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Suggest Treatment For Severe Constipation While On Levofloxacin

Posted on Fri, 5 May 2017

Question: I have been constipated for about a month, I gave myself an enema and drank phillips . I just have a lot of gas and very little comes out. there is no blood. I went to a doctor and he gave me colax and levofloxacin.

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
manual extraction or polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,Thanks for query.

Bisacodyl(colax) is a laxative that stimulates bowel movements. Bisacodyl is used to treat constipation but as enema was not effective in your case i dont feel that laxative like Colax will help much.

As of now you have two options-

1) Polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution-Polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution (PEG-ES) is used to empty the colon.The primary mode of action is thought to be through the osmotic effect of polyethylene glycol which causes water to be retained in the colon and produces a watery stool.

2)Manual extraction- If the stools are impacted and are not passsed even after taking PEG-ES solution then it has to be removed manually by using a finger for extracting stools.For that you have to visit the nearest emergency room.Once the bowel is cleared gas will be settled.
However you can take Nexium 40mg for symptomatic reliief in bloating till extraction of stool is done.

I don't feel levoflox(antibiotic) has any role.

Hope i answered your query .
Follow up are welcome.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (1 hour later)

the doctor gave him Colace not colax. do you think he should go to emergency room to do manual extraction , he is in a lot of discomfort .

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I dont feel Colace will help.Yes he should go to emergency room for manual extraction.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (16 hours later)

he did another enema and took 2 tablespoons of miralax. he had a little bowl movement, he said it was fairly solid with a little water. should he follow up with the miralax and another enema ? he is reluctant to do a manual extraction. would they put him under to do the extraction? thank you .

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
follow up answer.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Yes if he is not comfortable with manual extraction then high dose miralax can be tried enema.
However in case the stools remain hard go for manual evacuation.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana