Stool softeners make stools easier to pass by increasing moisture. Stool softeners can take up to 72 hours to work. Other ...

Dear Doctors: I’m a 77-year-old man and was having trouble with hard stools. My doctor suggested a stool softener. It worked for about a week, but then I developed diarrhea. Over-the-counter diarrhea ...

Dear Dr. Roach • I'm an 84-year-old male who has recently found relief from lifelong strain in bowel movements by using stool softeners. I would like to know if they're habit-forming if taken once a ...

Sarah Hudgens is a content pro with over 15 years of experience writing and editing copy for a wide range of industry verticals and channels. Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS, FACG, is a board-certified ...

Compared with using stool softeners, taking lubiprostone was significantly associated with lower risks of a composite adverse kidney outcome and steeper eGFR decline. The risk for kidney function ...

Taking a sitz bath for 10 to 15 minutes two or three times a day can ease the pain of anal fissures. Reduce pain and prevent future fissures by eating fiber and drinking water, which makes stool ...