Constipation is a common problem in case of digestive disorders. This condition is not a disease, but only a symptom of an ailment that needs to be treated. But without eliminating congestion in the intestine, a person’s condition can worsen, and even ruin his quality of life.
The pharmaceutical market offers a wide range of medicines to solve the problem. In pharmacies, you can find many options for expensive and cheap drugs for any segment of the population. The latter include magnesium sulfate (magnesia). How to take this medication for constipation?
Causes of the disease
Intestinal obstruction may occur due to lifestyle characteristics as well as eating habits. Constipation occurs after regular containment of the urge to empty, over time inhibiting the reflex functioning of the intestine:
- long bed rest;
- busy work schedule;
- frequent travel.
Frequent use of laxatives due to unreasonable expectation of stool, as well as a diet poor in foods that contain fiber are factors that contribute to the appearance of chronic difficulties in the act of defecation.
Constipation can be the result of a serious illness, which requires surgery in most situations, for example, with coprostasis. Depending on the degree of stenosis of the intestinal lumen, obstruction can be complete or partial.
Neurological disorders can contribute to the appearance of chronic disorders during bowel movements. In addition, most medications can provoke suppression of intestinal motility as a side reaction and cause constipation.
Symptoms
Constipation is considered a delay in bowel movements of 3 days or more with characteristic concomitant manifestations, for example:
- Pain
- Feeling full in the stomach.
- The need to push hard during bowel movements.
- Hard chair.
- Headaches.
- Insomnia (disturbance of sleep and wakefulness, which is characterized by problems with falling asleep, as well as rising and restless sleep).
- Painful bowel movement.
- Sensation of incomplete emptying.
To eliminate intestinal obstruction, various pharmacological agents are used. These include magnesium sulfate, also known as magnesia or Epsom salts.
Description of the drug
This tool is great for eliminating congestion in the intestines. Used to eliminate constipation, but does not cure the cause itself. A preparation is obtained from sea water, its color is white, the taste is salty or bitter.
The substance is exposed to weathering under the influence of the sun. Magnesia sulfate for constipation has a diuretic and laxative effect. Today, a large number of drugs for this ailment are presented, but this one is beyond competition.
Pharmacological actions
According to the instructions for use, it is known that the drug has certain healing properties:
- Elimination of congestion in the rectum.
- Liquefaction of feces, as well as its removal to the outside.
- Improving intestinal motility.
- Elimination of cramping.
- Sedative and choleretic effects.
Magnesium sulfate is active in chemical poisoning. Magnesia has a beneficial effect on the intestines, with the help of which feces are quickly eliminated from the body.
The laxative effect of use makes magnesium sulfate indispensable when the following problems occur:
- Chronic constipation that cannot be treated with other medicines.
- Penetration of poisons into the body, as well as chemicals and toxins.
- In preparation for a bowel surgery, colonoscopy.
Benefits
The benefits of drugs are:
- The achievement of the laxative effect is observed within an hour.
- When fecal stones are formed in the intestines, the drug dilutes and eliminates them from the body.
- Does not irritate the mucous membrane of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, does not provoke the occurrence of an inflammatory process.
- Improves the condition of the skin, as well as hair due to the removal of toxins from the body.
- Improving the functioning of the heart.
A medication sometimes becomes a panacea that can eliminate constipation and produce a complete cleansing. The finished solution of magnesia provokes the absorption of water into the intestinal cavity, with the help of which the dry, hard, and also hardened parts of the feces that settle on the walls are liquefied. Peristalsis improves, liquefied feces are excreted, thereby providing complete cleansing.
Minuses:
- Eliminates constipation, but does not cope with the source of its appearance.
- Provokes dehydration. With the use of magnesia, an excess of fluid is absorbed into the intestines to thin the feces, then they are excreted. With a small flow of fluid into the body, dehydration occurs.
- It has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the heart, as well as the kidneys when used for more than three months.
