Dr. Piyush Malav MBBS, MS , General Surgery

No, Lax should not be given to children under 6 years of age as patients in this age group can not swallow Lax without chewing it and this might lead to a breaking of the enteric coating, leading to gastric irritation. Suppositories can be given to children in cases of severe constipation under a supervision of a nurse. 

Dr. Anand Singh MBBS , General Physician

Lax belongs to the class of drugs known as stimulant laxatives. It is a laxative used for the short-term treatment of constipation. It is also used to clear bowels before surgical procedures. It is a stimulant laxative. Alongside taking [Medicne], one should also focus on taking a healthy diet, drinking a lot of water and indulging in some form of physical activity on a regular basis to facilitate a normal bowel movement. 

Dr. Madhur Anand MBBS, MS , General Surgery

No, you must not use Lax for losing weight as it can be detrimental to your overall health. This is because Lax can produce serious dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This reduces the functional ability of nerves, muscle and vital organs. The body will start depending on Lax for bowel clearance and over time, one can also develop a psychological dependence which might lead to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. The right approach to losing weight is to indulge in some sort of physical activity and eat in moderation.

Dr. Vedprakash Verma MBBS, MD , Cardiology

Yes, Lax abuse can cause a rare disease known as urinary calcareous disease. In this disease, the fluids and electrolytes deplete from the gastrointestinal tract leading to the formation of supersaturated urinary calculi.

Dr. Chinmaya Bal MBBS , General Physician

Repeated administration of Lax for colon evacuation may lead to weakness, disorientation, and orthostatic hypotension which is manifested as low blood pressure from standing up from a sitting or a lying position.