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Medications for Constipation

Other names: Difficulty passing stool; Irregularity of bowels

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 1, 2023.

Laxatives are diverse range of medications that help with the movement of feces (poo) through the colon. Over-the-counter options include:

  • Fiber Supplements and bulk forming laxatives: These increase the bulk of the stool and help it to retain water, making it softer but more formed. They should be taken with plenty of water. Examples include psyllium (Metamucil), wheat dextrin (Benefiber), polycarbophil (FiberCon), and methylcellulose (Citrucel). They can take two to three days to work.
  • Osmotics: These enhance stool movement by drawing water from the rest of the body into the bowel to soften poo and make it easier to pass. Examples include oral magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia), magnesium citrate, lactulose (Generlac), and polyethylene glycol 3350 (Miralax). They can take two to three days to work.
  • Stimulants: These stimulate the muscles along the inside of the intestinal tract, helping them to move poo through to your back passage.  Examples include bisacodyl (Correctol) and sennosides/senna (Senokot), and they take 6 to 12 hours to work.
  • Lubricants: Lubricants, such as mineral oil, coat the stool and the inside of the bowel with moisture which helps keep the stool from drying out, allowing smoother passage along the intestines and colon
  • Stool Softeners: Arachis oil (peanut oil), and docusate (Colace) are stool softeners that allow water to get into poo easier to soften it, making it easier to pass.

For chronic constipation or constipation as a result of irritable bowel syndrome, the following prescription medicines may be considered:

In instances where constipation is specifically because of opioid pain relief, prescription medicines like methylnaltrexone (Relistor), naldemedine (Symproic), and naloxegol (Movantik) might be recommended.

See also: sub-topics

Drugs used to treat Constipation

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
docusate 5.9 38 reviews for docusate to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
docusate systemic
Brand names:
Colace, Dulcolax Stool Softener, Doc-Q-Lace, DOK, Enemeez Mini, Surfak, Colace Micro-Enema, Diocto
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
MiraLAX 7.2 189 reviews for MiraLAX to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
polyethylene glycol 3350 systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Colace 5.8 16 reviews for Colace to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
docusate systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Dulcolax 5.3 1006 reviews for Dulcolax to treat Constipation
OTC B N
Generic name:
bisacodyl systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
bisacodyl 5.3 1412 reviews for bisacodyl to treat Constipation
OTC B N
Generic name:
bisacodyl systemic
Brand names:
Dulcolax, Correctol, Bisa-Lax, Fleet Bisacodyl
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
polyethylene glycol 3350 7.2 253 reviews for polyethylene glycol 3350 to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
polyethylene glycol 3350 systemic
Brand names:
MiraLAX, GlycoLax, ClearLax, Purelax, GaviLAX, Gialax, HealthyLax, PEG3350, SunMark ClearLax
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Dulcolax Stool Softener 5.0 1 review for Dulcolax Stool Softener to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
docusate systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
magnesium oxide 8.5 16 reviews for magnesium oxide to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
magnesium oxide systemic
Brand names:
Mag-Ox 400, Mag-Oxide, Phillips' Cramp-free, Uro-Mag
Drug class:
minerals and electrolytes
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Milk of Magnesia 8.7 40 reviews for Milk of Magnesia to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
magnesium hydroxide systemic
Drug class:
antacids, laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
magnesium citrate 8.7 478 reviews for magnesium citrate to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
magnesium citrate systemic
Brand names:
Citrate of Magnesia, Citroma
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Metamucil 6.6 33 reviews for Metamucil to treat Constipation
OTC N N
Generic name:
psyllium systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Citrucel 10 2 reviews for Citrucel to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
methylcellulose systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Doc-Q-Lace Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
docusate systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
FiberCon 9.0 1 review for FiberCon to treat Constipation
OTC N N
Generic name:
polycarbophil systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
interactions, side effects
DOK Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
docusate systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Fleet Enema 8.7 94 reviews for Fleet Enema to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
sodium biphosphate / sodium phosphate systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
GlycoLax 0.0 1 review for GlycoLax to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
polyethylene glycol 3350 systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Phillips' Milk of Magnesia 8.4 185 reviews for Phillips' Milk of Magnesia to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
magnesium hydroxide systemic
Drug class:
antacids, laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
ClearLax 9.8 9 reviews for ClearLax to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
polyethylene glycol 3350 systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Enemeez Mini 9.0 1 review for Enemeez Mini to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
docusate systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
magnesium hydroxide 8.5 231 reviews for magnesium hydroxide to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
magnesium hydroxide systemic
Brand names:
Milk of Magnesia, Phillips' Milk of Magnesia, Dulcolax Milk of Magnesia, Ex-Lax Milk of Magnesia, Pedia-Lax Chewable Tablets
Drug class:
antacids, laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
psyllium 6.8 36 reviews for psyllium to treat Constipation
OTC N N
Generic name:
psyllium systemic
Brand names:
Metamucil, Hydrocil, Konsyl, Metamucil Orange Smooth Texture, Reguloid, Konsyl-Orange, Natural Fiber Therapy
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Surfak Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
docusate systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Mag-Ox 400 4.0 1 review for Mag-Ox 400 to treat Constipation
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
magnesium oxide systemic
Drug class:
minerals and electrolytes
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Colace Micro-Enema Rate Add review
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
docusate systemic
Drug class:
laxatives
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Constipation

Alternative treatments for Constipation

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Constipation. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Constipation.

Learn more about Constipation

Care guides

Medicine.com guides (external)

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

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