20. Laxatives:
Mechanism of Action (cont'd)
Emollient
•
•
•
•
Stool softeners and lubricants
Promote more water and fat in the stools
Lubricate the fecal material and intestinal walls
Examples:
– Stool softeners: docusate salts (anionic detergent softens
the stools by net water accumulation in the lumen by action
on the colonic contents and increses penetration of water
into faeces)
– Lubricants: mineral oil
24. Laxatives:
Mechanism of Action (cont'd)
Stimulant
• Increases
peristalsis
via
intestinal
nerve
stimulation(increases motility by acting on
myenteric plexes but the most important action is
accumulation of water and electrolytes in the lumen
by altering absorptive and secretory activity of the
mucosal cell.)
• Examples:
– castor oil
– senna
– cascara
– bisacodyl