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Health Tip: Be Careful Taking Laxatives
By HealthCast on April 19, 2010

Though laxatives are generally safe medications, people should be careful when using them.
The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these safety warnings about laxative use:
- People with phenylketonuria (PKU) should not use laxatives that include the ingredient phenylalanine.
- People with an allergy to any ingredient in laxatives should not take them. Some people allergic to psyllium, which is used in many laxatives.
- Don’t take laxatives over a long period.
- Take laxatives at least two hours before or after your other medications, as they may interfere with how those medications work.
- Check with your doctor before taking laxatives if you are taking prescription medications.
- Don’t use multiple types of laxative at once (oral, suppository, etc.)
Source: HealthDay