Laxatives And Purgatives: Understanding The Differences In Action And Intensity

Laxatives and purgatives are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives are milder in action and deal with the evacuation of the rectum, while purgatives are more severe and deal with the evacuation of the colon. Laxatives vary in how they work and their side effects, and can be administered orally or rectally. They can be bulk-forming, emollient, lubricant, hyperosmotic, or stimulant. Purgatives, on the other hand, are capable of purging and are often used to describe cathartics, which are more severe in action.

Laxatives are milder in action, while purgatives are more severe

Laxatives and purgatives are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. However, laxatives are milder in action than purgatives.

Laxatives deal with the evacuation of the rectum and the elimination of formed stools. They vary in how they work and the side effects they may have. Laxatives can be administered orally or rectally and can be categorised as bulk-forming, emollient, lubricant, hyperosmotic, or stimulant laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives, also known as roughage, are substances that add bulk and water to stools so they can pass more easily through the intestines. Examples include dietary fibre, Metamucil, Citrucel, and FiberCon. Emollient laxatives, or stool softeners, are anionic surfactants that enable additional water and fats to be incorporated into the stool, making movement through the bowels easier. Lubricant laxatives, such as mineral oil, coat the stool with slippery lipids, decrease water absorption in the colon, and increase the weight of the stool. Hyperosmotic laxatives cause the intestines to hold more water, creating an osmotic gradient that adds pressure and stimulates bowel movement. Examples include glycerin suppositories, sorbitol, lactulose, and PEG. Stimulant laxatives, such as senna and bisacodyl, act on the intestinal mucosa or nerve plexus, altering water and electrolyte secretion and stimulating peristaltic action. They can be dangerous under certain circumstances, and prolonged use can create drug dependence.

Purgatives, on the other hand, are more severe in action and deal with the evacuation of the colon, resulting in the elimination of liquid stools. They are also known as cathartics. Purgatives include stimulant purgatives, which contain the active principle emodin, and diphenyl methane derivatives, which cause low-grade inflammation that increases motility and secretions.

Laxatives deal with the evacuation of the rectum, while purgatives deal with the evacuation of the colon

The rectum and colon are both parts of the large intestine, which is connected to the small intestine. The colon is the longest part of the large intestine, and the rectum is a shorter tube connected to the colon. The colon is a U-shaped tube made of muscle, found below the stomach, and the rectum is the lower part of the large intestine that connects to the sigmoid colon. The rectum is followed by the anal canal, which is about 4 centimetres long, before the gastrointestinal tract ends at the anal verge.

The colon and rectum work together to absorb water and nutrients and form and store stool. The colon receives almost completely digested food from the small intestine, absorbing water and nutrients, and passing waste to the rectum. The rectum acts as a temporary storage site for faeces, receiving waste from the colon and storing it until it passes out of the body through the anus.

Laxatives are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements, primarily used to treat constipation. They can act by accelerating faecal passage or decreasing faecal consistency. Purgatives, also known as cathartics or evacuants, are types of laxatives that specifically work to evacuate the colon. While laxatives can be administered orally or rectally, purgatives are often used to evacuate the colon for rectal and bowel examinations and may be supplemented by enemas.

Laxatives can be classified into several types, including bulk-forming laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, and stool softeners or surfactant laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives, also known as roughage, add bulk and water to stools so they can pass more easily through the intestines. Osmotic laxatives create an osmotic force, pulling water into the stool to increase its volume. Stimulant laxatives, also known as irritant laxatives, work by irritating the intestinal wall, leading to increased fluid, electrolytes, and motility. Stool softeners, or emollient laxatives, enable additional water and fats to be incorporated into the stool, making it easier to pass through the bowels.

Laxatives eliminate formed stools, while purgatives eliminate liquid stools

Laxatives and purgatives are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives can be further categorised into bulk-forming laxatives, lubricant laxatives, hyperosmotic laxatives, and stimulant laxatives.

