Like all stomach woes, constipation can ruin your confidence.
Not having control over your digestion is frustrating, to say the least, not to mention incredibly uncomfortable.
There are several ways to relieve constipation. The most popular methods are changing up your diet and incorporating more fibre, or taking laxatives.
What are stool softeners?
Stool softeners are a type of laxative called an emollient laxative which is designed to ease mild constipation.
Stool softeners vs laxatives: What is the difference?
A stool softener is a type of laxative called an emollient laxative, meaning all stool softeners are laxatives, but not all laxatives are stool softeners. Laxatives are used to treat constipation, but some are stronger than others. Essentially, a laxative is an umbrella term which the milder stool softeners sit under.
When should you use stool softeners?
According to the Cleveland Clinic: “You can use a stool softener on a short-term basis to help relieve occasional constipation. Lifestyle factors and pregnancy can both cause constipation. Constipation is also a side effect of some health conditions and medications. Stool softeners are especially helpful for people who should avoid straining while having a bowel movement due to heart conditions, recent childbirth, haemorrhoids and recent surgeries.”
The active ingredients in stool softeners are typically docusate sodium and docusate calcium. The two hero substances help to wet, soften and increase the fat content in the stool, helping it to pass.
Who should use stool softeners?
Considered a milder form of laxatives (which can be very strong depending on the type), stool softeners are designed for those suffering from temporary constipation or mild constipation.
What are the different types of stool softeners?
You can take stool softeners orally or rectally, although at a guess we’re saying most would rather avoid the latter. The laxatives typically come in the form of tablets or capsules, but there are some liquid and enema options available.
One should also consider natural stool softeners. Lifestyle changes can be very beneficial in helping to ease symptoms. These include exercising regularly, drinking more water, increasing fibre intake and taking a probiotic. According to Healthline: “When consumed, probiotics enhance the gut microbiome — the collection of beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract that helps regulate inflammation, immune function, digestion, and heart health.”
Discover the best stool softeners to ease the symptoms of constipation. We’ve also included some probiotics - just for good measure.
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Dioctyl 100mg Capsules - 30 Pack
Dioctyl 100mg capsules are a laxative medication that can help ease the effects of constipation, making this generous pack of thirty a bathroom cupboard staple. Docusate sodium is the active ingredient in Dioctyl capsules and acts as a laxative, making stools easier to pass. It also helps to stimulate the muscles in your bowel, making the bathroom experience a whole lot easier. Take up to five a day.
Buy now £3.59, Chemist 4 U
Aloe Pura Aloe Vera Gentle Action Complex Tablets
Featuring a combination of botanical ingredients, this food supplement contains a mixture of aloe vera, lactobacillus acidophilus and millions of live cultures to ease digestion. Aloe vera contains several compounds known to act as laxatives, helping to relieve mild constipation when the condition strikes.
Buy now £7.09, Amazon
Ortis Fruits & Fibres Chewable Cubes Pack of 24
Ortis’ chewables are a hit among users. The affordable packs are available in batches of 12 or 24, meaning you can kit yourself out for when constipation strikes next. They are packed with fibre, which comes from a traditional recipe of figs, tamarind and rhubarb, ingredients that come together to contribute to normal intestinal transit. A mild pick for those who don’t like swallowing tablets.
Buy now £14.99, Holland & Barrett
Movicol Powder Sachets Lemon & Lime - 20 Sachets
Favour flavour? Movicol’s citrus sachets are a welcome alternative to icky pills and potions. The sachets promise a gentle method of easing constipation. Simply dissolve the sachets in water to form a laxative drink that will promote comfortable bowel movement. Movicol works by attracting more water into your bowel, softening stools for breezy bathroom breaks.
Buy now £14.99, Superdrug
Holland & Barrett High Fibre Blend 90 Capsules
Repeat after me: fibre is your friend. Ensure you get your daily dose with Holland & Barrett’s High Fibre Blend. The 90 capsules have got you covered. The magic tablets work by increasing the size and weight of your stool, helping it to pass. Inside each pill, you’ll find a blend of fruit, vegetable, psyllium husk and oat bran fibre, ready to shake up your digestive system.
Buy now £14.99, Holland & Barrett
DulcoEase Soft Gel 100mg - 30 Capsules
A popular pick for soothing pain in the nether region, DulcoEase’s capsules can be used to combat constipation, piles or anal fissure. The nifty product works by helping hard, dry stools soak up natural fluids, freeing up the bowels to start working as normal. Swallow with water up to three times a day.
Buy now £6.35, Boots
GeriCare Stool Softener 100 mg
GeriCare’s stool softener contains docusate sodium, a well-known stool softener laxative. The handy product has received positive reviews, with users noting that it truly works wonders. The tablets generally help to produce bowel movement in 12 to 72 hours, offering relief for any person suffering from digestive woes.
Buy now £12.99, USA in UK
Heights Biotic+
Vogue Williams loved these probiotics so much that she decided to invest in them. Heights’ Smart Probiotic has been proven to deliver 20 billion colony-forming units (CFU) in each daily capsule, and its slow-release design means more of these good bacteria can reach the gut than most other popular brands.
Suitable for consumers with gluten intolerances and vegans, the probiotics are proven to work wonders. Third-party testing shows that Biotic⁺ delivers fifty times more bacteria, alive and active, than alternative formats, while aiding the maintenance of normal hair, skin, and nails.
With over 200 five-star reviews, many have said they have noticed results fast, and said taking the probiotic has boosted their energy levels and reduced their bloating. Win-win.
Buy now £40.00, Heights
Free Soul FS-Greens
Enjoy up to 30 servings of FS-Greens - a delicious superfood supplement. Dissolve in water for a mango-infused beverage or blend into a fruity smoothie to ingest all 21 ingredients that improve energy, immunity and gut health. Among other powerful ingredients such as KSM-66 ashwagandha, Actazin, and Livaux golden kiwi, FS-Greens also includes alfalfa, which is rich in enzymes that aid gut and skin health.
Buy now £30.00, Free Soul
Symprove Daily Essential
For a probiotic supplement to boost your overall health, as well as your microbiome, look to Symprove. Designed to be taken as a morning shot, this innovative liquid probiotic supplement is water-based so cleverly it doesn't trigger digestion so you can rely on it making it to the gut.
It contains four live strains of bacteria to boost your gut health, including one natural to our intimate area. Pick from three flavours, and simply take a 70ml shot on an empty stomach 10 minutes before breakfast to deliver billions of live and active bacteria each day.
Buy now £39.96, Symprove
