Home » The Best Way to Use Laxatives If You Love Coffee

The Best Way to Use Laxatives If You Love Coffee

Jacob Yaze

November 8, 2025

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Can You Take Laxatives with Coffee? The Smart Timing Guide

Coffee and laxatives can absolutely share the same morning—just not the same minute. Both can nudge your gut into motion, and depending on dose, timing, and your own sensitivity, that can be either a blessing… or a “why is my stomach doing cartwheels?” situation. The simple goal is to keep your cup comforting while your laxative does its job quietly, without urgency, cramping, or that dried-out, headachey feeling that can tag along when stimulation stacks up.

Zoom out for a second, and it all makes sense. Coffee (especially caffeinated coffee) can encourage colon activity and—depending on the person—can be mildly diuretic. Laxatives come in different personalities: osmotics pull water into the bowel, stimulants increase motility, fiber bulks things up, and softeners change stool texture. When you combine two “go-time” signals at once, the body sometimes responds with urgency, spasms, or an unpredictable sprint to the bathroom. But when you space them on purpose, most people feel smoother, lighter, and more in control—like the whole morning routine becomes readable again.

Hydration is your quiet superpower here. If you do one thing, do this: make water part of the ritual. A glass before your dose, easy sips through the morning, and another glass with your first coffee. It sounds almost too basic, but it’s the difference between “this worked” and “this worked… but I feel a little wrecked.” If you’re prone to cramping or you tend to get that washed-out feeling, a gentle electrolyte option can help you stay steady on higher-output days—something like Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier is a simple example people keep on hand for those mornings when fluids feel hard to keep up with.

Now, brew and beans matter more than people expect—especially when your stomach is already being asked to cooperate. A smoother coffee style can make the whole “coffee + laxative” combo feel less edgy. On sensitive days, many people do best with gentler, lower-acid decaf rather than a sharp, blazing-hot cup that hits fast. If reflux or stomach burn is part of your story, a low-acid decaf can keep the comfort without poking the rough edges—Tieman’s Fusion Coffee Low Acid Decaf is one example that fits that “still tastes like coffee” vibe. And if you want a Swiss-water style decaf that feels cozy and full rather than thin and sad, NO FUN JO DECAF (Swiss Water Process) is a nice “evening ritual” option too—especially if you’re protecting sleep.

Timing is where the magic lives, and it’s usually easier than people think. If you’re using an osmotic like polyethylene glycol, give it its own window and slide coffee later—many people feel best keeping coffee 45–90 minutes away from that first dose. A common example people recognize is MiraLAX Laxative Powder. The idea isn’t to make mornings complicated; it’s simply to avoid turning two separate nudges into one big shove.

If you’re using a stimulant laxative, the strategy changes slightly: keep coffee with food, keep portions modest, and avoid “double stimulation” right on top of each other. A classic option in that category is Dulcolax Stimulant Laxative Tablets. With stimulants, the best mornings are usually the boring ones: predictable breakfast, calm coffee, normal water intake, and no rushing.

Fiber deserves its own little spotlight because it’s helpful—but only when it’s given enough water and breathing room. If you use psyllium, take it with plenty of water and give it time to swell comfortably before you load the system with coffee. Something like Metamucil Psyllium Husk Fiber Supplement works best when it’s treated like a “hydrate-first” step. If you prefer a tasteless powder you can stir into food or drinks, Benefiber Daily Prebiotic Fiber Supplement Powder is another common choice—again, water is the make-or-break detail.

And yes—sleep counts, even in a gut conversation. Late-day caffeine can stretch bedtime and make everything louder: cramps, restlessness, the anxious “why am I still awake?” feeling. If sleep is precious, park your last caffeinated coffee in the early afternoon and keep later cups decaf. Your gut and your nervous system tend to calm down together when your routine is kinder to sleep.

Most importantly, personalize without overthinking it. Keep a simple two-week note: which product you took, when you took it, when coffee happened, how your stomach felt, and what the bathroom routine looked like. You’ll spot patterns fast. If a small coffee after breakfast feels perfect while a fast, strong cup before food feels spiky, keep the first and retire the second for now. The goal isn’t restriction—it’s a calm, repeatable routine where your laxative works reliably and your coffee stays a daily pleasure you barely have to think about.

*“Safest beans” = typically low-acid, decaf, or half-caff options that many readers find gentler on reflux and sleep, especially when laxatives are in play. Personalize to your tolerance and your clinician’s advice.

