How to Use Stimulant Laxatives for Constipation

Table of Contents
View All
Table of Contents

Stimulant laxatives are preparations used to ease constipation by inducing a bowel movement. Available over-the-counter (OTC), they appear on the surface to be an easy answer to the problem of constipation.

You may wonder whether they are safe or if you can use them on a long-term basis. In order to make an informed decision for yourself, it's important to learn a few facts.

asian female sitting in toilet and holding medicine bottle for stomach problem
skaman306 / Getty Images

Common OTC Stimulant Laxatives

A visit to your local drugstore will show you that there are many different brands of stimulant laxatives available. These products come in a variety of forms, including tablets, liquids, and suppositories. The active ingredient in these products differ and here are the more common options:

  • Bisacodyl: Alophen, Carters Little Pills, Correctol, Dulcolax, Ex-lax Ultra, Feen-A-Mint, Fleet Bisacodyl
  • Sodium picosulfate: Dulcolax Pico, Dulcolax Perles
  • Sodium bicarbonate and potassium bitartrate: Ceo-Two Evacuant suppository
  • Senna: Black Draught, ExLax, Fletcher's, Senexon, SennaGen, and Senokot. Also found in herbal stimulant laxatives.
  • Castor oil

After an extensive research review, the American College of Gastroenterology recommends sodium picosulfate and bisacodyl. They decline to recommend any other types due to lack of sufficient research.

How They Work

The ingredients in stimulant laxatives induce a bowel movement by acting to speed up colonic muscle movement (motility). Stimulant laxatives differ in their action from stool softeners, which work by reducing absorption of fluids in the intestines thereby increasing the amount of water in the stool. This results in a softer, easier-to-pass stool.

How to Use

When using stimulant laxatives, make sure to read and follow package directions carefully. Determine if the product is a pill or liquid that should be taken orally or a suppository that is used rectally.

Many of these products recommend that you use them at bedtime. This helps them work with your body's natural biorhythms to produce a bowel movement in the morning.

As with all medications, check with your healthcare provider prior to use. Stimulant laxatives are designed to be used on a short-term basis only, meaning no longer than one week.

Side Effects

Some people experience abdominal pain and cramps or temporary symptoms of fecal incontinence after using a stimulant laxative. There have been some reports of more serious side effects, including allergic reactions, electrolyte imbalances, and liver damage.

Safety Considerations

Traditionally, there have been some concerns about the safety of stimulant laxatives. These areas of potential difficulty include a risk of tolerance or dependence and/or addiction to the medication. There is also a fear that chronic use of stimulant laxatives could increase one's risk for colon cancer.

However, other than the fact that some individuals with psychiatric and/or eating disorders are at risk of using stimulant laxatives in an unhealthy manner, these other concerns do not seem to be warranted.

A Word From Verywell

Stimulant laxatives appear to be a safe short-term treatment for constipation. Just be sure to follow dosing instructions carefully.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of using a stimulant laxative due to the safety considerations discussed above, you might want to consider using a stool softener as an alternative. If your constipation is a chronic problem, it is best that you work with your healthcare provider to develop a long-term management plan.

14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Noergaard M, Traerup andersen J, Jimenez-solem E, Bring christensen M. Long term treatment with stimulant laxatives - clinical evidence for effectiveness and safety?. Scand J Gastroenterol; 54(1):27-34.

  2. Bashir A, Sizar O. Laxatives. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537246/

  3. Kamm MA, Mueller-lissner S, Wald A, Richter E, Swallow R, Gessner U. Oral bisacodyl is effective and well-tolerated in patients with chronic constipation. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol; 9(7):577-83.

  4. Hoy SM, Scott LJ, Wagstaff AJ. Sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate: a review of its use as a colorectal cleanser. Drugs; 69(1):123-36.

  5. Lazzaroni M, Casini V, Bianchi porro G. Role or carbon dioxide-releasing suppositories in the treatment of chronic functional constipation: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Drug Investig; 25(8):499-505.

  6. Santos-jasso KA, Arredondo-garcía JL, Maza-vallejos J, Lezama-del valle P. Effectiveness of senna vs polyethylene glycol as laxative therapy in children with constipation related to anorectal malformation. J Pediatr Surg; 52(1):84-88.

  7. Arslan GG, Eşer I. An examination of the effect of castor oil packs on constipation in the elderly. Complement Ther Clin Pract; 17(1):58-62.

  8. Gordon M, MacDonald JK, Parker CE, Akobeng AK, Thomas AG. Osmotic and stimulant laxatives for the management of childhood constipationCochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2016(8):CD009118. Published 2016 Aug 17. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009118.pub3

  9. Treatments for Constipation: A Review of Systematic Reviews [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK263445/

  10. Paré P, Fedorak RN. Systematic review of stimulant and nonstimulant laxatives for the treatment of functional constipationCan J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;28(10):549–557. doi:10.1155/2014/631740

  11. Xing JH, Soffer EE. Adverse effects of laxatives. Dis Colon Rectum; 44(8):1201-9.

  12. Wald A. Is chronic use of stimulant laxatives harmful to the colon?. J Clin Gastroenterol; 36(5):386-9.

  13. Roerig JL, Steffen KJ, Mitchell JE, Zunker C. Laxative abuse: epidemiology, diagnosis and management. Drugs; 70(12):1487-503.

  14. Liu LW. Chronic constipation: current treatment optionsCan J Gastroenterol; 25 Suppl B(Suppl B):22B–28B.

Additional Reading
  • Ford A, et.al. American College of Gastroenterology Monograph on the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation. American Journal of Gastroenterology; 109:S2-S26.

Barbara Bolen, PhD

By Barbara Bolen, PhD
Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome.