How To Use Fibercon
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. If you are self-treating, follow all directions on the product package. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. To prevent choking from this medication, take it with a full glass of water or other liquid . If you are taking the chewable tablets, chew the tablet thoroughly before swallowing.
Dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than directed.
This product may decrease the absorption of other medications you may be taking. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long to wait between doses and when you should take your medications.
It may take 1 to 3 days before this medication starts working. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. Do not take this medication for more than 7 days unless directed by your doctor.
Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse, or if bleeding from the rectum occurs. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.
How Does Pregnancy Affect Your Digestive System
Constipation occurs in nearly half of pregnant women, due to physiological and anatomical changes in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, dietary changes such as not eating some of the foods youre used to, or eating less can contribute to constipation. And to top it all off, a growing fetus may slow down the movement of the bowel.
Hormonal changesPregnant women produce more hormones than usual, including relaxin and progesterone, which relax the joints and ligaments in the pelvic area to make room for the growing baby. They also relax the muscles of the digestive system, causing bowel movements to slow down. Another hormone, aldosterone, makes the colon absorb more liquid and electrolytes than usual, which makes stools harder. All of these changes can make it difficult to get relief.
Physical changesSome changes in the body during pregnancy may include backache, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, hemorrhoids, frequent urination, feeling tired, increase in appetite, increased vaginal discharge, tender breasts, and constipation. Toward the end of the pregnancy, the expansion of the uterus can put an increased pressure on the intestines, which also contributes to constipation.
Dietary changesDifferent eating habits during pregnancy can cause constipation. Maybe youre eating more of certain foods, while you cant stand the sight of others either way, sudden changes can cause occasional constipation.
What Constipation Remedies Are Okay To Use During Pregnancy
Theres no such thing as a medication thats 100 percent safe for pregnant women which is why its a good idea to try to treat your constipation by changing up your diet or exercise routine first.
If that doesn’t work, however, there are a few other laxatives available on the market that are generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your practitioner before taking any of them.
In the meantime, heres what you can do to try to regulate your bowel movements while youre pregnant:
Avoid stimulant laxatives like Dulcolax or Senokot, which trigger the intestinal muscles to contract and can be harmful to pregnant women.
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Should You Use Dietary Supplements
Herbals and dietary supplements have never been proven safe or effective for any use, in any group of patients. For this reason alone, using them is a dangerous gamble. Pregnant women using OTC supplements expose their fetus to unknown hazards, as these products have never been tested or approved for use in pregnancy either. Mothers have lost their babies due to herbs and dietary supplements, and babies have been born with serious medical problems due to their use. In general, the use of these products should be avoided during pregnancy unless directed by a physician.
Remember, if you have any questions, Consult Your Pharmacist.
Will It Affect My Baby
If youre pregnant, you dont need to worry that constipation will affect your baby since the discomfort occurs in the mothers gut and bowels and isnt passed on to the baby. Most laxatives are not well absorbed into the bloodstream and can be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but always check with your pharmacist before taking a medicine while pregnant.
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The Safety Of Using Laxatives During Pregnancy
Constipation is something very common due to the hormonal and physical changes women go through during pregnancy. The symptoms may include a decrease in the frequency of defecation, hard stool, abdominal pain, and frequent gasses. If you are experiencing constipation during your pregnancy, you may think of using laxatives to relieve the discomfort.
What Is Milk Of Magnesia
Milk of magnesia i.e. magnesium hydroxide is a laxative thats used to treat the occasional bout of constipation.
The medication works by drawing water into the bowel, which helps soften and pass the stool, usually within 30 minutes to six hours after taking the recommended dose.
While you can buy milk of magnesia over-the-counter in liquid or tablet form, you should always talk to your doctor before trying it, since not all OTC meds are safe for pregnant women.
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Can You Take Dulcolax While Pregnant
youpregnantwhile youtaking
. Similarly, you may ask, what will happen if you take a laxative while pregnant?
One mild laxative, considered to be safe to take during pregnancy, is Milk of Magnesia. In addition, make sure you do not overuse laxatives. This can cause diarrhea, leading to fluid loss, and make you more likely to reach for them in the future.
Likewise, what can I take during pregnancy for constipation? Stool softeners add water to the stool to help make it softer and more comfortable to pass. The stool softener that doctors most commonly recommend to pregnant women is docusate .
Moreover, why are laxatives bad during pregnancy?
Yes, when laxatives are used more than recommended. Laxatives can make food go through the intestines faster than usual, which can reduce the amount of nutrients that are absorbed into the body.
Does constipation cause miscarriage?
