Stool Softener – The Facts
There are times in a person’s life where a stool softener is needed to help with the discomfort of constipation. While they are not laxatives, they do work to help make the stool softer, and, therefore, able to be passed with ease and no straining. These are only taken on a temporary basis help people who should not strain during bowel movements due to hemorrhoids, heart conditions, or other problems. Once the constipation problem has been taken care of, there is no more need for the softeners.
Bedtime is typically when a stool softener is taken. The directions on the label should be followed carefully, and if you don’t understand any part of it, be sure to ask your doctor to clarify it for you. It usually only takes one to three days of regular use for the medication to take effect. Unless your doctor tells you differently, do not take the softeners for more than one week.
The softeners come in the form of tablets, capsules, syrup or oral liquid. The label on these will tell you how much to take for each dose. If you are taking tablets or capsules, be sure to drink a full glass of water with every dose. For syrup or liquid, there are specially marked measuring spoons that you can get so that you are sure of taking the right amount.
There are some situations in which you should not take a stool softener, and instead, should call your doctor. These include:
* Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
* Any changes in bowel habits that last beyond two weeks, or if stools remain hard after taking the medication for a week.
* Don’t use softeners for constipation and never take more than the prescribed dosage.
A few side effects have been noticed from softeners. These include stomach cramps, throat irritation, and skin rash. While these can be annoying they are generally mild and temporary. If you have any of these side effects from a stool softener that seem to be severe and/or don’t seem to be going away, be sure to contact your doctor immediately. There could be other problems or you may need a different type of medication.