Release form
Magnesium sulfate is dispensed in a pharmacy in powder form for the manufacture of a suspension and in ampoules. For intestinal obstruction, a powder is used. Ampoules is not used for constipation in ampoules. This salt is intended for other purposes, when administered intravenously does not have a laxative effect.
If the liquid solution is mixed with sodium chloride and consumed, a relaxation effect will be present. The powder is used for the manufacture of a suspension for oral administration.
Sometimes magnesia is confused with adsorbents. But, despite the ability to remove toxins from the body along with feces, it is still more a laxative. How to take magnesia for constipation?
Preliminary preparation
Before using the solution, you need to prepare. Initially, you need to adjust the diet. And also refuse excessively salty, as well as fatty and sweet foods. Canned and fried foods should also not be consumed.
If fatty foods were eaten before using magnesia, then the solution will not work. Bread, pastries - these are all empty carbohydrates that clog the intestines.
It is necessary to adhere to a diet for at least three days before taking the medicine. In this case, it is necessary to move more, as well as arrange walks, perform morning exercises. Increased activity will help improve intestinal motility.
In addition, you should measure weight before taking the suspension, and carefully monitor your health. In case of an abnormal change - you must consult a doctor.
Method of admission
As already mentioned, magnesia is not used for constipation in ampoules. A powder is used, it is diluted in a liquid in a proportion of one to two. Use the mixture before eating or after eating. Dosage is usually different.
Before using the drug, accurate instructions for the manufacture of the suspension are necessary. The document is drawn up by a doctor based on the patient's indicators. More than 30 grams per day is prohibited. The individual concentration of magnesium sulfate depends on the following factors: body weight, age, severity of the disease.
It is not recommended to exceed the indicated dosage, as certain abnormalities may occur with deviations. It is advised to use the product at home without leaving it during the day, because the urge to defecate is frequent and sharp.
According to the instructions for use, magnesia for constipation in case of pregnancy can be used in rare, even extreme situations. The solution passes through the placenta, and also affects the fetus. A miscarriage or a decrease in pressure is possible.
During lactation, magnesia passes into breast milk and enters the baby's body, which threatens with the appearance of diarrhea and dehydration. Magnesium sulfate is used for constipation in the form of enemas. For this procedure, it is necessary to dilute 30% of the powder in a liquid (100 milliliters of water and 20 grams of magnesia).
Insert half of the solution into the anus, then lie down for about 20 minutes. Then empty the intestines. To enhance the effect of an enema with magnesia from constipation, you need to lie on your side and apply a heating pad to your stomach.
If green feces are found during bowel movements, this indicates pathological processes in the liver and gall bladder. If stones are present in these organs, then after consuming magnesium sulfate, they may linger in the aisles. In this situation, surgery is required.
When using the medicine, you need to consume a large amount of water. And at the end of therapy, normalize the intestinal microflora with special medicines or food. As a rule, doctors recommend the following medicines and products: Bifiform, Hilak Forte, as well as fruits and cereals.
How to drink magnesia for constipation in children?
For children
Magnesium sulfate is contraindicated in small patients under 3 years of age. Children under 6 years old are not allowed to take the drug orally, only its use in the form of an enema is possible. The powder is diluted with water. Enema is done in the amount of not more than 50 grams per procedure. The action occurs after 20 minutes.
Adolescents under 15 years of age are prescribed magnesia at a concentration of up to 10 grams per day for one application. Elimination of constipation in children requires strict adherence to all the recommendations of a medical specialist without deviations from the prescriptions.
Limitations
According to the instructions for magnesia, in case of constipation, the powder is an effective and fast-acting medicine, which is unacceptable to use in the following circumstances:
- Menstruation in women.
- Children under 3 years old.
- Appendicitis (acute or chronic form of inflammatory lesion of the appendage of the cecum - appendix).
- Bleeding in the intestines.
- Disturbances in the functioning of the heart and kidneys.
- Used during pregnancy if other drugs are ineffective.
