How long is it okay to take laxatives for?

Question

Okay, I am anorexic BUT I don't misuse laxatives. The only reason I have ever taken them is for the use they were intended for.

Anyway.

As some of you may well know one of the side effects of anorexia is constipation. I don't get it too often but when it hits I think I'm going to die lol. Yesterday I took two laxatives at about 2pm and they helped a bit but not enough, and today I was still constipated so I took two more at 9am. I now have diarrhea but that's better than the constipation to be honest. I am not going to be taking any more laxatives.

My question is: Would taking these laxatives for two days have caused me any harm? They are Bisacodyl ones. As I said I don't plan to take any more and do not misuse laxatives.

xx

Answer 1

Two days shouldn't be a problem for you. Just be sure you do as you say and don't use them so much you become dependent on them.

Answer 2

Hi,my best friend has been anorexic for 16 years and goes from being in hospital (as she needs to be drip fed as she might die) and after therapy she gets better and then relapses and the cycle begins again.I wont go into it,as i am sure you know what this is doing to you.She had a heart attack when she was 21.So personally i would not advice you to abuse laxatives,as if you use them to much your intestine starts counting on them and then when you dont take them you get even more consipated.I have taken them in the past and i found that if i take them for 2-3 days it takes me a week to get back to a normal toilet going programme.I know you dont want to eat,but try drinking a lot of water, have a shot of aloe vera juice (hardly any calories),eat a kiwi or take a acidophilus supplement (friendly bacteria) that will help you go.Also the Activia fat free yogurt also helps. I hope you get better, take care.xx

Answer 3

No, they won't have harmed you.

But if you aren't eating much remember there's nothing much to come out. When I do a strict diet I often don't poo for five days or more, it's not constipation, there's just hardly anything to come out.