Accidental Bowel Leakage Medicines
Taking these medications just before going out can help you control your bowels. Your doctor may recommend medicine to treat or prevent diarrhea, decreasing the frequency or looseness of bowel movements.
- Fiber supplementation: over the counter medicine
- Loperamide (Imodium®): over the counter medicine.
- Diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil®): Prescription medicine.
- Amitriptyline: Prescription medicine
Other medicines that may help with incontinence include cholestyramine, hyoscyamine, clonidine, and topical phenylephrine. Sometimes an enema, which is performed prior to leaving the house, may be helpful. Emptying the rectum like this prevents there from being stool present to leak out while you are away from the toilet.
Constipation Medicines
When fiber supplements are not enough, your doctor can recommend medications such as stool softeners or laxatives. And, if your constipation is due to irritable bowel syndrome, additional prescription medicines may be needed.
Medicines for constipation include:
- Bulk-forming laxatives (Benefiber®, Metamucil®, Citrucel®): Softens stool by absorbing water.
- Stimulant Laxatives (senna, bisacodyl): Cause the bowel wall to contract more to move the stool along.
- Lubricants (mineral oil): Coat the wall of the bowel so the stool can pass more easily.
- Osmotic laxatives (MiraLax®, lactulose): Work by drawing water back into the intestines.
- Saline Laxatives (milk of magnesia): Work by drawing water into the intestines.
- Stool softener (docusate sodium): Allow water and fat to pass into stool to soften it, making bowel movements easier to pass.