Although laxatives are safe for occasional and legitimate use, there exists potential for misuse. Some individuals may use laxatives excessively in an attempt to lose weight. However, laxatives are ineffective for this purpose and can cause potentially serious side effects. These can include chronic constipation, heart problems, and an increased colon cancer risk. Laxative abuse can be diagnosed through a combination of physical exams, blood tests to measure electrolyte levels and organ function, and psychological evaluations. A doctor or mental health professional can help determine if someone is abusing laxatives.
Do Laxatives Cause Weight Lost?
It is important for those with a history of disordered eating to consciously follow their treatment plan and use healthy coping skills to avoid relapsing. Many individuals with eating disorders will experience cycles of behaviors that are characteristic of multiple eating disorders. For example, someone with laxative bulimia may use extreme restrictions to punish themselves after binging and silexan vs xanax abusing laxatives. Laxative abuse is characterized by the excessive use of laxatives with the goal of losing weight, compensating for binge eating, or feeling thin or empty.
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People misuse laxatives under the mistaken premise they can support rapid weight loss. The misconception stems from the false notion that laxatives can expel signs of being roofied calories from the body before the digestive system absorbs them. By the time food reaches this point, the body has already absorbed most calories. Laxative abuse can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, organ damage, and dependence. Laxative bulimia is a type of eating disorder that involves the use of laxatives to purge after eating.
Diarrhea
- In fact, laxatives generally work by stimulating the movement of the large intestine (colon) after calories and nutrients from food have been absorbed by the small intestine.
- The science behind laxatives is clear – they do not lead to long-term weight loss no matter how many of them you use.
- Using laxatives excessively can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, gas, loose stool, and diarrhea.
- All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number.
Due to the damage that overusing laxatives can cause, laxative abuse may lead mixing suboxone with alcohol to laxative dependence. Both conditions can lead to dangerous health consequences and require professional treatment. It may take weeks, months, or even years to fully recover from the physical effects of bulimia and laxative abuse.
“If someone has concerns about their behaviors, they should seek assistance from their primary care physician or speak with a licensed mental health professional for assessment and diagnosis whenever the concerns start. A nutritionist can also help you set healthy goals in terms of eating habits,” she adds. Originally a medicine to ease constipation, laxatives can be misused as part of purging behavior to get rid of unwanted calories. There’s a belief that laxatives help to expel food before it’s absorbed, which isn’t the case.
We recommend speaking with a therapist for personalized information about your mental health. If you don’t currently have a therapist, we can connect you with one who can offer support and address any questions or concerns. If you or your child is experiencing a medical emergency, is considering harming themselves or others, or is otherwise in imminent danger, you should dial and/or go to the nearest emergency room.
Lastly, if someone is not feeling physically well, they won’t be their healthiest self — and may withdraw from feelings of depression. Situational depression, often triggered by a specific event or stressor, is a type of depression that differs from more chronic forms like major depressive disorder. Although temporary, situational depression can profoundly impact one’s daily life. Recognizing the symptoms and causes is crucial for timely intervention and recovery. Grow Therapy is home to many excellent, qualified therapists specializing in eating disorders and substance abuse.
If you think you’re abusing laxatives, it’s important to stop immediately and to dispose of any laxatives you have instead of trying to cut down on using them gradually. Increased laxative use leads to more constipation and gas in the intestines. People take more laxatives to get rid of the gas but end up causing more gas and constipation. While bulk-forming laxatives are considered the safest type of laxative, problems can still occur if they’re overused. Some examples of this laxative include psyllium, polycarbophil, and methylcellulose. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number.
This behavior is commonly found in people with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and in older people who continue to use laxatives after initially starting them for constipation. The ongoing misuse of laxatives can lead to chronic constipation, electrolyte imbalances, depression, heart problems, and an increased risk of colon cancer. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy and changes in eating habits.
Symptoms of dehydration include muscle weakness, dizziness, thirst, inability to urinate, dark urine, confusion, and dry mouth. Excessive laxative use is a feature of an eating disorder called bulimia nervosa (BN). While laxative abuse will not lead to long-term weight loss, it does cause huge changes to the body, namely, the inside of the body.