Medication Side Effects...

[ck1]

How do medicines cause constipation, seems a weird side effect

[sandyRoe]

I'd guess it acts on the muscles which produce peristalsis.

[Sqad]

LOL...never thought about it really.

Two ways, I suppose, firstly, I agree with sandy.....as a side effect of it's primary function, it acts on the muscles of the bowel, slowing them down.

Secondly, particularly if they make you pass more water e.g diuretics, then the faeces clearly become "dehydrated" harder and one becomes constipated.

[ck1]

yeah I guess that makes sense, I'd never really thought about it either, amazing what comes to mind on a slow afternoon!!

[Old_Geezer]

So: it turns it all to cement and you have to wait until you feel like passing the football.

[ck1]

...(queue the discussion about childbirth!!!)

[cupid04]

Some medications cause the opposite, why's that then?

[boxtops]

is it that some relax your muscles, and some tighten them up?

[douglas9401]

There must be some right powerful muscles in there that can turn mince and tatties into water then.

[cupid04]

Antibiotics do it for me. Makes you wonder how they work if they go straight through you!

[pixie373]

It's because they are working, cupid. About 80% of your poo is bacteria. Antibiotics kill off the bacteria you need as well as those you don't need.

[cupid04]

thank you pixie.

[Bazile]

//There must be some right powerful muscles in there that can turn mince and tatties into water then. //

You silly boy - food ( dependant on how it was prepared ) may have in it , a high or low percentage of water , as the case may be .

[douglas9401]

I don't want to baffle you with technical jargon Bazile, but that's complete guff.
If the food eaten has a low moisture content but the drugs taken result in explosive, almost liquid expulsion where does your theory go then?

[douglas9401]

ps, smiley face. :)

[whiskeryron]

In view of the explosion suggestion do you think that this conversation would be better under the heading '' See How Far This Goes'' ?

WR.