Difference Between Enema And Laxative

Enema and laxatives are designed to treat constipation. Constipation occurs when bowel movements become less frequent and stools become difficult to pass. It is defined as when a person passes less than three bowel movements a week or has difficult bowel movements. It happens most often due to changes in diet or routine, or due to inadequate intake of fiber.

However, how often you “go” varies widely from person to person. Some people have bowel movements several times a day while others have them only one to two times a week. Whatever your bowel movement pattern is, it’s unique and normal for you – as long as you don’t stray too far from your pattern.

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Laxatives

Laxatives are a type of medicine that can treat constipation. There are 4 main types of laxatives (1) Bulk-forming laxatives work by increasing the "bulk" or weight of poo, which in turn stimulates your bowel (2) Osmotic laxatives draw water from the rest of the body into your bowel to soften poo and make it easier to pass (3) Stimulants stimulate the muscles that line your gut, helping them to move poo along to your back passage (4) Poo-softener works by letting water into poo to soften it and make it easier to pass.

One common thing with all laxatives is that they are oral dosage form either liquid or solid. For example, bisacodyl is a tablet for either oral or rectal administration while lactulose comes in liquid.

Enema

An enema administration is a technique used to stimulate stool evacuation. It is a liquid treatment most commonly used to relieve severe constipation. The process helps push waste out of the rectum when you cannot do so on your own. Other types of enemas are administered to clean out the colon and better detect colon cancer and polyps.

Enema bag

During a cleansing enema, a water-based solution with a small concentration of stool softener, baking soda, or apple cider vinegar is used to stimulate the movement of the large intestine. A cleansing enema should stimulate the bowels to quickly expel both the solution and any impacted fecal matter. A retention enema also stimulates the bowels, but the solution that is used is intended to be “held” in the body for 15 minutes or more.

Read Also: Difference Between Suppository And Enema

Difference Between Enema And Laxative

1. Enema is a liquid with a bag for administration but laxatives come in either solid or liquid dosage form

2. Enema is instilled into the rectum but laxatives can either be oral or rectal dosage form

3. Enema is last resort after the use of laxative

4. Enema can be administered at home but some like barium enema can only be administered in a medical doctor's office. However, laxatives are self administered

5. Enema gives an hour result unlike some laxatives that can take up to 2 or 3 days