Pharmacologic Substance
laxative
lax·a·tive [ lak-suh-tiv ]
Subclass of:
Gastrointestinal Agents
Etymology:
Latin laxare = to loosen; as in the word relax
Definitions related to laxatives:
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A drug or substance that induces bowel movements or makes the stool softer and looser.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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A substance that promotes bowel movements.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Agent that acts to promote evacuation of the bowel; a cathartic or purgative.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Synthetic compounds or mixtures administered orally or rectally with laxative activity. A laxative preparation is used to promote bowel movement to treat constipation or to clean the colon for rectal and bowel examinations. There are different types of laxatives that differ in mechanism of action and potency, including the bulk-producing agents, stool softeners, lubricants, hydrating agents, stimulants, saline laxatives and hyperosmotic agents.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Agents that produce a soft formed stool, and relax and loosen the bowels, typically used over a protracted period, to relieve CONSTIPATION.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Laxative, any drug used in the treatment of constipation to promote the evacuation of feces. Laxatives produce their effect by several mechanisms. The four main types of laxatives include: saline purgatives, fecal softeners, contact purgatives, and bulk laxatives. Saline purgatives are salts...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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