Learn about proper ways to administer an enema. Some common types of enemas include sodium phosphate ( Fleet), soapsuds, and tap water enemas. Enemas work by softening stool enough to produce a bowel movement.
There are several types of enemas that you can try. This allows the stool to exit your body more easily. Using a stool softener, such as docusate sodium ( Colace) or docusate calcium ( Surfak), can moisten the stool by pulling water from your intestines. One common cause of constipation is dehydration, which can cause hard stool. Expect results within six to eight hours. Take mineral oil no more than two hours after your evening meal. Lubricant laxatives such as mineral oil add a slick coat to your intestine’s walls, allowing stool to move through your colon and out of your body more easily. With a doctor’s prescription, you can obtain higher-strength polyethylene glycol, also called PEG (Golytely, Nulytely). magnesium hydroxide (Phillips Milk of Magnesia).They’re designed to help move fluids through the colon. Osmotic laxatives work slightly differently than stimulant laxatives. bisacodyl (Dulcolax, Ducodyl, Correctol).You can get stimulants over the counter at your local pharmacy. Laxative stimulants are designed to force a bowel movement by squeezing the intestines. If you’re constipated and haven’t been drinking an adequate amount of water, consuming a large glass of water or other clear liquid may trigger a bowel movement. Proper hydration - typically at least eight 8-ounce glasses of clear liquid per day - is necessary for normal bowel movements. Here are a few common ones:īe sure to drink lots of water with these foods, as it will further help push your stool through your system. This helps push stool through your intestines and out of your body. They work by adding bulk, or volume, to your stool. Take a fiber supplementįiber supplements are readily available and effective at inducing bowel movements if a low-fiber diet is the cause of your constipation. The following quick treatments can help induce a bowel movement in a few hours.