What is considered laxative overuse?

Laxative abuse occurs when a person attempts to eliminate unwanted calories, lose weight, “feel thin,” or “feel empty” through the repeated, frequent use of laxatives.

How long is considered laxative abuse?

Those who use laxatives to purge often demonstrate longer duration of illness, around 10 years on average. The longer the duration of anorexia and laxative abuse, the more likely the individual will suffer extended health complications throughout life, even after the behavior ceases.

How often is too often to take laxatives?

Stimulant laxatives.

These laxatives should never be used more than once every three days because they can cause your bowel to lose its ability to contract. A common example of a stimulant laxative is bisacodyl (Dulcolax and Correctol).

What are the symptoms of overuse of laxatives?

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea are the most common symptoms of a laxative overdose. Dehydration and electrolyte (body chemicals and minerals) imbalance are more common in children than adults.

What is excessive laxative use?

Laxative abuse can happen when a person is abusing over-the-counter laxatives to get rid of unwanted calories, to lose weight, or to feel thin or empty. Laxative abuse occurs when there is repeated, frequent use of laxatives, and are especially common with eating disorders [1].

Eating Disorder LAXATIVE ABUSE Dangers You Should Know

Can laxative dependency be reversed?

After long-term laxative abuse, the intestines lose normal tone and nerve response, and can no longer contract to evacuate stool normally. This is often reversible, but recovery may be a slow process.

Can your body become dependent on laxatives?

The chronic use of laxatives on a continued long-term basis can cause severe dehydration, a reduction in electrolytes, and a disturbance in mineral balance like magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphates, which allow muscles to work optimally.

How do I know if I have laxative dependency?

Can you take laxatives every day?

Complications. If your constipation is caused by another condition — such as diverticulosis — frequent or long-term laxative use can worsen constipation by decreasing your colon's ability to contract. The exception is bulk-forming laxatives. These are safe to take every day.

How much MiraLAX is too much?

Don't take MiraLAX for more than seven days without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may want to evaluate the cause of your constipation. Your doctor may find that you need other treatments. MiraLAX is often recommended by doctors for treating chronic (long-lasting) constipation.

Is it OK to use laxatives once a week?

Constipation and diarrhea.

Using laxatives for longer than one week can cause loss of bowel muscle tone. Because your muscles become weak, you may have trouble passing stool on your own. Laxatives can cause long-term constipation, but they can cause diarrhea too.

What is the safest laxative to take everyday?

In general, bulk-forming laxatives, also referred to as fiber supplements, are the gentlest on your body and safest to use long term. Metamucil and Citrucel fall into this category.

Is it OK to take Dulcolax everyday?

Long-term use of DULCOLAX is not recommended. If you use DULCOLAX every day, you should consult with your doctor to find out the cause of your constipation. Long-term and excessive use of DULCOLAX may cause an imbalance of salts in the body (including low potassium), muscle weakness and kidney problems.

How do you withdraw from laxative dependency?

People with a medical cause of constipation. Laxatives can be slowly withdrawn when regular bowel movements occur without difficulty (for example, 2–4 weeks after defecation has become comfortable and a regular bowel pattern with soft, formed stools has been established).

Can laxatives damage your kidneys?

The FDA is warning that taking more than the recommended daily dose of OTC sodium phosphate laxative products to treat constipation can cause rare but serious harm to the kidneys and heart, and even death.

Who is at risk of laxative overuse?

By far the largest group is made up of individuals suffering from an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa. The prevalence of laxative abuse has been reported to range from approximately 10% to 60% of individuals in this group.

How many pounds of stool can the colon hold?

For every foot of colon, the body can store between 5 and 10 pounds of feces. So if you're just over five foot tall you could easily have 25 pounds of poop stuck in your colon.

Is it okay to take MiraLAX everyday?

You should use MiraLAX^® for no more than seven days. If you need to use a laxative for longer than one week, stop use and consult your doctor.

How often can I take Dulcolax?

Adults and children over 12 can take 1 to 3 tablets in a single daily dose for up to 7 days. If this is the first time taking a laxative for constipation, we recommend taking 1 to 2 tablets in a single daily dose. Take tablets 30 to 60 minutes before your normal bedtime to produce a bowel movement the next morning.

Can a colonoscopy detect laxative abuse?

Most likely, you won't even know that you have it. It's detected through a colonoscopy and is caused by the consistent use of laxatives.

What is damaged kidney due to laxative abuse?

Laxative abuse can cause hypokalemia and volume depletion. Hypokalemia, in turn, can lead to rhabdomyolysis. Laxative-induced hypokalemia and volume depletion have been previously reported to cause renal insufficiency, but not severe enough to require hemodialysis.

Can abusing laxatives cause weight loss?

Although laxatives artificially stimulate the large intestine to empty, the “weight loss” caused by a laxative-induced bowel movement contains little actual food, fat, or calories. Instead, laxative abuse causes the loss of water, minerals, electrolytes, and indigestible fiber and wastes from the colon.

Which type of laxative can lead to physical dependence?

Bisacodyl is an FDA-approved treatment for chronic constipation. The mechanism of action is likely altered absorption and intestinal fluid accumulation, although it was initially assumed to be direct colonic stimulation. There are concerns that long-term use of any stimulant laxative can result in physical dependence.

Can you stop laxatives cold turkey?

Stopping laxatives may be done gradually or by going "cold turkey" (stopping in one day). Changing to products containing psyllium may help if you gradually withdraw from laxatives. Withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, constipation, bloating, and gas.

Can't have a bowel movement without laxatives?

Take over-the-counter medicines

If you've been taking laxatives for a long time and can't have a bowel movement without taking a laxative, talk with your doctor about how you can slowly stop using them. If you stop taking laxatives, over time, your colon should start moving stool normally.