Children's laxatives: list, reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

As you know, not only children, but also adults suffer from constipation. If we talk about the older generation, then in this case the diagnosis of this symptom is quite simple, but if we are talking about infants, then in this case it is very difficult to find the right treatment.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the time during which the baby has no feces. If he does not go to the toilet for more than 1-2 days, then this is the first symptom of constipation. In this case, it is recommended to use specialized preparations designed for babies.

Today on sale you can find both a baby laxative in the form of syrups and suppositories, and pick up more gentle folk methods. However, you need to understand that in a situation of exacerbation, you need to seek specialized help. In some cases, constipation can be a sign of a more serious condition.

Also, in the absence of a chair in a child, you should pay attention to those foods that can help stimulate the excretion of feces in a natural way. Let's take a closer look at them.

Food

In order to get rid of unpleasant symptoms, it is not necessarybuy expensive or chemical drugs. It is enough to go to any grocery store and buy a plum or prunes. Experts recommend introducing these fruits into the diet of a child from 5-6 months.

To help your baby go to the toilet, you can make vegetable puree. Also stimulates the excretion of feces fermented milk products and vegetable oil. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the fact that after 1 year it is recommended to introduce foods such as dried apricots, dates and figs into the child's diet. They will allow you to quickly normalize the work of the intestine. In addition, it will be useful to add some wheat bran to the porridge.

Another popular remedy is aloe. The petals of the plant are considered very effective in stimulating the bowel and gastrointestinal tract. In order to prepare this natural baby laxative, you need to take a few leaves of aloe and put them in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. And after that, juice is squeezed out of the plant, which is mixed in equal proportions with honey. After 2-3 days of using this drug, the intestines and stomach will begin to work normally.

However, aloe does not have a very pleasant taste, which may not please the child. In this case, you can mix rowan berries and sugar. After that, the home-made mixture should stand in a warm place until a syrup is formed in it. At the next stage, the berries are squeezed out, and about 20-25 grams of alcohol is added to the liquid. This remedy should be taken 1 teaspoon per day. However, it should be noted that this composition is suitable only for adults and adolescents. In no case should babies be given any products that contain alcohol.

If we are talking about younger children, then it is better to use freshly squeezed carrot juice, which also stimulates the intestines.

Medicinal plants

In case of problems with the intestines of a child, you should pay attention to natural plants that have a laxative effect. For example, chamomile and fennel are often included in children's teas. However, it is worth paying close attention to the fact that in no case should nursing mothers and babies be given products based on castor oil, buckthorn or senna.

However, in more difficult situations, when the baby suffers from constipation, a natural baby laxative may be powerless. In this case, you should pay attention to specialized drugs.

Which is better suppositories or oral remedies?

Child laxatives can be taken by mouth, in this case we are talking about powders, solutions, syrups and tablets. Also on sale are microclysters and suppositories, that is, drugs injected directly into the human rectum.

If we talk about the reviews and opinions of mothers and specialists, then they are completely different. It all depends on the specific conditions for the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms, as well as on the age of the child and other features. And yet, many parents note that children's laxative suppositoriesare very effective. However, doctors strongly recommend that you pay attention to the fact that these microclysters cannot be used for a long time. In this case, addiction occurs, which can lead to relaxation of the rectum. Therefore, suppositories can be used for a one-time use, but with longer therapy, you should pay attention to mild children's laxatives that will be taken orally.

What are the benefits of constipation medications?

First of all, almost all products in this category allow you to bind water molecules, so that the volume of intestinal masses increases significantly. In addition, these drugs can irritate the intestinal walls, so they improve intestinal motility.

Among other things, drugs of this type do not allow s alts to be absorbed into the intestines. It is worth paying attention that among the means there are saline laxatives and oil. Such drugs belong to the category of children's laxatives from 3 years. This is because the funds are absorbed into the bloodstream.

It is worth considering in more detail all the categories of the most common laxatives.

Irritant laxatives

In this case we are talking about fast-acting baby laxatives. These drugs stimulate intestinal receptors rather quickly. This category of drugs is considered the most effective, since the defecation process can begin within a few minutes after using the product. However, it should be noted that due tosuch an aggressive effect, these drugs should not be taken by pregnant women, nursing mothers and newborn children.

Sometimes they even cause side effects. Therefore, you can take irritant laxatives only on the advice of a doctor. It is strictly forbidden to use them for diseases of the rectum, constipation due to intestinal spasms, hemorrhoids and other pathologies. Even if the specialist has authorized the use of these medicines, they can be used for no longer than 10 days.

Osmotic agents

These drugs "pull" water into the rectum, resulting in liquefaction of stool. As a rule, laxatives of this type are prescribed not only in case of constipation, but also during planned endoscopic examinations.

