Question: Are there different laxative types? I am trying to avoid a prescription medication if at all possible because I am uninsured currently and medication is so expensive.

Answer: You will be very happy to know there are many different laxative types. There are foods, oral over the counter medications, lubricants, stimulants, and more. We will give you an example of each so you will have some choices.

There are many foods that have laxative properties. These include:

  • Coffee, Prune Juice, Tomato Juice, Molasses, Apple Juice
  • Chocolate, Almonds, Coconut
  • Beets, Rhubarb, Soybeans
  • Dates, Bananas, Plums
  • Any food high in Fiber content
Bilking agents introduce more fiber into the colon which helps things along. Examples of bulk producing agents include:
  • Metamucil
  • Citrucel
There are also agents that will soften your stool which makes it easier to pass. These include:
  • Colace
  • Diocto

There are also stimulants that will help you with your constipation such as Dulcolax and Ex-Lax. Do not take more than one of these at a time and if your symptoms don’t resolve after trying a couple of remedies it would be wise to see a physician.

We hope this list of laxative types is helpful. If you’re really considering the use of laxatives, we would actually recommend an herbal based colon cleanser instead. This will help to improve regularity as well as flush the toxins out of your system, and won’t introduce any harsh chemicals into your body in the process.