Recurent Constipation and Usage of Laxative Treatments
The most common form of constipation is known as idiopathic or functional constipation. This means that the cause is unclear, therefore the disease can only be defined by the symptoms that it displays. Very often, the first line treatment is high fiber therapy. However, in the cases that it doesn’t work (which is the majority), patients will often turn toward laxatives.
Generally the opinion among the scientist and researcher population is that using laxative constipation treatments properly is safe. But as constipation is occasionally a chronic condition that necessitates use of laxatives over long periods, suspicions about unintended side-effects and health issues have arisen. One problem is the development of myths regarding this line of medication.
The incorrect or at least poorly conceived myths regarding laxative use can be divided into three kinds. The first kind concerns the idea that using laxatives causes nerves to become damaged in the colonic tract. THe second kind is related to the idea that laxatives are carcinogenic or mutagenic agents which give rise to cancer. THe third kind is about the idea of laxative “intolerance”, i.e. the efficacy wears off over time.
On the topic of the first misconception, reports about nerve damage came up first in a survey of patients who were using laxative constipation treatments. Colonoscopy showed discoloration in their intestinal lining, and some were diagnosed with damage to the nerves. But the correlative link was never made definitive. Many criticized the findings by pointing out in general patients with constipation had more chance of nerve damage, regardless of laxative use or not.
With respect to the second, reports linking laxatives to cancer were suggested by experimentation on animals. Rats fed extreme doses of anthraquinones had higher mutations in cells, leading to cancer-like problems. But the studies were not easily translatable to the human context because the doses were very non-realistic. Similar studies with extreme concentrations of aspartame sweetener and peanut oils show a cancer link, but are rarely relevant for realistic human consumption.
With respect to the third, informal evidence from self-reporting patients suggested the idea of rebound and intolerance to laxatives. Well-controlled studies, on the other hand, showed that in patients who had used medication for as long as 30 years still benefited from consistent usage. Animal studies suggested also a lack of the intolerance effect.
Laxatives seem to be a helpful part of the treatment regimen to combat constipation. The reports of these three kinds of side effects needs to evaluated against case studies which show the opposite: that long term side-effects are not a given.
This and related topics on treatment of constipation are available to all. If you are interested in constipation causes, come check out our site.
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