cathartic
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Introduction
An agent causing active movement of the bowels
Commonly characterized as saline (magnesium citrate, magnesium sulfate) saccharide (sorbitol)
Adverse effects
- excessive or repeated doses of cathartics can lead to electrolyte imbalance or dehydration
Mechanism of action
- cathartics work by adding osmotic load to the gut
- Mg+2 may stimulate release of cholecystokinin, which increases motor & sensory action in the GI tract