Laxative Abuse: Why it Can Kill You

Ranging from Ex-lax to suppositories, Metamucil to enemas, laxatives are commonly used to relieve irritating bowel symptoms, such as constipation. Some, however, are using laxatives for the wrong reasons, abusing it to the point of death. So what are laxatives, the appropriate and inappropriate ways of administering them, and why misuse of it can lead to death? Learn about this commonly-used drug and how it works, along with the correlation between laxative abuse and eating disorders, steps to take if you abuse laxatives, and what manufacturers are doing to address this problem.

What are laxatives?
Laxatives are medication (available in different forms) that produce a bowel movement when a person cannot naturally. Doctors often recommend that patients attempt other means of producing a bowel movement before taking laxatives, including a change in eating habits, drinking lots of water, eating enough fiber, and exercising regularly. If this doesn't work, a doctor will prescribe laxatives, although laxatives can be bought anywhere.

What are some forms of laxatives?
There are four types of laxatives:

Bulking agents. This adds water to your stool in order to stimulate a bowel movement. Metamucil is an example of a bulking agent.
Stimulant laxatives. A stimulant (such as senna, usually found in diet teas, or bisacodyl, common in most laxative pills) that you orally digest, which triggers muscle contractions in the intestines, promoting bowel movement.
Osmotic agents. Similar to bulking agents, they draw water from nearby tissues in your bowel, which softens your bowel and stretches the walls of your large intestine. This stimulates contractions and makes it easier to produce excrement. Osmotic agents are often in liquid form.
Stool softeners. This adds moisture to your stool, softening it and making it easier to go. These are usually administered orally.