Another advantage of these drugs is that they can be taken for a long time - up to three months. But if you increase the period of use of osmotic preparations, then this can disrupt the water-s alt balance in the body. When taking these laxatives, it is imperative to ensure that the child consumes a large amount of liquid. Preparations of this type are also prescribed only on the recommendation of a doctor. They are usually fast-acting baby laxatives from age 3.

Osmotic agents should never be taken if an adult or child suffers from diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Prebiotic laxatives

These drugs are considered the most suitable for the child's body. This is because children's laxative syrups with prebiotics have a relatively mild effect. In addition, they not only help to cope with constipation, but also restore the intestinal microflora.

But it is worth noting that these funds begin to act no earlier than 1-2 days after the start of admission. They do not have serious contraindications, so they can be taken for 3 months.

If we talk about reviews of children's laxatives with prebiotics, then many mothers paid attention to the appearance of increased gas formation in babies, which appeared the next after the start of the drug. Experts recommend not to worry about this side effect, as after a few days this problem disappears. The only contraindication that prebiotics have is individual lactose intolerance, as it is part of the products.

Enemas

This method of dealing with constipation is considered not the best and is used only in emergency situations. It is recommended to use an enema only if the child is poisoned and needs a quick bowel cleansing. If the doctor still recommends the use of douching, then in this case it is necessary to ensure that the child drinks as much water as possible and, if possible, eats regularly.

Contraindications for the use of laxatives

Contraindications directly depend on the specific composition of the drug. Some fast-acting baby laxativesnot allowed to take babies under 6 years old, while others can be used in the treatment of infants.

However, most often, drugs in this category are not recommended if the baby suffers from intestinal obstruction, acute inflammatory diseases, cystitis, impaired water and electrolyte metabolism in the body, or hypersensitivity. In addition, giving such drugs to a child in case of acute pain in the abdominal cavity is also not worth it. In this case, you need to see a doctor.

Also, these drugs are not recommended for young patients suffering from kidney or liver failure.

It is also worth considering the popular remedies that are most often used to treat children and have received the most positive feedback from mothers and pediatricians.

Glycerol

Glycerin suppositories are irritating laxatives. They have a rather aggressive effect on the walls of the rectum, due to which softening of the stool occurs. Experts allow this tool to be used in case of problems with stool in newborns, but only for a single use.

For systematic use, you should choose more gentle means. You need to understand that the baby's body is just beginning to form, so such drugs can have a negative effect on him.

Microlax

This tool is distinguished by its combined action. The composition of this microclyster includes sodium citrate, sorbitol and other components thathave an irritating effect. As in the first case, this remedy is recommended to be used no more than once and only after consultation with your doctor.

The same goes for any other irritant or aggressive drugs. They are only allowed for older children, teenagers and adults.

Duphalac

This remedy is the only drug that is allowed to be taken orally by both newborn babies and young children, and adults. The composition of "Duphalac" includes natural dietary fiber, in particular lactulose, which, as a rule, is added to infant formula and gruel. This tool is considered the best, as it is approved by WHO and approved for use from the first year of a baby's life.

It should be noted that "Duphalac" is not absorbed into the intestinal wall, so it does not penetrate into the blood. At the same time, it combines water molecules, due to which there is an increase in the volume of intestinal masses. Despite the gentle effect of this remedy, it does not eliminate the problem, but only relieves the symptoms. Therefore, after stopping the drug, stool problems may resume again.

Forlax

Unlike Duphalac, it contains synthetic components, namely polyethylene glycol. This substance will also not be absorbed into the intestinal wall or digested. Therefore, the drug will not have any effect onintestinal microflora. In this case, no gas formation will be observed in the first days of taking the remedy.

In all other respects, the drug acts in the same way as Duphalac. It binds water and increases the volume of intestinal masses. But it is worth noting that, unlike the previous remedy, Forlax cannot be used for a long time. It can be used in the treatment of babies older than six months.

Children's Laxative Syrup Pomogusha

This drug is designed specifically for the youngest patients. However, it should be noted that it is allowed to be used only at the age of 3 years. In addition to lactulose, it contains vitamins B, A and C.

Children's laxative "Help" belongs to the category of soft drugs. In addition, it contains many natural ingredients, herbal infusions, as well as sugar syrup. Therefore, the tool will not cause discomfort in the baby. The only contraindication that this drug has is individual intolerance to any of the components.

If we talk about reviews of children's laxative syrup "Pomogusha", many parents noted not only its effectiveness, but also its pleasant taste. In addition, the syrup does not cause irritation and other allergic manifestations. Many noted that the child's body quickly returns to normal. Useful vitamins and microelements also have a positive effect on babies aged 3 to 11 years. Therefore, this toolspecialists and parents call it very effective. Another plus is its low cost.