Laxatives - Revision history

Ostermayer: Prepared the page for translation

2026-01-04T23:16:52Z

Prepared the page for translation

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:16, 4 January 2026
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			<languages/>
			<translate>

	==Types==		==Types==

	[[File:Diameters of the large intestine.png\|thumb\|Average inner diameters and ranges of different sections of the large intestine.<ref> Nguyen H, Loustaunau C, Facista A, Ramsey L, Hassounah N, Taylor H, et al. (July 2010). "Deficient Pms2, ERCC1, Ku86, CcOI in field defects during progression to colon cancer". Journal of Visualized Experiments (41). doi:10.3791/1931. PMC 3149991. PMID 20689513.</ref>]]		[[File:Diameters of the large intestine.png\|thumb\|Average inner diameters and ranges of different sections of the large intestine.<ref> Nguyen H, Loustaunau C, Facista A, Ramsey L, Hassounah N, Taylor H, et al. (July 2010). "Deficient Pms2, ERCC1, Ku86, CcOI in field defects during progression to colon cancer". Journal of Visualized Experiments (41). doi:10.3791/1931. PMC 3149991. PMID 20689513.</ref>]]

	===Bulk-forming agents===		===Bulk-forming agents===

	''Substances, such as dietary fiber and hydrophilic agents that add bulk and water to more easily through the intestines.''		''Substances, such as dietary fiber and hydrophilic agents that add bulk and water to more easily through the intestines.''

	*Site of action: Small and large intestines		*Site of action: Small and large intestines
	*Onset of action: 12–72 hours		*Onset of action: 12–72 hours
	*Examples: dietary fiber, [[psyllium]] (Metamucil), [[methylcellulose]] (Citrucel), [[polycarbophil]] (FiberCon)		*Examples: dietary fiber, [[Special:MyLanguage/psyllium\|psyllium]] (Metamucil), [[Special:MyLanguage/methylcellulose\|methylcellulose]] (Citrucel), [[Special:MyLanguage/polycarbophil\|polycarbophil]] (FiberCon)


	====Dietary fiber====		====Dietary fiber====

	Includes insoluble fiber and soluble fiber, such as:		Includes insoluble fiber and soluble fiber, such as:
	*Fruits, such as bananas, kiwifruits, prunes, apples (with skin), pears (with skin), and raspberries		*Fruits, such as bananas, kiwifruits, prunes, apples (with skin), pears (with skin), and raspberries
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	*Nuts		*Nuts
	*Legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils		*Legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils


	===Emollient agents (stool softeners)===		===Emollient agents (stool softeners)===

	''Anionic surfactants that enable additional water and fats to be incorporated in the stool, making it easier for them to move through the gastrointestinal tract.''		''Anionic surfactants that enable additional water and fats to be incorporated in the stool, making it easier for them to move through the gastrointestinal tract.''

	*Site of action: small and large intestines		*Site of action: small and large intestines
	*Onset of action: 12–72 hours		*Onset of action: 12–72 hours
	*Examples: [[docusate]] (Colace, Diocto), Gibs-Eze		*Examples: [[Special:MyLanguage/docusate\|docusate]] (Colace, Diocto), Gibs-Eze


	===Lubricant agents===		===Lubricant agents===

	''Coat the stool with slippery lipids and retard colonic absorption of water so that the stool slides through the colon more easily. Lubricant laxatives also increase the weight of stool and decrease intestinal transit time.''		''Coat the stool with slippery lipids and retard colonic absorption of water so that the stool slides through the colon more easily. Lubricant laxatives also increase the weight of stool and decrease intestinal transit time.''

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	*Onset of action: 6–8 hours		*Onset of action: 6–8 hours
	*Example: mineral oil		*Example: mineral oil


	===Hyperosmotic agents===		===Hyperosmotic agents===

	''Substances that cause the intestines to hold more water within and create an osmotic effect that stimulates a bowel movement.''		''Substances that cause the intestines to hold more water within and create an osmotic effect that stimulates a bowel movement.''

