Medication Question - Should be safe, about pain killers and weak laxatives.

pixie*lyssie · 01-04-2008, 12:14 PM

I am in a lot of pain basically if I want anything stronger I will go to my surgeon and ask him if my GP wont give me it. Basically strong pain killers really and I mean REALLY constipate me.

Is it bad to take Senna laxatives every night? (that's what instructions I have been given - to take 2 at night time) They do help me.

I have also been given lactulose. Which helps as well.

I am in a lot of pain and my surgeon offered to give me stronger pain killers than I have but I said no as they constipate me. I am considering asking for the stronger pain killers but am scared about being constipated. Despite what I eat and drink as I even underwent surgery when I was younger for extremely bad constipation.

I am just asking for some advise really from you guys please. what do you think?

I am in a lot pf pain here xxx

troubled_sorrowz · 01-04-2008, 01:16 PM

Umm... I dont know alot... but what I do know is that prolongued use of laxxies can be dangerous and lead to numerous illnesses. Who was it that advised you to take 2 every night? I think thats a question for your doctor hun xx

random.swirls · 01-04-2008, 02:06 PM

I agree that prolonged use of laxatives can result in you becoming constipated and therfore you do need to discuss this with your Dr.

I know that my grandfather has fybogel on prescription and there are other bulking agents that do a similar job without harming you like laxatives can.

Take care

Animad · 01-04-2008, 04:54 PM

Laxatives aren't good to take everynight if not necessary as they affect the action of your bowel making it unable to act without them aswell. As well as that they can reduce the absorption of nutrients from your gut which can cause nutritional deficiencies. Senna are stimulant laxatives and can irritate your guts and work by taking cause water and electrolytes to be released into your bowel to cause your guts to contract. Lactulose also works by putting water from your body into your guts but it shouldn't really be used with other laxatives so I'd say if this works alone then stick to just the one. With either of them you've got to make sure you drink plenty of water (like throughout the day, not just a glass with the tablet) This is especially important with Lactulose at it is very good at causing dehydration. If you need to take them its best that you do though.

Erm... Have you tried asking about other painkillers. Some don't cause constipation as a side effect as much as others. If you're on Co-codamol (codiene+paracetamol) these often cause bad costipation as they act on receptors in your gut to prevent the muscles from contracting. Some other painkillers which don't work via the same mechanism don't do this so it may be worth talking to your doctor and trying you on something else for a while to see if that helps.

Also, though you said it doesn't help, eating high fibre diets may help and mean you only have to take one sort of laxative which is DEFINATELY a good idea from what I've learnt. One thing that might help (but probably tastes horrible) is eating bran flakes for your breakfast, even just a bit with some cereal as these can also help as a sort of laxative too but again keep the amount you drink up.

Hope that helps

pixie*lyssie · 01-04-2008, 07:26 PM

Thank you guys for your response, I am not taking the Senna and Lactulose every night, just when I need it really, which is when I take the stronger pain killers. I was just wondering mainly.

I am seeing my surgeon on the 9th so will ask him about it all then. If it gers really bad then I will go to my GP.