Asked by: Marget Catarius
food and drink food movements

Is Colace a laxative or a stool softener?

Last Updated: 20th February, 2020

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Docusate sodium, the active ingredient in Colace, works by allowing water and fats to get into the stool. This helps soften the stool and makes passing stool more comfortable. Colace is not a stimulant laxative, so it may not be very effective at treating existing constipation.

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Thereof, what is the difference between a laxative and a stool softener?

First of all, let's sort out the difference between stool softeners and laxatives. A laxative is a substance that you use to help you have a bowel movement. A stool softener is a type of laxative, called an emollient laxative. All laxatives are used to relieve constipation.

Also, do stool softeners make you poop? Stool softeners and other laxatives are standard treatments for occasional constipation. Laxatives are products that help people to poop by causing bowel movements. Stool softeners are a type of laxative that works by drawing water into the stool, making it softer and more comfortable to pass.

Subsequently, question is, is Dulcolax a laxative or a stool softener?

No. The active ingredient, docusate sodium, encourages the mixture of water and dietary fat within the hard stool, turning it softer.

Can you take a stool softener daily?

Stool softeners you can buy over-the-counter are effective for most people. While they are only intended for short-term relief of constipation, using a daily stool softener long-term probably is not harmful. For many people, dietary changes can be an effective way to relieve constipation.

Related Question Answers

Abdela Aja

Professional

Will impacted stool eventually come out?

When you have a fecal impaction, you'll need to have the hard mass of stool removed from your colon or rectum to get better. It won't go away on its own, and it can lead to death if it's allowed to worsen.

Jesper Isli

Professional

What is the best laxative to clean you out?

Stimulant laxatives are the fastest-acting, such as include aloe, cascara (Nature's Remedy), senna compounds (Ex-Lax, Senokot), bisacodyl (Dulcolax, Correctol), and castor oil. Saline laxatives or enemas such as Fleet Phospho-Soda, milk of magnesia, and magnesium citrate.

Amberly Sanson

Professional

What happens if your constipated for too long?

Don't let constipation go unchecked for too long. When untreated, constipation can lead to unpleasant complications such as hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse, a condition in which part of the intestine pushes out through the anus from too much straining.

Xiaodong Vyuchnov

Explainer

How many stool softeners can you take in a day?

The maximum adult dose of Colace is 400mg daily - either as one dose or in divided doses. It sounds as though you are suffering from chronic constipation.

Moise Guembe,

Explainer

What happens if you take too many stool softeners?

Overuse of a stool softener can lead to serious medical problems. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting or stomach pain. Since docusate is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule.

Jingyi Minguet

Explainer

Is it OK to take MiraLAX every day?

MiraLAX can be taken at any time of the day. However, it may be best to take it in the morning. That way, if it causes you to have a bowel movement, you'll be able to go during the day rather than during the night. You should only take MiraLAX once a day, unless your doctor gives you different instructions.

Shuzhen Dalemans

Pundit

What can you eat to soften your stool?

Foods that soften the stool include:
  • Vegetables – green beans, spinach, red capsicum, members of the cabbage family (cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts which can cause increased wind/gas production)
  • Fruit – fresh apricots, peaches, plums, grapes, prunes.
  • High Fibre Cereals – bran, multigrain breads and cereals.

Dmitriy Miñarro

Pundit

Is MiraLAX habit forming?

Polyethylene glycol 3350 may be habit-forming. If you use MiraLax too often or for a prolonged period of time, you could become dependent on laxatives. Using it often and for an extended time also could result in an electrolyte imbalance.

Huey Farrer

Pundit

Do laxatives help you lose weight?

Laxatives Could Help You Lose Water Weight
It is true that laxatives may help increase weight loss, but the results are only temporary. Several types of laxatives work by pulling water from your body into the intestines, allowing stool to absorb more water for an easier passage.

Kennith Zela

Pundit

How can I make myself poop instantly?

Quick ways to make yourself poop
  1. Take a fiber supplement.
  2. Eat a serving of high-fiber food.
  3. Drink a glass of water.
  4. Take a laxative stimulant.
  5. Take an osmotic.
  6. Try a lubricant laxative.
  7. Use a stool softener.
  8. Try an enema.

Cunegunda Plaggenborg

Pundit

How do I pass a hard stool?

Home remedies
  1. Abdominal massage. Sometimes a stomach massage can help stimulate the bowels if they're not moving enough to help stool digest more quickly.
  2. Drink more water. Increasing water in the digestive tract can make stool softer and easier to pass.
  3. Eat more fiber.
  4. Avoid empty-calorie, low-fiber foods.
  5. Exercise.

Reynier Otten

Teacher

Is it okay to take 2 Dulcolax?

How many tablets can I take? 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.

Bassim Dañobeitia

Teacher

Do laxatives work if you have a blockage?

Laxatives can help to relieve the symptoms in bowel obstruction, but they will not necessarily resolve the obstruction . Your doctor or nurse will advise you whether or not enemas or suppositories may be helpful . Sometimes, they can help to clear the bowel completely, even where there is bowel obstruction .

Aymara Kobarg

Teacher

How long do laxatives take to wear off?

Bulk-forming laxatives can have some effect within 12-24 hours but their full effect usually takes 2-3 days to develop. Osmotic laxatives such as lactulose can take 2-3 days to have any effect so they are not suitable for the rapid relief of constipation. Stimulant laxatives usually work within 6-12 hours.

Nils Hadarin

Teacher

What is a good stool softener for adults?

  • Best Overall: MiraLAX Powder Laxative.
  • Best Budget: Phillips' Milk of Magnesia.
  • Best for Postpartum: Colace Stool Softener.
  • Best for the Elderly: Phillips' Stool Softener Liquid Gels.
  • Best for Constipation: Colace 2-in-1 Stool Softener & Stimulant Laxative.
  • Best All-Natural: PruneLax Cirulex Natural Laxative Regular Tablets.

Desamparats Brugmann

Reviewer

Can you take MiraLAX and Dulcolax together?

No interactions were found between Dulcolax Laxative and MiraLAX. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Circuncision Lehnertz

Reviewer

Is it OK to take Colace every day?

Colace FAQ
Colace can be taken with or without food. A bowel movement should occur within one to three days after the first dose. Colace can be taken regularly for softer stools, but it is important to never double up on medication. Side effects of Colace included stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Gilberto Ziegelschmied

Reviewer

How often can you take Colace stool softener?

In turn, you have a bowel movement without as much straining or pain. After you take Colace, you should have a bowel movement within 12 to 72 hours. The typical dosage for Colace for adults and children 12 years or older is 50-300 mg per day. You take it in one dose per day or divided doses.

Sviatoslav Rennecke

Reviewer

How long can you stay on stool softeners?

Stool softeners are designed for short-term use, meaning that you would use them for approximately one week. If you are considering taking a stool softener for longer than one week, ask your doctor to make sure that it is safe for you to do so.

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20th February, 2020

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