- Individual intolerance to substances.
- With disorders of the central nervous system.
Patients who have a history of stomach problems or other diseases such as ulcers or gastritis use the medication only with an enema. The use of a solution of magnesia is orally prohibited, since an exacerbation of the disease is likely.
The basis of the enema is made in proportions of 10 grams of powder per 100 milliliters of water. Dosage is indicated for an adult patient, is adjusted based on body weight, as well as indicators of health status.
With rectal bleeding, as well as kidney and liver diseases, the medication is strictly forbidden to use. Due to the fact that magnesium sulfate can lower blood pressure, patients taking it have physical weakness and depressed mood. The drug can lead to toxic effects on internal organs, so it must be used in rare situations.
Negative reactions
The drug is used on the recommendation of a doctor, since side effects are possible:
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases of the digestive system and gastrointestinal tract.
- Weakness.
- Lethargy.
- Fatigue.
- Cramping abdominal pain.
- Bursting.
- Flatulence (excessive accumulation of gases in the gastrointestinal tract).
The above negative signs indicate individual intolerance to the drug. Appointment, dosing, as well as the period of admission are recommended by the doctor. If a person feels at least one of the above symptoms, then the help of a doctor is needed.
An additional side effect that may occur is a violation of microflora. Magnesia quickly eliminates the disease, removes feces, but at the same time beneficial bacteria leave the body. To restore intestinal microflora, probiotics and prebiotics are prescribed.
How long does constipation magnesia work? The drug begins to "work" after 1-3 hours after oral use. The laxative effect is enhanced with heavy drinking.
Interaction with other medicines
Magnesia used for intestinal obstruction enhances the effect of certain medications, for example:
- "Ciprofloxacin."
- "Streptomycin."
- "Tobramycin."
- Nifedipine.
- Anticoagulants.
- Glycosides.
- Muscle relaxants.
The drug is not recommended for use with the following liniment: "Hydrocortisone" and "Clindamycin". In addition, magnesia cannot be combined with tartaric acid, calcium, procaine hydrochloride, strontium.
Conclusion
Magnesia for constipation brings relief, and is also widely used in medicine. But like any medicine, magnesium sulfate has both advantages and disadvantages. It is important to consider possible adverse reactions, individual characteristics of the patient, recommendations.
According to many patients, taking magnesia is much more convenient than an enema. It does not cause pain and if you follow all the instructions correctly, then the result will not be long in coming. Bowel cleansing is quick. It is likely the occurrence of weakness, as well as drowsiness and loss of strength on the first day after the procedure.
During the implementation of this procedure, a loss of up to three kilograms occurs. The most important thing is to try to do everything carefully according to these recommendations. This is necessary so as not to harm your body.
As a result, magnesia for constipation is considered a highly effective and relatively harmless drug. The drug can cause serious side effects, so before you purchase and use, you must consult a doctor.
In most cases, Soviet doctors prescribed magnesium sulfate for intestinal obstruction, but after the appearance of various substitutes for this economy-class drug, they began to recall much less often.
Magnesia Reviews for Constipation
Most patients who took magnesium sulfate confirm the effectiveness of the drug in the fight against intestinal obstruction. Lightness is an additional sensation that many people felt when cleansing from toxins. Pain and pain are very rare and, as a rule, are associated with violations of the permissible dosage.
Some patients rejected the prospect of using this medication in the future because of an unpleasant taste, which is compared with a combination of salty, as well as sweet and bitter. Given this feature, patients after oral administration of a glass with a solution of magnesium sulfate wash it down with water.
According to people's reviews, magnesia is a simple and affordable medicine that is absorbed by the body in a small amount and for this reason has a gentle effect on the digestive organs. If a safe dose of magnesium is observed, sulfate easily neutralizes with constipation all associated unpleasant symptoms and additionally cleanses the body of toxins. The occurrence of adverse reactions requires the abandonment of the medication and the selection of an affordable substitute.