q - Bowel Disorders: can docusate sodium and metamucil be used together Why Fiber-Rich Foods Are So Important . Drinking lots of fluids (6-8 glasses per day) is helpful. This agent is not habit-forming. You can take them together as one dose, or throughout the day as divided doses. Dietary fiber is the undigested portion of plants that provide bulk to your diet and your stools. Enemas and suppositories, which can soften the stool. Colace (docusate) softens the stool, but may not stimulate a bowel movement as quickly as a laxative. Stool softeners are a temporary solution for hemorrhoids, making a dreaded bowel movement easier and more comfortable. Good luck ;-) 0 0. mormon . You need to take the stool softeners just as it is prescribed by the physician. Stool softeners. Hello, First make sure you are drinking plenty of water, at least 6 glasses daily. Other laxative options. Mix Metamucil powder with at least 8 ounces of water or fruit juice before drinking straight away. Some natural remedies: good old prunes or pruine juice daily; I have seen some folks here mention grape juice helps. The amount you take depends on how bad your constipation is. Colace should be effective, it's basically mineral oil, or simply try mineral oil. You can think of fiber products like Metamucil causing the stool to absorb water (and thus expanding) while Miralax simply increases water in the bowel. Stringy stool: Stringy stool is a symptom with many causes, benign and not so benign. No problem with taking a stool softener like Metamucil or Colace but you can also try either a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water twice a day or a tablespoon of olive oil twice a day. When you're stopped up the last thing you want is something compounding the internal pressure. It's helped with my constipation. Miralax can take up to 4 days to work so it is something you usually take everyday. So, all stool softeners are laxatives, but not all laxatives are stool softeners. FiberCon is available only in capsule form, whereas Metamucil is available in several different forms and flavors and may therefore be ideal for you if you dislike swallowing pills. Stool softeners, such as Docusate, may take 24 to 48 hours. You can take the capsules or liquid with or without food. While stool softeners do not have a laxative effect on the digestive system, their ingredients soften the stool and make it easier to pass. Please let me know if you need any more information. How much to take. Best for Pregnancy: Dulcolax Pink Stool Softener . Fiber Stool Softener. Don't take mineral oil at the same time as stool softeners. This medication can be prescribed, but if you wish to use an over the counter version first, consult with your doctor. These medications work by actively drawing fats and water into the stool, and easing bowel ⦠Watch this informative video where we explain all the different ways to take Metamucil! Stimulant laxatives: Stimulants work directly on the nerves around the colon to stimulate the transit of stool through the gastrointestinal tract. Metamucil is more like a food...take it with a meal. I am trying to stay away ⦠A stool softener is a serious medication, so you should discuss using this form of laxative with your doctor first. Thank you. Fiber-based laxatives, including Fibercon and Metamucil, can take 12 to 72 hours. Try liquid fiber, they sell it at wall mart, it doesn't taste bad and moves through you very easily. I take the Metamucil in the capsule form, because I can't with deal drinking it in the liquid form . I have been keeping up with your posts. Helps get things moving. Mealtimes (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are useful reminders. If you ever took antibiotics they kill off the good gut flora needed for proper intestinal balance. unlike other laxatives, you can take these every day, because they're essentially just ⦠Certain types of insoluble fiber, like psyllium, also bind together with water, to help soften the stool. Customer reply replied 2 years ago. daily. Because different types of fibers produce a varied effect on our digestive system and feed different bacteria species, eating a variety is best for promoting microbial health. You can start taking 100mg twice daily and may increase to a maximum of 200mg twice daily as needed. can docusate sodium and metamucil be used together - I don't see why not. Regular use of bulking agents is safe and often lets you have more stools. Bulk-forming brands include Benefiber and Metamucil. Taking stool softeners and metamucil are helpful, but often more is needed. I have had to go on fiber therapy for hemorrhoids. Just make sure that you don't accidentally buy a stool softener with a laxative in it. Share on ⦠Take 1 tablespoon at breakfast or lunch. Make sure you take Metamucil with a full glass of water, otherwise it can swell in your throat and cause choking. I am soo sorry you are so miserable. When are you taking the docusate? -Colace is a stool-softener that makes stool easy to pass. