saline purgative

drug

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Saline purgatives are a type of laxative used to treat constipation by promoting bowel movements. These are salts containing highly charged ions that remain in the bowel's passageway. They work by drawing water into the intestines through osmotic forces, increasing the volume of bowel contents. This stretching stimulates the colon's muscles to contract, leading to defecation. Common examples include magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) and magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia). While sometimes referred to as saline enemas, saline purgatives are typically taken orally.123

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laxative
Saline purgatives are salts containing highly charged ions that do not readily cross cell membranes and therefore remain inside the lumen, or passageway, of the bowel. By retaining water through osmotic forces, saline purgatives increase the volume of the contents of the bowel, stretching the…
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Saline purgatives are salts containing highly charged ions that do not readily cross cell membranes and therefore remain inside the lumen, or passageway, of the bowel. By retaining water through osmotic forces, saline purgatives increase the volume of the contents of the bowel, stretching the…
Read More