Are Prescription Drugs or OTCs Causing Your Constipation?
Are you are suffering from frequent bouts of constipation and don’t know why? You may be taking some very common OTC drugs that are right in your medicine cabinet and can be the culprit of your frustrating constipation.
During the summer, we exercise, or many of us are moving our homes. Which all can cause muscle aches and pains, especially if we are not used to using those muscles. Or maybe you have a headache and want it to go away fast. We go medicine cabinet and want quick relief from a pain reliever or NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and aspirin. After all, we have things to do in our lives. Why suffer? Right? But the pain relief may come with the side effect of constipation.
Stomach feeling a little acidy? A little indigestion? Antacid tablets to soothe your cranky stomach, especially calcium and aluminum-containing antacids, can contribute to constipation.
Speaking of the acidy stomach, taking an acid reducer to help relieve acid reflux or an acidy stomach can be another contributor to constipation. A relative of ours has problems with acid reflux and takes a couple of Tums for immediate relief, then a Pepcid to help relieve the acid feeling in the stomach and throat for the rest of the day. This combination may lead to constipation.
Are you feeling achy and sneezy? It seems like lately, most seasons have some allergy associated with it. When it’s allergy season, and you take an antihistamine like Benedryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, etc.? Antihistamines and the like may cause constipation.
Do your nutritional supplements contain iron? If yes, then that may contribute to constipation.
Prescription Drugs that May Contribute to Constipation
● Opioid pain-relievers, like morphine, codeine, etc.
● Anticholinergic agents like atropine, trihexyphenidyl
● Antispasmodics, like dicyclomine
● Tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline
● Calcium channel blockers used in arrhythmias and high blood pressure, such as verapamil
● Anti-Parkinsonian drugs — Parkinson’s disease itself may cause constipation, and the drugs used for this condition, including levodopa, cause constipation.
● Sympathomimetics, like ephedrine and terbutaline. Terbutaline is commonly used on bronchial asthma.
● Antipsychotics, like clozapine, thioridazine, and chlorpromazine used for psychiatric disorders
● Diuretics for heart failure, like furosemide
● High blood pressure-lowering agents, like methyldopa, clonidine, propranolol, etc.
● Antidiarrheal agents, like loperamide and attapulgite
● Anticonvulsants, like phenytoin and clonazepam
● Miscellaneous compounds include octreotide, polystyrene resins, cholestyramine (for lowering high blood cholesterol), and oral contraceptives.
If you are taking any of the prescription medications in the above list. Take note that they can cause constipation. If you implement changes in diet, supplements, water intake, and relaxation techniques suggested in the book Help Going Poop it can make all the difference between being frustrated and constipated or going easily without strain.
**Excerpt from “Help Going Poop,” Chapter 17 — Are Prescription Drugs or OTCs Causing Your Constipation?
Help Going Poop — The Women’s Guide to Going #2 Naturally — Combat Constipation without Laxatives https://amzn.to/3IgLr5N