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water on each day that a stool softener is used can help prevent these cramps from occurring 2. An example of this category is Metamucil (psyllium). Ask a pharmacist for advice if you're not sure. I may try Colace and Miralax together ⦠The risk of problems from long-term use of stool softeners such as docusate sodium (Colace, Regulax SS, other brands) really isn't the issue. ), Doctor replied 2 years ago. Which stool softeners have you tried. Consider wearing a protective pad in your undergarments to absorb any leakage. Here Is A Comparison Between A Stool Softener And A Laxative Solution That Are Effective In Relieving The Symptoms Associated With Constipation: Colace. Both of these elements have a natural laxative effect (5). Regular exercise is good for normal bowel movements (as well as for good general health). You can titrate it with your judgement to keep things moving. STOOL SOFTENERSAs the name implies, stool softeners, such as docusate sodium, moisten and soften stool making it easier to pass. A. I am unsure whether to take a laxative or a stool softener. Food such as bran or products such as Metamucil, Fibercon, or Prodiem ease constipation by absorbing more fluid in the intestines. The two I've had, have made my life misearable, even after surgery. This is why high doses have a laxative effect and are used for colonoscopy preparation. This has really helped me with the cramping/gas pain and constipation. But don't use it for more than a few days, because mineral oil interferes with absorption of some vitamins and if inhaled it can cause pneumonia. Any form of fiber is fine, powder, tablet, whatever. The idea is to balance your system so that you don't need to take anything. Ask Your Own Medical Question. General & Family Physician, Dr. Kathy Robinson's Response. The standard over the counter stool softener is Duccosate Sodium (Colace is a brand name); doseage anywhere from 100mg daily to twice a day, or 250mg. Upsides. The question is whether stool softeners do much good. Mon, 22 May 2017. Metamucil for me keeps things moving thru and the colace helps me so my weakened GI tract doesn't have to push so hard to get things thru. laxatives come in several forms: * bulk-forming laxatives include citrucel, fibercon, and metamucil. Metamucil (psyllium) is a natural fiber that is cheap and effective at relieving constipation. Avoid anything with caffeine and avoid alcohol. Hard stools can be a root cause of numerous health issues, starting from constipation, fissures, piles, hemorrhoids, fistula, colon cancer, IBS and many similar diseases.   Because it can be painful when very hard stools pass through the colon, these are often given along with a stool softener. I have been taking a stool softener daily for two months. -Enulose is a laxative that works by pulling water into your intestines hence helping your stool move along the intestinal tract. People should not take over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for constipation without speaking to a ⦠The question I have always had with digestive tract functions of all types is what is it that causes the need to use artificial substances to try to get back normal function? Adults should take one to two capfuls with a glass of water. Did you have to take stool softener for fissures? Are there any risks to taking a stool softener on a long-term basis? There is no specific time of day to use an enema but it works quickly (usually between 5 and 20 minutes), so use it when you know you'll be near a toilet. This makes the stool bigger, which gives you the urge to pass the stool. 3.8 / 5 average rating with 454 reviews for Metamucil. You can take macrogol with or without food. If the conservative route doesn't work, ⦠Stool softeners are considered generally safe for ⦠The active ingredient in Colace is docusate, a medication that is part of a family of laxatives called stool softeners (emollients). Available over-the-counter. When the colon draws too much water out of the stool, it leads to hard, dry stool that can cause constipation. Add a fiber supplement like metamucil or benefiber. Metamucil itself doesn't usually cause stringy stool, but it may have unmasked this symptom. Report Abuse. I know your pain though. Join Date: Apr 2004. Stool softener can be taken more as needed in my experience. Buy docusate sodium, which is the generic for Colace. Safer than laxatives. If it is pencil like and persists more than two weeks it may be a sign of luminal (phenobarbital) obstruction. Buy on Amazon. Posts: 290 Re: Stool softeners and fiber. Constipation. OK thank you. You can save yourself alot of money by buying it in store brand, and you can do the same for a stool softener. I had issues with miralax personally so I take Metamucil and colace (stool softener). 4 years ago. Doctor: Dr Chip (M.D. Ensure you drink at least six glasses of fluid each day while taking Metamucil. Stool has become very hard and dry. It is also why it is most often the product of choice for fecal impaction. Eating lots of fiber, especially from fruit, will help. 01-25-2005, 02:48 PM #4: FireWoman Senior Member . Although they may work well for people with hard stools the overall quality of evidence for constipation relief is poor and hence the recommendation for use of docusate sodium is only moderate. Metamucil can be used as an everyday supplement to increase your fiber intake, whereas FiberCon indicates it should only be used when constipation is present 1. Lv 4. I may try Colace and Miralax together to see how they work. Try to take them at regular intervals throughout the day. Swallow Metamucil capsules one at a time. Pregnancy can push your body to its limits, and digestive issues are relatively common among pregnant women. 3.6 / 5 average rating with 125 reviews for Colace. Stool softener can be taken more as needed in my experience. I usually take one stool softner and 1 Metamuscil capsule in the AM, then another Metamucil in the afternoon and 1 Stool softner and 1 Metamucil capsule before bed. Natural stool softeners. Taking more or less of the medicines than that of what is prescribed can worsen your situations and put you into serious problems. Courtesy of Amazon. Laxatives and stool softeners create physical dependance so you can't "go" without them. 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