5 replies to this topic

[oceannir]

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So ive noticed my current routine of osmotics and coffee has been losing effectiveness overtime, I think its time to discuss with my GI atleast the possibility of using a stimulent, maybe every 3rd day just to reduce the bloating and discomfort I feel regularly.Since this forum usually knows better than the doctors, what would you start out with? For the last few years ive been somewhat blessed that a strong coffee will give me a bowel movement (provided I take lactulose) but this has begun to become unreliable. Based on that my body obviously responds to stimulents, but i'm just worried how quickly does the 'damage' occur and the diminishing results? I figure if I can get 20 years or something of effectiveness from them that would be great, obviously id start on an irregular super low dose.If anyone has any recommendations in regards to this I would be glad to hear them.

[Sean]

Oceannir,Sorry that things have deteriorated enough for you to consider stimulants, but that is where many of us end up. From personal experience, I can tell you that stimulant laxatives are the only thing standing between me and removal of my colon. I am not sure what kind may be available in Australia, but here in the U.S., there are many brands. However, they all tend to contain either senna (e.g., Ex Lax) or bisacodyl (e.g., Dulcolax). I have been taking them off an on (mostly on) since I was in my teens. I am pushing 40 now. The bisacodyl based ones work better for me than the senna based ones. They have a stronger, more predictable action, and do not seem to cause as much cramping. I do not think I have done any serious damage to my body, but who knows. I do not use them every day. I take them every 3 to 5 days - when the backup gets really uncomfortable. I have not noticed any diminishing results, but that is probably because I have never taken them every day. When I was a teenager, I used two Dulcolax tablets. Now it takes 3 to get a decent and timely result, but I am a lot heavier than I was when I was 16. Take them at bedtime with lots of water. They should work the next morning if the dose is adequate. If you are using the 5 mg bisacodyl tablets, start with one and see what happens. You can adjust the dose upward if needed. The idea is to have it thoroughly empty your colon the next morning within a an hour or two of waking up. If that isn't happening, you might need to up the dose. Don't take them every day if you can avoid it. Also, a word to the wise. The effects can sneak up on you. Once the urge hits, it is pretty intense. You need to be close to a bathroom. I always stay home the morning after I take them. Hope this has helped.

[Kathleen M.]

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/20107583 is a recent paper on the risks are overstated about regular use of senna.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21440672 has information about the use of bisacodyl and has the dose they used in the study.I think it is up to you if you want to see if backing up for a few days then trying to relieve it is the best method, or maybe a lower dose regularly to keep it moving is a better idea.Generally, the lower the dose you can get away with the better, but I really think the scare from the older laxatives no longer sold really casts an undeserved shadow over what is currently available.

[tableandchairs]

I lasted about 8-10 years on 1-2(usually only 1 though) Carter's little pill(bisacodyl) at a time every couple days or so to stay regular(ish). I would get terrible stomach cramps as a side effect but it worked (most of the time). When bisacodyl stopped working It was around 2 or so years ago. It got to the point I was taking 3-5 pills a day, in constant pain and not going. I have since stopped all use. So long story short, it wasn't a gradual thing when they lost effectiveness it happened over a matter of months and I had years of success with them first.

[kojbats]

I've tried caffeine and it really doesn't seem to help. might be taking too much or at the wrong time.anyway, now I use sennakote (senna) every 4 or 5 days. it usually works pretty well as long as I eat sensibly the day I take them. take two doses in late aft and early evening. can disrupt sleep, so maybe I need to wait longer to take it. still experimenting.I'm also interested in the answers that folks here provide, seems like the real world is often different than the medical one.

[pip x]

Same here. Sennakot roughly every 5-7 days. I am using amitriptyline and the constipation it causes is an absolute nightmare. I was always IBSc until it changed to a and suffered terrible diarreah, so now back to constant c again through the amitriptyline. My GP recommended taking fybogel morning and evening and add the sennakot nightly until i get relief, then as and when needed. I stopped the fybogel as it caused terrible wind and i just use the sennakot now and i try to drink plenty.