Coffee and Sodium Sulfate

Sodium sulfate on its own is not a common everyday laxative, but it plays a starring role in modern bowel-prep cocktails for colonoscopy. In products like Suprep® Bowel Prep Kit (sodium sulfate + potassium sulfate + magnesium sulfate) or similar generics, sodium sulfate acts as a strong osmotic agent, dragging water into the intestine so stools become watery and the colon can be completely flushed.

Coffee enters the picture because it already has a mild natural laxative effect. Human studies show that a single cup of coffee can trigger a rapid increase in distal colonic motility, and about a third of people report a strong urge to defecate soon after drinking it. (MDPI) This effect is partly due to caffeine but also to chlorogenic acids and other compounds that increase intestinal osmotic pressure and stimulate gut hormones. (Frontiers)

When you combine that with the very powerful osmotic pull of sodium-sulfate bowel prep, it’s easy to overshoot from “nicely clean” to miserable, crampy diarrhea and dehydration. That’s why most colonoscopy instructions tell you to drink only clear liquids and to be generous with plain water and electrolyte drinks. Many centers do allow black coffee without cream up to a certain cut-off time because it counts as a clear liquid, but they also warn you to avoid milk, creamers, or anything with red or purple dye. (Cleveland Clinic)

In practical terms, moderate coffee can be your friend during sodium-sulfate prep. If you’re a daily coffee drinker, suddenly quitting all caffeine the day before a colonoscopy can cause withdrawal headaches and fatigue, so gastroenterology clinics sometimes explicitly suggest a small caffeinated drink to stay comfortable. (University of Maryland Medical System) The key is balance:

• Stick to small cups of black coffee or tea rather than large triple espressos.
• Alternate every coffee with at least one large glass of water or a clear electrolyte drink to protect against dehydration.
• Stop all oral intake at the time your endoscopy unit specifies—usually four to six hours before the procedure, especially if you’re having sedation.

For people using sulfate-based preps at home, the safest approach is to think of coffee as a small, optional comfort, not as the main fluid you’re relying on. If you have kidney disease, heart failure, or a tendency to low blood pressure, your physician may be stricter and prefer you to skip coffee altogether on prep day. Always follow the written instructions for your specific product—Suprep®, Sutab®, MoviPrep®, or others—because details differ slightly between brands and hospitals.

Coffee and Potassium Sulfate

Potassium sulfate is another component of combination bowel-prep solutions such as Suprep® and Sutab®. On its own, it acts mostly as an electrolyte rather than a stand-alone laxative, helping maintain potassium levels while the sulfate salts pull water into the gut and wash everything out. But because these preparations already carry a noticeable potassium load, anything that alters hydration can, in theory, shift your potassium balance.

Coffee itself doesn’t contain huge amounts of potassium, but each cup contributes a small amount, and more importantly, caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, encouraging your kidneys to excrete more urine—especially in people who are not habitual coffee drinkers. (EatingWell) When you’re taking a bowel prep that is already pulling liters of water into your colon, adding extra diuresis from strong coffee can make dehydration and electrolyte swings more likely.

Colonoscopy instructions that use potassium–sulfate–containing kits typically focus on getting enough clear fluids rather than banning coffee outright. Black coffee or tea is often listed as acceptable, but clinicians emphasize matching any caffeine with extra water or sports drinks and stopping at the specified cut-off time before anesthesia. (Cleveland Clinic)

For most otherwise healthy adults, a modest amount of coffee while on a potassium-sulfate prep is fine. But if you have:

• Chronic kidney disease
• A history of arrhythmias or need for strict potassium control
• Are you taking drugs affected by potassium (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, spironolactone, etc)

…your gastroenterologist may prefer that you skip caffeine on prep day and focus on water, clear broth, and approved electrolyte drinks. That reduces the risk of sudden potassium changes that could provoke palpitations or ECG abnormalities.

Think of coffee here as a nice-to-have, not a must-have. If you’re prone to caffeine headaches, one small morning cup of black coffee early in the prep window is usually reasonable, followed by aggressive hydration and no more caffeine later in the day. Always err on the side of caution if your kidneys or heart are fragile.