In particular, miscarriage is not caused by lifting, straining, working too hard, constipation, straining at the toilet, sex, eating spicy foods or normal exercise. There is also no proof that waiting for a certain length of time after a miscarriage improves your chances of having a healthy pregnancy next time.
Laxatives In Late Pregnancy
Many people are of the opinion that laxatives in late pregnancy can cause contractions and may lead to premature birth. This is also supported by the fact that some laxatives do cause uterine contractions and lead to premature labor. Also, using laxatives will use a lot of water inside your body, so you will need to have plenty of water to balance the hydration.
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How To Cope With Side Effects Of Bisacodyl
What to do about:
- feeling sick try taking bisacodyl with some food. It may also help if you avoid rich or spicy food.
- diarrhoea stop taking bisacodyl and drink plenty of water or other fluids. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration, such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
- stomach pain or cramps reduce your dose of bisacodyl or stop taking it until these side effects go away.
Robert Milstein, M.D.Breastfeeding, Parenting, Pregnancy
What medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding? Stool softeners like Miralax or Dulcolax? Acid blockers like Zantac or Pepcid? What about anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics?
To help answer your questions, we put together a list of commonly used medications, along with safety considerations during breastfeeding. If you need additional information, the National Library of Medicine is an excellent resource concerning any additional medications.
Weve also put together a great list of additional articles and resources covering the top breastfeeding issues.
1) Acid blockers : Acid blockers are not found in any significant levels in breast milk and are considered safe. In fact, Pepcid and Zantac are commonly used by pediatricians for babies.
3) Anti-inflammatory medications :
Talk With Your Doctor
While MiraLAX is a safe and effective option for treating constipation during pregnancy, you should talk to your doctor before using it. Consider asking your doctor these questions:
- Should I take MiraLAX as a first treatment for constipation, or should I try lifestyle changes or other products first?
- How much MiraLAX should I take, and how often?
- How long should I use it for?
- If I still have constipation while using MiraLAX, how long should I wait to call you?
- Can I take MiraLAX with other laxatives?
- Will MiraLAX interact with any other medications Im taking?
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Is It Safe To Take Lactulose While Pregnant
Lactulose represent the type of sugar which isn`t digested and, thus draws water into the intestine. This will soften your stools and aid them move along the intestine. There`s no research performed to test if using lactulose while pregnant is connected to issues in the unborn child. Still, lactulose is frequently used while expecting and the manufacturers claim that it can be used while pregnant if required.
What Medications Can I Take Safely While Pregnant
Please note, the content on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a physician before taking medication when pregnant.
Although you should try to minimize medication during your pregnancy, sometimes it is necessary for your health and comfort to take some type of medication. This list includes medicines that have been deemed safe for consumption during pregnancy and have been reviewed by your provider at South Denver OB/GYN.
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Take your prenatal vitamin daily with food.
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Avoid caffeine as much as possible, specifically no more than 2 cups of any caffeinated liquid per day.
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Try not to take any medication during your first 13 weeks of pregnancy. If you must take something, the following medications are generally considered safe during pregnancy.
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Things To Be Aware Of During Pregnancy
Simple and gentle ways of preventing constipation in pregnancy are exercise and a diet with sufficient fibre and fluid intake. If these remedies do not help you, you mustnt just try any laxative. This is because many laxatives can produce severe side effects such as electrolyte shifts especially if used over time or even stomach cramps, which are particularly undesirable in pregnancy. An alternative, for yourself and your unborn baby, is a locally acting micro-enema such as MICROLAX® Enema.
How Is Constipation Treated During Pregnancy
The first step in treating constipation is to increase the fluids and fibre in your diet. Eating wholegrain foods, fruit and vegetables can often resolve constipation. If symptoms continue, then fibre supplements or laxatives may be a short-term solution however, it is always better to stimulate the bowel with a healthy diet rather than take medications. Taking laxatives can sometimes result in side effects such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
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A Comparison Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Polyethylene Glycol 4000 And Lactulose For The Treatment Of Constipation In Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
Hang Li, Pingfang Zhang, Yuzheng Xue
Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University , , China
Contributions: Conception and design: H Li Administrative support: Y Xue Provision of study materials or patients: H Li Collection and assembly of data: P Zhang Data analysis and interpretation: H Li Manuscript writing: All authors Final approval of manuscript: All authors.
Correspondence to:
Background: Constipation is a common gastrointestinal complication during pregnancy. The prevalence of constipation is higher in pregnant women compared to the general population owing to the physiological changes that occur throughout pregnancy. Lactulose and polyethylene glycol belong to a class of medications known as osmotic laxatives. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of polyethylene glycol and lactulose in pregnant women with constipation.