Bulk-forming laxatives, also known as roughage, are substances that add bulk and water to stools so they can pass more easily through the intestines. They absorb liquid in the intestines, creating a bulky, more liquid-like stool that is softer and easier to pass. Common bulk-forming laxatives include psyllium (Metamucil), polycarbophil (FiberCon), and methylcellulose (Citrucel). They are considered the gentlest of laxatives, making them ideal for long-term maintenance of regular bowel movements.

Lubricant laxatives, on the other hand, coat the stool with slippery lipids, decreasing water absorption in the colon so that the stool slides through more easily. An example of a lubricant laxative is mineral oil.

Hyperosmotic laxatives, including magnesium salts and polyethylene glycols, cause the intestines to hold more water, creating an osmotic gradient that adds pressure and stimulates bowel movement. They differ from bulk-forming laxatives by helping the intestines, rather than the bowels, retain water.

Stimulant laxatives, such as senna and bisacodyl, act on the intestinal mucosa or nerve plexus, altering water and electrolyte secretion. They stimulate peristaltic action and can be dangerous in certain circumstances. They are useful for more severe forms of constipation but can cause abdominal cramps.

Laxatives eliminate formed stools by adding bulk and water to the stools, softening them, and making them easier to pass. Purgatives, on the other hand, are a type of laxative that eliminates liquid stools by stimulating the muscles in the colon to move the liquid stools along.

Laxatives are used to treat and prevent constipation, while purgatives are used to purge

Laxatives and purgatives are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives are milder in action and deal with the evacuation of the rectum, while purgatives are severe and deal with the evacuation of the colon.

Laxatives vary in their mechanisms of action and potential side effects. They can be categorised as bulk-forming laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, and stool softeners or surfactant laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives, also known as roughage, include dietary fibre and hydrophilic agents that add bulk and water to stools, making them easier to pass through the intestines. Osmotic laxatives, such as sugars, alcohols, and salt electrolytes, create an osmotic force that pulls water into the stool, increasing its bulk. Stimulant laxatives, also known as irritant laxatives, work by irritating the intestinal wall, leading to increased fluid, electrolytes, and motility. Stool softeners or surfactant laxatives, like emollient laxatives, enable additional water and fats to be incorporated into the stool, facilitating easier movement through the bowels. Lubricant laxatives, such as mineral oil, coat the stool with slippery lipids, reducing water absorption in the colon and allowing the stool to slide through more easily.

Purgatives, on the other hand, are severe in action and result in the elimination of liquid stools. They include stimulant purgatives, such as anthraquinone purgatives, and bulk-forming purgatives, which contain fibre that is either fermented or unfermented. Stimulant purgatives contain the active principle emodin, which is converted into anthrol by bacteria in the colon, resulting in prokinetic activity. Bulk-forming purgatives, when unfermented, draw water into the stool, increasing its bulk, while the fermented portion is converted into short-chain fatty acids with prokinetic properties.

While laxatives are commonly used to treat and prevent constipation, purgatives are primarily associated with purging or severe evacuation of the colon.

Laxatives can be administered orally or rectally, while purgatives are not specified

Laxatives and purgatives are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives are milder in action and deal with the evacuation of the rectum, while purgatives are severe and deal with the evacuation of the colon. Laxatives can be administered orally or rectally, while purgatives are not specified.

Laxatives vary in their mechanisms of action and side effects. They can be bulk-forming, lubricant, saline, or stimulant laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives, also known as roughage, include dietary fibre and hydrophilic agents that add bulk and water to stools. Lubricant laxatives, such as mineral oil, coat the stool with lipids and decrease water absorption. Saline laxatives, such as sodium phosphate, are non-absorbable substances that attract and retain water in the intestines. Stimulant laxatives, like senna and bisacodyl, act on the intestinal mucosa to alter water and electrolyte secretion and stimulate peristaltic action.

Laxatives can be administered orally or rectally. Oral laxatives include dietary fibre, Metamucil, Citrucel, and FiberCon. Rectal administration of laxatives includes enemas and suppositories.

Purgatives, on the other hand, are not specified in terms of administration route. However, they are generally more severe in their action and deal with the evacuation of the colon. Purgatives include cathartics, which produce a liquid form of stool.

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