Is Weaning Off From Stimulant Laxatives Advisable After Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Posted on Tue, 15 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 Answered on

Wed, 7 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Please help. I had a gastric bypass 5 years ago. Since then I have been on laxatives to ease my defecation. I have become dependent on them to have any movement at all....usually water. How do I taper off stimulant laxatives. I was told I would probably need a stool softener the rest of my life because of the part of the intestine removed. I am currently drinking between 80 to 100 oz per day.mostly Powerade then water. I have decreased my lax abuse from 20/day to 8/day and have added two doses of Miralax and 25g of fiber daily. Am I doing this correctly. My weight went up 16 lbs in one week when I stopped taking 20/day. Please advise.......thank you, Shannan.

Answered by Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are on a right path

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for writing in

Yes it is a fact you might need stool softner for longer periods or may be for your life

Having gone through the list of medications I feel you are on a right path managing your constipation

It is usually variable and not fixed with patients so trial and error is the best way to manage the doses but you may need some for of laxative for quiet some time

It is surprising that your weight increased by 2 lbs per day on reduction of the dose, keep a close watch on your diet and if even after balanced diet it keeps on increasing we might need a further evaluation

Hope this helps
Do write back in case of concern

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj