Self-help Guides

You should see a doctor for your constipation if you:

• have constipation for more than 2 weeks or on and off for more than 3 months
• have severe abdominal pain, or your abdomen looks swollen or bigger than usual
• have a temperature higher than 38°C
• are vomiting, not eating as much as usual, or losing weight
• have blood in the stool or very dark-coloured stool
• have rectal pain
• pass stool that is thinner than usual
• have repeated cycles of diarrhea and constipation
• are pregnant or breast-feeding
• have recently started a new medication

Non-medication treatment

Diet and lifestyle changes are the best treatment for constipation. If you don't have the signs and symptoms listed previously, you can try the following tips:

• Drink at least 6 to 8 250 mL glasses of water each day.
  • This will make sure that your stool is soft and easy to pass.
• Have at least 25 g to 30 g of fibre each day.
  • Eat at least 2 servings of fruits and 3 to 5 servings of vegetables. Canada's Food Guide recommends 7 to 10 servings total of fruits and vegetables a day.
  • Increase your fibre intake gradually to prevent gas and upset stomach.
  • Make sure you drink a lot of water, or else the fibre can make constipation worse.
• Set healthy bowel habits.
  • Have a fixed time to sit on the toilet for 10 to 15 minutes for bowel movement. If possible, do this after a meal to take advantage of the natural reflex of the bowels moving faster after eating.
  • Exercising regularly helps the bowel move.
  • Go to the bathroom when you feel the urge (don't delay).

Over-the-counter medications

There are some non-prescription treatments that you can try:

Stool softeners (e.g., docusate)*

• They help soften the stool to make it easier to pass but do not treat constipation.
• You will likely need to use them with another medication from one of the three following types.

Laxatives (e.g., senna, bisacodyl)*

• They stimulate your intestines to move faster to pass the stool. But with prolonged use, they can make your bowels "lazy" and make it harder for you to have a regular bowel movement in the future.

Water-drawing agents (e.g., milk of magnesia, lactulose, glycerine suppositories)*

• They attract water into your bowels to keep your stool bulky and soft, making it easier to pass.

Bulk-forming agents (e.g., psyllium, bran)*

• They add bulk to your stool and attract water.
• They are helpful in preventing constipation, but not in treating it.
• Make sure you drink a lot of water with these, or they can make your constipation worse.

Speak with your pharmacist first to find a product that is right for you.

* All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Constipation can take weeks to months to go away.

You should see a doctor if:

• constipation does not get better in 2 weeks
• constipation gets worse
• you are feeling more uncomfortable, feeling nauseous, vomiting, or losing appetite
• you develop hemorrhoids that are bleeding or painful
• any of the signs and symptoms listed previously appear