If you have ever dealt with constipation, you know how annoying and painful it can be. There are different types of products that you can use to get rid of constipation and return your bowel movements to normal. The most common products that can be used include stool softeners and laxatives. Many people assume that they are one in the same and use the terms interchangeably, but this is not the case. Stool softeners are in fact different from laxatives. When you are trying to get relief from constipation, it is important to understand what the differences are so that you can return to normal in the shortest amount of time possible. Here are the biggest differences between stool softeners and laxatives.
What is a Laxative?
In order to understand what the real differences are between the two, you need to first understand what a laxative is exactly. Laxatives typically cause swelling within the intestines, which will result in bowel movements. The type of laxative that you use will impact the intestines in a different way to make a bowel movement occur quickly. This means that the ultimate goal of using a laxative is to stimulate a bowel movement. This means that if you want very fast relief from constipation, using a laxative is often the best option for you.
What is a Stool Softener?
A stool softener is different from a laxative in the way that it is not necessisarily designed to stimulate a bowel movement. The goal of a stool softener is to soften the stool, which will often times make it much easier to go to the bathroom. This means that a stool softener can’t be used to actually stimulate a bowel movement within the body in the way that a laxative can. This means that if your reason for constipation is more than just hard stool, it is not always effective to just use a stool softener to find relief.
The Symptoms
Even though the two work in different ways, the symptoms for each are fairly similar. The symptoms that you can expect from taking a stool softener or a laxative include diarrhea, belching, cramping, thirst and gas. It is important to note that the symptoms are often a lot more severe with laxatives than they are when you just take a stool softener. This means that if you are looking for something that is gentler, a stool softener is best.