Coffee and Magnesium Sulfate

Magnesium sulfate is the third sulfate in many modern bowel preps. It’s also the same mineral used in Epsom salt laxatives, where the magnesium ion has a strong osmotic effect in the intestine. Excessive magnesium from laxatives can lead to abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and—in susceptible people—elevated blood magnesium levels that affect the heart and neuromuscular system. (DrugBank)

Coffee intersects with magnesium sulfate in two main ways. First, coffee itself may slightly reduce magnesium absorption from the gut, one proposed mechanism for the looser stools observed in heavy coffee drinkers. (Frontiers) Second, coffee’s own colonic-stimulating properties mean that when you combine it with an osmotic agent like magnesium sulfate, the laxative effects can be very brisk. For colonoscopy prep, that’s the goal; for everyday constipation, it can quickly become too much.

If you’re using a sulfate combo such as Suprep®, MoviPrep®, or generic sodium/potassium/magnesium sulfate kits, the usual advice is that you may drink clear liquids, including black coffee, during the prep window but must concentrate on water, clear juice, and electrolyte drinks to maintain hydration. (Cleveland Clinic)

For over-the-counter Epsom salt laxative use, be more cautious. Magnesium-sulfate solutions sold as laxatives are not typically meant for frequent, long-term use, and combining them with multiple large coffees may lead to prolonged diarrhea and electrolyte losses. People with kidney impairment are particularly at risk of magnesium accumulation and should avoid magnesium-based laxatives unless a doctor specifically approves them. (DrugBank)

As a rule of thumb:

• During colonoscopy prep, keep coffee small, black, and balanced with plenty of water.
• For casual constipation relief using magnesium sulfate, don’t also lean on coffee as a laxative—choose one strategy at a time and involve your clinician if constipation is chronic.

Coffee and Bisacodyl

Bisacodyl is a stimulant laxative sold under well-known brands such as Dulcolax®, Correctol®, and many generics. It works by directly activating colonic nerves and increasing fluid secretion into the gut, usually producing a bowel movement within 6–12 hours when taken by mouth or much faster when used as a suppository.

Official guidance does include some food-timing nuances. The UK’s NHS, for example, advises not to take bisacodyl tablets at the same time as dairy products—milk, yoghurt, cheese—because they can dissolve the tablet’s coating and irritate the stomach. They suggest leaving at least an hour between bisacodyl and dairy, but note that the small amount of milk in coffee or tea is unlikely to be a problem. (nhs.uk)

Coffee itself, independent of bisacodyl, stimulates colonic motility and can trigger a need to defecate in about 30% of people. (MDPI) When you add a stimulant laxative on top of that, you’re effectively stacking two triggers for the bowel. For an occasional clean-out before a colonoscopy (where regimens like “MiraLAX + Dulcolax” are common), that synergy is desirable; instructions often encourage clear liquids, including black coffee, during the prep day. (Veterans Affairs)

For everyday constipation, however, regularly combining multiple cups of strong coffee with daily bisacodyl raises a few concerns:

• Cramping and urgency may become quite uncomfortable.
• Over-reliance on stimulant laxatives can, over time, worsen bowel sluggishness if used inappropriately. (WebMD)
• Dehydration risk increases if diarrhea is frequent and fluid intake doesn’t keep up.

If you’re taking bisacodyl sporadically, it’s generally safe to continue your usual morning coffee, but it’s wise not to massively increase caffeine on those days. If you’re on scheduled bisacodyl for chronic conditions, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your overall plan should include moderation in caffeine and more emphasis on fiber, fluids, and activity.

Coffee and Polyethylene Glycol

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the backbone of many bowel preps and gentle laxatives. PEG 3350 powders such as MiraLAX®, Movicol®, Laxido®, GlycoLax® draw water into the colon without major electrolyte shifts, while stronger PEG-electrolyte solutions (GoLYTELY®, Colyte®, Klean-Prep®) are standard for colonoscopy preparation. (Veterans Affairs)

Bowel-prep instructions built around PEG almost always include a detailed, clear-liquid list, and coffee features prominently. For example, the Cleveland Clinic’s MiraLAX colonoscopy prep handout allows coffee or tea without milk or creamer as part of the clear-liquid diet the day before the procedure. (Cleveland Clinic) Other hospital and VA protocols say the same, sometimes even recommending caffeinated drinks to prevent withdrawal headaches in heavy coffee drinkers. (Veterans Affairs)

Why is black coffee permitted? Because it’s essentially water plus dissolved compounds, without milk or cream, it leaves no residue in the colon and doesn’t interfere with visualization. At the same time, its natural motility-stimulating effect can help move the PEG solution along, which patients often perceive as “the prep working better.”(MDPI)