	*Site of action: colon		*Site of action: colon
	*Onset of Action: 12–72 hours (oral) 0.25 - 1 hour (rectal)		*Onset of Action: 12–72 hours (oral) 0.25 - 1 hour (rectal)
	*Examples: [[glycerin]] suppositories, [[sorbitol]], [[lactulose]], and [[Polyethylene glycol 3350\|PEG]] (Colyte, MiraLax)		*Examples: [[Special:MyLanguage/glycerin\|glycerin]] suppositories, [[Special:MyLanguage/sorbitol\|sorbitol]], [[Special:MyLanguage/lactulose\|lactulose]], and [[Special:MyLanguage/Polyethylene glycol 3350\|PEG]] (Colyte, MiraLax)


	===Saline laxative agents===		===Saline laxative agents===

	''Non-absorbable osmotic substances that attract and retain water in the intestinal lumen, increasing intraluminal pressure that mechanically stimulates evacuation of the bowel. Magnesium-containing agents also cause the release of cholecystokinin, which increases intestinal motility and fluid secretion.''		''Non-absorbable osmotic substances that attract and retain water in the intestinal lumen, increasing intraluminal pressure that mechanically stimulates evacuation of the bowel. Magnesium-containing agents also cause the release of cholecystokinin, which increases intestinal motility and fluid secretion.''

	*Site of action: small and large intestines		*Site of action: small and large intestines
	*Onset of action: 0.5–3 hours (oral), 2–15 minutes (rectal)		*Onset of action: 0.5–3 hours (oral), 2–15 minutes (rectal)
	*Examples: sodium phosphate (and variants), [[magnesium citrate]], [[magnesium hydroxide]] (milk of magnesia), and [[magnesium sulfate]] (Epsom salt)		*Examples: sodium phosphate (and variants), [[Special:MyLanguage/magnesium citrate\|magnesium citrate]], [[Special:MyLanguage/magnesium hydroxide\|magnesium hydroxide]] (milk of magnesia), and [[Special:MyLanguage/magnesium sulfate\|magnesium sulfate]] (Epsom salt)


	===Stimulant agents===		===Stimulant agents===

	''Act on the intestinal mucosa or nerve plexus, altering water and electrolyte secretion. They also stimulate peristaltic action and can be dangerous under certain circumstances.''		''Act on the intestinal mucosa or nerve plexus, altering water and electrolyte secretion. They also stimulate peristaltic action and can be dangerous under certain circumstances.''

	*Site of action: colon		*Site of action: colon
	*Onset of action: 6–10 hours		*Onset of action: 6–10 hours
	*Examples: [[senna]] glycoside, [[bisacodyl]]		*Examples: [[Special:MyLanguage/senna\|senna]] glycoside, [[Special:MyLanguage/bisacodyl\|bisacodyl]]


	===Miscellaneous===		===Miscellaneous===

	''Castor oil is a glyceride that is hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase to ricinoleic acid, which produces laxative action by an unknown mechanism.''		''Castor oil is a glyceride that is hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase to ricinoleic acid, which produces laxative action by an unknown mechanism.''

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	*Onset of action: 2–6 hours		*Onset of action: 2–6 hours
	*Examples: castor oil		*Examples: castor oil


	==See Also==		==See Also==
	*[[Constipation]]
	*[[Constipation (Peds)]]		*[[Special:MyLanguage/Constipation\|Constipation]]
			*[[Special:MyLanguage/Constipation (Peds)\|Constipation (Peds)]]


	==References==		==References==

	<references/>		<references/>

	[[Category:Pharmacology]]		[[Category:Pharmacology]]
	[[Category:GI]]		[[Category:GI]]
			</translate>

Rossdonaldson1: /* Types */

2025-09-24T21:02:04Z

Types

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:02, 24 September 2025
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	==Types==		==Types==
			[[File:Diameters of the large intestine.png\|thumb\|Average inner diameters and ranges of different sections of the large intestine.<ref> Nguyen H, Loustaunau C, Facista A, Ramsey L, Hassounah N, Taylor H, et al. (July 2010). "Deficient Pms2, ERCC1, Ku86, CcOI in field defects during progression to colon cancer". Journal of Visualized Experiments (41). doi:10.3791/1931. PMC 3149991. PMID 20689513.</ref>]]
	===Bulk-forming agents===		===Bulk-forming agents===
	''Substances, such as dietary fiber and hydrophilic agents that add bulk and water to more easily through the intestines.''		''Substances, such as dietary fiber and hydrophilic agents that add bulk and water to more easily through the intestines.''

