7. You are taking too many laxatives
If you’re painfully constipated, taking a laxative may seem like a good idea. Unfortunately, this could just make your problem worse, Dr. Iqbal explains. Laxatives are meant to be used only on a short-term basis, for a week at most. Any longer and you risk making your bowels dependent, which can start a vicious cycle of constipation and diarrhea.
Before you turn to medication for constipation, it’s always best to identify what causes constipation for you and treat that first, he says. Evaluate your lifestyle, dietary habits, exercise, and medications to see what’s causing the problem before popping a laxative. Also, talk to your doctor before taking laxatives, because they can interfere with how other medications are absorbed.
