About Laxative Abuse and the Laxative Habit

Laxative Abuse is a term used to describe the mis-use, and the over-use, of laxatives which produces a complete dependency upon laxatives in order to move the bowels. When over used or when used long term, the purgative nature of laxatives causes a great deal of damage to The Colon. This damage can cause the colon to become insensitive and fail to function properly. When this occurs, the laxative habit has become “fixed”. The laxative habit cannot be kicked “cold turkey” without serious health risks. If you think you have the laxative habit, consult with your doctor about how to gradually recover the use of your colon and what strategy to use to begin to reverse the habit.

Most individuals unintentionally develop the laxative habit. Misconceptions about normal Healthy Bowel Function is common. False beliefs about the frequency with which bowels should be moving, lack of information about how Stools are Formed can lead some individuals who are overly concerned with bowel function, to take laxatives. The very action of laxatives can “hook” individuals on the use of laxatives. The relief from problems with constipation can feel quite profound especially if the constipation was accompanied by feelings of depression or sluggishness. The availability of laxatives prepared as chocolates and gum packaged in convenient carry along containers suggests that laxatives may be consumed much like after dinner mints without adverse consequences. Some individuals self medicate with laxatives in an attempt to cope with the side effects of Constipating Medications and supplements. Consult with your doctor if you suspect that your medication may be causing constipation. Some individuals get started on laxatives in an attempt to loose water weight in preparation for competitions (sports, pageants, etc.). Similarly, some misguided dieters and individuals with eating disorders, take laxatives in an attempt to loose weight. In this case, the determination of laxative abuse can be difficult because this kind of laxative abuser usually vigorously denies laxative use.

How Does the Habit Start? Typically, the development of this habit starts with the use of a Stimulant Laxative to achieve overnight relief from Constipation. Stimulant laxatives over empty the bowel. This means that three days may pass before the individual will feel the Defecation Reflex (the urge to have a bowel movement) again. Anxiety to move the bowels grows with the passing of each day. By the third day of not moving the bowel, many individuals will take another dose of laxatives. Again, after achieving the desired results, another three days may go by before a bowel movement occurs. This delay reinforces the need to continue the use of the laxative. Furthermore, the packaging on many products indicates that laxatives can be taken for up to two weeks. Some will conclude that they should continue to take the laxative (and take it everyday) to correct the problem. This is the point at which cultivation of the “habit” can begin. Because of the damage that laxatives cause, ever increasing dosages of laxatives may be required in order to achieve the desired effect. Where one laxative dose produced results, now two, then three doses a day, are required. Individuals who abuse laxatives for a long period of time may end up taking as many as 6 to 8 laxatives a day.

What are the consequences? Essentially, whether taken short term or long term, laxatives create and perpetuate the very problem they were intended to correct. Laxatives induce constipation as the tissues become dried out, muscles become weakened and the delicate nerves lining the colon become damaged. This slows down intestinal motility and results in constipation. With long term laxative abuse, the colon becomes damaged and fails to function entirely. This is laxative dependency. A laxative abuser has diarrhea in place of well formed stools. Long term abusers tend to have weight loss, hair loss, vomiting, abdominal pain, low energy, thirst, puffiness, mood swings, bone pain and suffer symptoms of dehydration. With prolonged use of laxatives a number of serious problems may arise such as fluid and electrolyte imbalances, damage to other organs, and syndromes resembling colitis.

What about fiber laxatives? Many older persons tell us that they are not constipated because they take Fiber Laxatives everyday. This is also a laxative habit. If they were to suddenly stop taking the fiber laxative, they would likely suffer constipation due to the gradual dehydration that dry fiber laxatives produce in the body. This dehydration damages the colon and is not reversed overnight. Dry fiber laxatives draw water from the body whether the body has it to spare or not. Furthermore, if the body already is dehydrated, the dry fiber laxative can form an impaction, a serious problem of blockage in the colon that results in some 2,000 deaths every year in long term care facilities. Help from Fruit-Eze™, all natural fruit blend laxative alternative.