Mrosen5506: /* Hyperosmotic agents */

2018-08-12T19:49:48Z

Hyperosmotic agents

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:49, 12 August 2018
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	*Site of action: colon		*Site of action: colon
	*Onset of Action: 12–72 hours (oral) 0.25 - 1 hour (rectal)		*Onset of Action: 12–72 hours (oral) 0.25 - 1 hour (rectal)
	*Examples: [[glycerin]] suppositories, [[sorbitol]], [[lactulose]], and [[~~polyethylene~~ glycol\|PEG]] (Colyte, MiraLax)		*Examples: [[glycerin]] suppositories, [[sorbitol]], [[lactulose]], and [[Polyethylene glycol 3350\|PEG]] (Colyte, MiraLax)

	===Saline laxative agents===		===Saline laxative agents===

Zipdoc at 03:49, 9 February 2017

2017-02-09T03:49:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:49, 9 February 2017
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	*Example: mineral oil		*Example: mineral oil

	===Hyperosmotic agents=== ~~<!-- This section is linked from [[Glycerol]] →~~		===Hyperosmotic agents===
	''Substances that cause the intestines to hold more water within and create an osmotic effect that stimulates a bowel movement.''		''Substances that cause the intestines to hold more water within and create an osmotic effect that stimulates a bowel movement.''

Zipdoc at 03:49, 9 February 2017

2017-02-09T03:49:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:49, 9 February 2017
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	*Example: mineral oil		*Example: mineral oil

	===Hyperosmotic agents===<!-- This section is linked from [[Glycerol]] →		===Hyperosmotic agents=== <!-- This section is linked from [[Glycerol]] →
	''Substances that cause the intestines to hold more water within and create an osmotic effect that stimulates a bowel movement.''		''Substances that cause the intestines to hold more water within and create an osmotic effect that stimulates a bowel movement.''

Zipdoc at 03:47, 9 February 2017

2017-02-09T03:47:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:47, 9 February 2017
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	<references/>		<references/>

	[[Category:Pharmacology]] [[Category:GI]]		[[Category:Pharmacology]]
			[[Category:GI]]

Mholtz: Text replacement - "-->" to "→"

2017-02-08T18:40:54Z

Text replacement - "-->" to "→"

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:40, 8 February 2017
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	*Example: mineral oil		*Example: mineral oil

	===Hyperosmotic agents===<!-- This section is linked from [[Glycerol]] ~~-->~~		===Hyperosmotic agents===<!-- This section is linked from [[Glycerol]] →
	''Substances that cause the intestines to hold more water within and create an osmotic effect that stimulates a bowel movement.''		''Substances that cause the intestines to hold more water within and create an osmotic effect that stimulates a bowel movement.''

Alvarez13 at 23:52, 21 November 2016

2016-11-21T23:52:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:52, 21 November 2016
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	==See Also==		==See Also==
			*[[Constipation]]
			*[[Constipation (Peds)]]

	==References==		==References==

ClaireLewis at 23:15, 10 September 2016

2016-09-10T23:15:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:15, 10 September 2016
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	==References==		==References==
	<references/>		<references/>

			[[Category:Pharmacology]] [[Category:GI]]

ClaireLewis: /* Stimulant agents */

2016-09-10T23:14:51Z

Stimulant agents

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:14, 10 September 2016
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	*Site of action: colon		*Site of action: colon
	*Onset of action: 6–10 hours		*Onset of action: 6–10 hours
	*Examples: [[senna ~~glycoside~~]], [[bisacodyl]]		*Examples: [[senna]] glycoside, [[bisacodyl]]

	===Miscellaneous===		===Miscellaneous===