bulk-forming laxative

You must use bulk-forming laxatives daily for them to work.

Do bulk-forming laxatives have side effects?

Active constituents: Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative and is high in both fiber and mucilage.

• Bulk-forming laxative (Blumenthal et al.

There is some concern that taking large amounts of flaxseed could block the intestines due to the bulk-forming laxative effects of flaxseed.

An exception to this is bulk-forming laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives work naturally to add bulk and water to your stools so that they can pass more comfortably through your intestines.

You may notice some bloating, gas or cramping at first, especially if you start with taking too much bran or other bulk-forming laxatives, or increase the amount you're using too quickly.

Bulk-forming laxatives include bran, psyllium (some examples are Metamucil, Fibrepur, Novo-Mucilax, Prodiem [plain]) and others (an example is Fibyrax).

Bulk-forming laxatives, also known as roughage, are substances, such as fiber in food and hydrophilic agents in over-the-counter drugs, that add bulk and water to stools so that they can pass more easily through the intestines (lower part of the digestive tract).

Guar gum, as a water-soluble fiber, acts as a bulk-forming laxative, so is claimed to be effective in promoting regular bowel movements and relieving constipation and chronic related functional bowel ailments, such as diverticulosis, Crohn's disease, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

You can help bulk-forming laxatives taste better by mixing them with fruit juice or fluids other than water. If you choose to add bran to your diet, start slowly - begin with about 1 teaspoon a day and increase the amount every 3 to 5 days, up to 3 to 4 tablespoons, 6 teaspoons a day is usually plenty.