Methods: In this study, we selected 113 pregnant women with constipation who attended the Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2020. The included patients were randomly divided into two groups. The observation group used polyethylene glycol 4000 , 10 g, twice daily. The control group used lactulose 15 mL, twice daily. Both groups were given a 3-week course of treatment, and were observed for any adverse drug reactions. The clinical effects were compared every week during the 3-week treatment.
doi: 10.21037/apm-20-1674
Why Is My Belly So Big At 6 Weeks Pregnant
Maybe youre putting on weight around 6 to 8 weeks which in your mind is quite early. One plausible explanation for an early bump, though, could be abdominal bloating. An increase in hormones can cause your body to retain fluid. So what you believe to be all baby bump may actually be a bloated stomach.
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What Happens If You Dont Poop For 2 Weeks
Constipation occurs when bowel movements become less frequent and stools become difficult to pass. It happens most often due to changes in diet or routine, or due to inadequate intake of fiber. You should call your doctor if you have severe pain, blood in your stools, or constipation that lasts longer than three weeks.
Side Effects Of Using Laxatives During Pregnancy
Laxative usage is sometimes associated with some adverse effects too. For one, regular use of laxatives can cause diarrhea, draining your body of fluids. Laxatives that form the bulk can increase blood pressure because of their high sodium or sugar content. During pregnancy never use caster oil or mineral oil to combat constipation. These oils can lead to uterine contractions and thereby increases the chances of setting in of premature labor. Use of mineral oil can also cause bleeding in the newborn. You should also avoid stimulant laxatives during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using any laxative.Laxatives, more often, cause no serious allergic reaction. Tell your doctor, if you are allergic to bisacodyl and ask for an alternative.
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What Type Of Laxatives Are Safe To Take During Pregnancy
If these measures dont relieve your constipation, we can consider taking laxatives. Again, it is very important to speak with us first, even before taking over-the-counter laxatives. You should also steer away from home remedies like castor oil or mineral oil
Remember that not all over-the-counter laxatives have been extensively tested for safety during constipation and pregnancy. However, laxatives that arent absorbed by the body are typically considered safe. Saline laxatives may also be used during constipation and pregnancy.
Some laxatives we may recommend include:
What Could Be The Side Effects Of Laxatives During Pregnancy
Like any other medications, laxatives also have some side effects, which usually depend on the type of laxative you are taking.
The common side effects include :
Excessive or prolonged intake of laxatives could result in the following side effects.
- Reduced absorption of nutrition and other medicines into the blood as laxatives increase the rate of food passage through the intestinal tract.
- Lower levels of magnesium salt in the blood. One study has found that mothers who had docusate sodium when pregnant had babies with low magnesium levels and suffered temporary jitteriness .
Therefore, talk to your doctor before using laxatives during pregnancy.
Next, we answer a few commonly raised queries.
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Can I Take Dulcolax Laxative If Im Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
It is not known whether bisacodyl will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctors advice if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether bisacodyl passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctors advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.
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Are Colace And Dulcolax The Same
While both Colace and Dulcolax are used to treat constipation, they are not the same and do not work in the same way. Colace, a stool softener, helps soften the stool to make it easier to pass. Dulcolax, a stimulant laxative, works by simulating the physical movement of the stool through the digestive tract.
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How Do You Pass A Big Hard Stool
People may be able to treat large, hard-to-pass stools by making adjustments to their daily routine, such as :
- Inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas.
- Swelling of the abdomen.
What About Otc Medications
Of course, you may choose to use nonprescription medications to treat a wide variety of pregnancy-related problems, such as constipation, headache, nausea/vomiting , and hemorrhoids. You must absolutely avoid castor oil during pregnancy. Castor oil is a harsh stimulant laxative that relieves constipation by forced bowel movements. Some people also believe that it will force the uterus to deliver an overdue baby. There are numerous problems with this practice. First, the mother may not be overdue, and the baby may be born before the best time, endangering its health. Second, most of the evidence that castor oil works comes from old wives tales, irresponsible Web sites, and testimonials from midwives. None of these can be trusted in the same way as scientific evidence. Finally, castor oil can cause serious problems during delivery, and its use has sometimes resulted in the death of both mother and child.
Castor oil taken to force a delivery has also been suspected of causing the baby to have a bowel movement before birth. This first bowel movement is meant to be passed after birth. Should it be passed in utero, the baby can inhale it at the time of delivery, which can cause serious injury to the child or even death.
Read the label of every nonprescription product carefully before purchase to see whether it carries a warning to consult a health professional before use. Your pharmacist can provide some assistance in choosing an appropriate medication.
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