What type of laxatives do other people use?

My partner uses Movicol at the moment but we think this may be causing the abdominal pain he is suffering from so we'd like to try using something different. He takes 2-3 sachets in the evening and then done his bowels in the morning using Bisacodyl solution. Just wondering what other laxatives are out there?

He has tried using natural things like prunes, and drinking syrup of figs but these don't have the same effect as movicol.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Kat

I use Miralax and a generic who's main ingredient is Docusate Sodium. I take the docusate sodium twice a day and the Miralax the day before I do my bowel program (just recently changed to every other day). I use a Dulcolax Suppository when I do my program in the morning.

hi macferguson, their is a new suppository comin out in december its called aralax and its a bisacodyl supp but with a polyethylene glycol base so its melts really fast, its similar to one used in the states called magic bullet, i have been using them for years and they are really quick with no side-effects for me. better than anything else on the market i have tried.
i have a good diet with plenty of veg and fibre and i drink loads every day, reading different blogs i feel that liquids seem to be the key, if you dont drink enough your stools get really hard and can be difficult to pass.
regards
ghoster

One sachet of Movicol was enough to give me some intense abdo pain. It never really worked for me either. Dulcolax liquid worked for me when I needed something harsh (I would consider Movicol harsh, although it might not be for your partner) to get away constipation. I find Senna and Fybogel (Ishphagula Husk) work well. Lactulose is another one, but its really mild and doesn't work for everyone. I found fibre heavy fruit smoothies worked well too. Plenty of kiwis, strawberrys and things like that.

Hi there Kat
I suffered for years trying to get a proper bowel routine going, until I visited a specialist after countless x-rays being taken and being constantly constipated and suffering innumerable 'accidents'.
The bowel routine the specialist put me on, was 2-sachets Movicol daily together with 2 suppositories (Bisacodyl), also daily. In the beginning and up to 4 months ago, he also suggested (so as to avoid compaction) to do 1x week a bowel cleanout with Kleen-Prep (I discontinued this 4 months ago after a year, after lessening the frequency from 1x week to 1x 2 weeks to 1x every 3 weeks). I think the abdominal pains must come from an ongoing compaction still present and until you do a clean-out you won't know.
The Movicol should not cause this as Movicol is only there to prevent constipation and not as a laxative as such.
I have never had compaction problems after this regular routine. I have discontinued the Kleen-Prep routine and only use it now when necessary. Accidents are also a thing of the past now.
But before you swop and change, I would seriously consider a visit first to a bowel specialiast to ascertain whether compaction is still present after your present bowel routine.
I also tried the natural route with fruits, fibre, etc. but found this didn't work in the absence of the laxatives and 'other' help. Also a Pro-biotic tablet helps, as well as daily Yoghurt (I use Activia). This really works for me.
Good Luck, its a bummer I know, but you will get there.