how bad is it to take a laxative when you dont need to?
964554
I would not recommend taking laxatives unless a last resort for constipation. Laxatives leech the body of essential electrolytes such as potassium. When your body is potassium deficient, called hypokalemia (commonly seen in anorexics), symptoms include muscle weakness and myalgia, increased risk of hypoatremia (possible confusion and seizures), palpitations of the heart (ectopy to arrhythmias), nervous shaking, excessive sweating, and increased sensitivity of the nerves to the cold. \nOther potential problems include intestinal paralysis, IBS and pancreatis (inflammed pancreas). \nIf you only take it once, chances are you won't be too screwed up. But, what is your motivation to try them? Do you really want diarrhea? What's the point it that? It won't affect your stomach at all. Laxatives work on the intestines. They can work by many different mechanisms based on the type.\nSerious, though, think of the possible side effects. Don't use them for fun.
762654
First the important thing is to talk to your doctor.\n\nNext, don't take laxatives because your intestines (smooth involuntary muscle) will learn to rely on them.\n\nIt is important to increase your fiber intake - soluble and insoluble.  Soluble fiber (like the white/yellow part of an apple) makes your stool soft, and insoluble fiber (the apple peel) irritates the intestines and stimulates movement (peristalsis).\n\nThere are fiber supplements - if you intend to use those be certain to take enough water, otherwise that too can contribute to an obstruction.  There are bran cereals that are easy to eat - for example all bran has half a day's fiber in 1/3 cup of cereal.  Sprinkle that on a salad instead of bacon bits, mix it into muffins for extra fiber...etc.  Increase your intake of vegetables too.\n\nYou could end up with a nasty bout of diverticulosis which may also land you in surgery, and you only have so much bowel that can be removed.  You could also end up with a colostomy bag.  \n\nBest of luck to you.
1146510
I heard, (but I have never witnessed this before), that you will get constipated and the poop can back up the digestive tract and you will vomit poop. Gross... \n\nNow this I have seen before, sometimes if the poop is super hard and cannot be passed the normal way, it has to be surgically removed. Why? Because the hard poop or even intense rectal stimulation can stimulate a vagal receptor in the bowel that can make you pass out and cause your heart rate to drop to a dangerously low level. \n\nI know, more information than you wanted.
882815
Once a day at least.  Less means you're probably chronically constipated.\n\nTwo or three times is good.\nOne per meal-sized meal or snack is ideal.\n\nMuch more than that, though, and you may have diarrhea!
1045811
this would depend on the tyoe, if your taking ones that irratate the lining of your intestine then deffinatly you should ween off, where as if its a fiber/bulk forming type, i would ween much less and deffintly recommend drinking water... and if you go more than 4 or 5 days without a BM go see your docter
364342
Ride a bike for 10-15mph for 2 hours a day 4 days a week.  Try to eat less especially fat and cut the carbs a little but not completely you will lose a lot of weight fast.  Take laxetives you will poop everything instead of digesting it and will lose weight really fast-not if you do this drink lots of water or you will die of dehydration which is a horrible way to die
986527
Extreme constipation as a result of not having a bowel movement for several days or a week or more.  The feeling that you have to evacuate, but can't pass anything.  Could lead to possible intestinal blockage which could lead to death as happened with Morris Gibb of the BG's. \n\nNote: If someone has constipation that has lasted a week or more they should seek medical treatment before trying laxatives.  They could have a serious underlying medical problem such as a colon or other intestinal tumor (benign or cancerous).\n\nCheers!
922794
They won't do you any harm and make the medication more easily absorbed - but don't take them if you have upper abdominal pain. That is a symptom of a bowel brockage and anything fizzy is bad then. But that is quite rare.
1060940
Normal is defined as anything from 3 times a day to once every 3 days.\n\nThe important thing is not how often you go, but whether it's easy to have a bowel movement when you do. Even if you only went once every 3 days but the stool was easy to pass, you wouldn't be constipated.\n\nIf you're only going once a week and it is difficult to have a bowel movement you need to increase your fibre intake as well as your fluid intake. You should also do regular exercise which stimulates the bowel. If these don't help, you should see your doctor who will prescribe a type of laxative which is gentle on your intestines.
722427
I would take a stool softener and drink lots of water, not a laxative. You need something which will work through your entire digestive system from the stomach down. A suppository and enema only work from the butt up (and they don't work themselves up through the entire intestinal track). It will take a couple of days before the stool softener works, but it is the least harsh method for your problem. Good luck !
1098131
You could try some laxatives and see if that helps. They make you miserable though. Or, if you drink the tea at Starbucks, three times a week, it will regulate you, or you can try that yogurt Activia, that works real well. If none of that helps, you'll have to go to the doctor because you could be too backed up for anything to help. Three times a week though isn't irregular, if that's regular for you.
964336
Mag Citrate can give you diarrhea, also if you eat enough ex-lax, that should do the trick too.
494899
Until no microflora bacteria are left. Then one does not need laxatives more to have permanent diarhea and no way to stop it without treatment. \n\nHipovitaminosis may develop also, especially for vitamins soluble in fat (A, E, D) with all range of symptoms. Metabolism becomes distorted and slow.\n\nSome stronger laxatives (also with diuretic substances) may induce problems of cardiovasculary system and faint. \n\nSorter, it depends on kind of laxatives and initial health. It is better to use herbal mixes, which increase the rate of metabolism and fat is burned faster, also detoxifying mixes, in case you use these laxatives for weight problems.
1161189
I will work for a short time, but you can become severely dehydrated as well as addicted to the laxatives, plus when you go off of them, you'll gain the weight back. Try to find a healthy alternative such as eating well and exercising.
971731
Drink a bottle of Citrate of Magnesium. You can ask the pharmacist to help you to find it on the shelf. It starts working in as little as 1 hour. Be at home when you do this and does not cause the usual cramping that laxatives do. I also have had a bowel re-section so I have to drink this periodically. I have tried virtually everything there is, and this is the best. Everything else listed either caused severe stomach cramps, no relief for hours, or did not work at all.
150586
Laxatives are bad and simply cover up the bigger issue, why are you constipated in the first place?  \n\nThere are different ways that laxatives work.  \n\nOne way is preventing your large intestine from absorbing water, resulting in more lubrication in the large intestine, causing you to pass feces.  This is bad because it dehydrates you.  \n\nAnother way they work is by irritating your large intestine so much that it causes peristalsis, muscular contractions of the intestinal walls, which causes you to pass feces.  This is bad because it works by irritating your large intestine.\n\nGetting back to the big picture, eat more veggies and fruits, drink water, cut back on processed foods and too much protein and you won't need laxatives.\n\nSome people also use laxatives to lose weight.  Healthy eating and exercise is the better way to go.  \n\nOver time, regular usage of laxatives will stress your digestive system as well as your liver and kidneys, which could lead to more serious issues.  Read the potential side effects and warnings that come with the package and you'll see how bad laxatives can be.
44179
You might not "harm them" per se...but if you want someone who's jolted and awake all the time who's about to sh_t in his/her pants at any moment, then yeah, I would say that would cause some degree physical "harm"  :)  seriously, though... it depends on the dosages used... since caffeine is known to cause constipation, it might just cancel out the effects of the laxative (this is just in theory, I don't know if it's like this in practice).