Fiber and Laxatives
Constipation relief from Senokot, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, Colace, Phillips' Milk of Magnesia, RestoraFIBRE and JAMP, including stimulant laxatives, stool softeners, osmotic options and fibre gummies, shipped across Canada.
Types of laxatives
- Fibre (RestoraFIBRE gummies): adds bulk and supports everyday regularity. Increase fibre gradually and drink plenty of water to avoid gas and bloating.
- Stool softeners (Colace, docusate): help water mix into the stool so it's easier to pass, a gentle option after surgery or childbirth.
- Osmotic laxatives (Milk of Magnesia): draw water into the bowel, usually working within a few hours.
- Stimulant laxatives (Senokot and Ex-Lax with sennosides; Dulcolax and JAMP with bisacodyl): prompt the bowel to move, usually overnight when taken at bedtime. For occasional, short-term use.
Tips for staying regular
Health Canada's adequate intake for fibre is about 25 g a day for women and 38 g for men, and most Canadians get far less. Whole grains, legumes, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, plus fluids and daily movement, all help. Don't use laxatives for more than a week without speaking to a healthcare provider. People with kidney disease should check with a pharmacist before using magnesium-based laxatives, and children should use only products labelled for their age.
See a doctor if you notice blood in your stool, severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or a change in bowel habits that lasts more than two weeks.
Related
Shop our Digestion & Gut Health collection, or read Probiotics 101 and Magnesium Glycinate vs Citrate.
