movement because this can disrupt the placement of sutures and impede the development of scar tissue that...
Colon cleansing is a therapy suggested for removing toxins from the intestinal tract. A colon cleanse can be done with an enema, which uses a device to flush water through the rectum; over-the-counter or prescription oral laxatives; herbal teas;...
Symptoms of rectal constipation don't just consist of infrequent bowel movements; you may also experience hard stools or strain while on the toilet. If you're confused about the frequency of bowel movements that physicians consider normal, be...
Chronic constipation refers to the inability to have a complete bowel movement. Sometimes, these bowel movements can be infrequent. Specifically, the Mayo Clinic says that signs of this medical problem include having less than three stools per...
Wal-Mart has produced an extensive array of over-the-counter generic drugs that in general are cheaper than their name-brand counterparts. The Wal-Mart brand is called Equate. The company has medications for colds, allergies, indigestion and...
Aloe is a gel derived from the pulpy leaves of the aloe vera plant. For thousands of years, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aloe has been used for treating wounds, infections and burns. The aloe vera plant is native to...
According to an article in American Family Physician, 80 percent of pregnant women take over-the-counter medications during pregnancy. Although many of these medications have few, if any, side effects in a normal individual, some of them can...
Senna is a plant that has found uses in over-the-counter medications, particularly laxatives or products designed to relieve occasional constipation. Like all plants or plant products, it's possible senna can be a trigger for those who have an...
Laxatives can play a role in combating occasional constipation. A plethora of laxatives are available over-the-counter in a variety of forms, ranging from powders to pills and gum. Dietary fiber found in highly concentrated fiber bars often serves...
Over-the-counter medicines (OTC), as reported by the FDA, include more than 300,000 products and do not require a prescription from a health-care provider. Common types of OTC medications include treatment for pain, nausea, diarrhea, itching,...
Don't let the similarity in their names fool you. Despite sharing every letter but one, magnesium citrate and magnesium nitrate are drastically different substances. While magnesium citrate is a common type of magnesium supplement often used as a...
The Hospice Foundation of America defines hospice care as a way to provide comfort and enhanced quality of life to those who are terminally ill. Hospice teams specialize in the symptom management that comes along with life-limiting illnesses, such...
