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When used appropriately, laxatives can be a helpful tool to alleviate constipation. But excessive laxative use can be harmful and is also sometimes a sign of an eating disorder. (1)
In severe cases, laxative misuse can cause serious health consequences and lead to an overdose. But knowing how to recognize the signs of a laxative overdose can help prevent these troubling issues.
Laxatives are a specific class of medicine that are used to help induce bowel movements. They're normally used to relieve constipation and can be helpful if natural methods—such as eating enough fiber, drinking enough water, and engaging in healthy levels of physical activity—fall short.
There are several types of laxatives that help control bowel movements in different ways, including:10
The food waste that's present in the colon by the time it's impacted by a laxative has already been through the digestive system, meaning most calories associated with that food have been absorbed. The laxative simply works to help remove that waste, along with water, indigestible fiber, and valuable minerals and electrolytes.1,2
Abusing laxatives can have very serious health consequences.2
The most serious side effects are dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. These, in turn, can result in many damaging health complications.
Specifically, laxatives can have an effect on the levels of important electrolytes including potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Each of these play a crucial role in any number of internal functions, and an imbalance of these electrolytes can have serious consequences.
When laxative misuse becomes chronic, the body can develop a tolerance or dependency on these outside influences. People may start taking more laxatives to produce the same effects, and this cycle can eventually lead to a laxative overdose.
Yet, repeated laxative use can also lead to the loss of muscle and nerve response in the intestines. This can lead to dilation, making it difficult to move stool. As a result, even more laxatives are needed to expel waste, and this can bring someone to the point of a laxative overdose.
In fact, chronic laxative abuse is sometimes considered a type of drug addiction, as it includes other aspects of that issue, such as psychological dependence and physical withdrawal symptoms.6
Laxatives are meant to produce bowel movements. But too much of this medicine can have the opposite effect, causing discomfort and, in extreme scenarios, serious medical complications.
Many laxative overdose symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloody stools, and severe gas, can be extremely uncomfortable.
In products that alter magnesium levels, overdose symptoms can be particularly severe, including impaired kidney function and coma.11
An overdose of laxatives can lead to severe symptoms, and sometimes even fatal consequences. When an overdose of laxatives occurs you should call 911 or one of your local poison control centers right away.
It's important to not induce vomiting in the case of a laxative overdose, as the person is most likely already severely dehydrated. Instead, wait for professionals to arrive and help the situation. Though, you should try to determine when and how much of the laxative was taken.
Once someone has received emergency medicine to help with immediate health threats, it's important to think of the longer-term consequences of laxative abuse. This type of behavior is often indicative of an eating disorder, but even in cases when it's not, it's important to find the right kind of help to address the issue and any underlying causes, both from a physical and psychological standpoint.
The best way to prevent a laxative overdose is to not exceed the recommended or prescribed dose. Of course, this may be easier said than done, especially if someone is struggling with other issues, such as an eating disorder or another mental health condition, that may cause them to become dependent on laxatives.
Still, there are some tips that can help keep your digestive system functioning properly while helping alleviate constipation, including:
While there are many reasons someone may overdose on laxatives, one of the most common reasons is because they have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN).
Eating disorders are very serious, complex mental health disorders that require highly specialized treatment beyond treating a laxative overdose. They do not go away on their own. So it’s important to get help as soon as possible.
Speaking with a primary care doctor, therapist, or another trusted medical professional is a great way to start. These professionals can help you or your loved one secure an official diagnosis or determine your next best steps.
A number of eating disorder hotlines can also help provide additional information and resources. These generally offer a free and confidential service for callers.
Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.
Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.
Yes, it's possible to overdose on laxatives.
In 2014, it was reported that more than one daily recommended dose of certain laxatives could lead to overdose or other complications, with at least 14 confirmed deaths of laxative overdose-related issues that year.12
Laxative misuse can also lead to laxative overdose. And while this is a relatively rare occurrence overall, it still represents a medical emergency, and help should be sought immediately if symptoms occur.
It's hard to say how long a laxative overdose will last. The specifics depend on how many laxatives were taken, physiological details, such as age and weight, and how long the person has been misusing laxatives, among other factors.
But it is possible to recover from laxative overdose, especially if help is sought quickly. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of laxative overdose, you should contact 911 or your local poison control center immediately.
It may not be possible to reverse a laxative overdose once symptoms occur, but it is possible to recover from laxative abuse or misuse. If you or a loved one are experiencing the signs of a laxative overdose, you should call for emergency help immediately. Once your immediate needs are met, you can seek out help to work on the underlying causes of laxative abuse and reverse the impact laxative misuse can have on your body.
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