The big caveat is hydration. PEG preps rely on large fluid volumes—often 2–4 liters—to be effective and safe. Caffeine’s mild diuretic effect plus the strong osmotic pull of PEG can leave you dehydrated if you treat coffee as your main fluid. That’s why instructions almost always emphasize water, clear sports drinks, and broth first, with coffee as a complement. (Barton Health)

For over-the-counter PEG 3350 used for chronic constipation, coffee is usually not restricted at all. In fact, GI specialists often encourage a morning routine that combines a warm drink, regular toilet time, adequate fiber, and, if needed, a gentle dose of PEG to retrain the bowel. Coffee’s effect on the gastro-colic reflex can be helpful as long as you’re not overdoing it. (EatingWell)

If PEG and coffee together are giving you watery stools, urgency, or bloating, it may be worth:

• Reduce your coffee strength or number of cups.
• Splitting your PEG dose into smaller portions throughout the day (if your doctor agrees).
• Checking that you’re drinking enough non-caffeinated fluid.

Coffee and Sodium Picosulfate

Sodium picosulfate is a stimulant laxative used mainly in bowel-prep products such as Picolax®, Citrafleet®, Pico-Salax®, Prepopik®, and Clenpiq®. It’s often combined with magnesium oxide and citric acid; once in the gut, this mixture becomes an osmotic magnesium citrate solution plus the stimulant sodium picosulfate, giving a powerful two-pronged cleansing action. (Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust)

Endoscopy units usually pair these sachets with instructions to drink generous amounts of clear fluids. Many NHS and Australian leaflets list black tea or coffee as acceptable clear liquids alongside water, cordial, broth, and clear juices. (Dorset County Hospital) As with PEG preps, the rules are: no milk, no cream, no red or purple dyes, and nothing after the specified fasting cut-off.

Because sodium picosulfate is already a potent stimulant, adding multiple large coffees on top can produce intense cramping and very frequent liquid stools. The goal of prep is a clean colon, not an all-night ordeal on the toilet. Coffee should therefore be used sparingly, mainly to prevent caffeine withdrawal or to provide a bit of comfort.

Practical tips:

• If you’re a regular coffee drinker, have one small black coffee in the morning or early afternoon of prep day, not with every dose of Picolax.
• Match each caffeinated drink with extra water; many protocols ask patients to drink at least 4–5 large glasses of clear fluid in the hours after each sachet. (Melbourne GI & Endoscopy)
• Stop all liquids—coffee included—when your instructions say to, typically four hours before the procedure.

People with kidney disease, heart failure, or on strict fluid or sodium restrictions should follow specialist instructions closely; they may be advised to avoid caffeine entirely around prep to simplify fluid and electrolyte management.

Coffee and Magnesium Hydroxide

Magnesium hydroxide is the active ingredient in “Milk of Magnesia” products, popular as both antacids and mild osmotic laxatives (for example, Phillips’® Milk of Magnesia). It draws water into the intestines and stimulates motility, usually producing a bowel movement within 6–8 hours. (WebMD)

Product monographs warn that excessive use can cause diarrhea, dehydration, and mineral imbalances, particularly high magnesium levels in people with kidney problems. (WebMD) Coffee’s own laxative and mild diuretic effects can therefore amplify both the desired and undesired actions of magnesium hydroxide.

On the plus side, many people deliberately use a bedtime dose of Milk of Magnesia and a morning cup of coffee as a one-two punch to restart sluggish bowels. Coffee triggers the gastro-colic reflex; magnesium keeps extra water in the colon, making the stool softer and easier to pass. (MDPI) For occasional constipation, that combination can be effective and reasonably gentle.

Where trouble begins is with daily or high-dose use:

• Frequent loose stools can cause dehydration and low sodium or potassium.
• In patients with reduced kidney function, magnesium can accumulate, leading to lethargy, muscle weakness, and, in extreme cases, heart rhythm disturbances. (DrugBank)
• Coffee on an empty stomach plus magnesium hydroxide can sometimes provoke upper-abdominal discomfort or reflux.

If you’re otherwise healthy and using magnesium hydroxide occasionally, there’s no need to stop your usual coffee. Just remember to drink extra non-caffeinated fluids and avoid stacking other magnesium-containing laxatives or antacids at the same time.

If you:

• Need Milk of Magnesia most days of the week,
• Have kidney disease or heart failure, or
• Notice new fatigue, muscle weakness, or irregular heartbeats,

…you should talk with your clinician about safer long-term strategies (fiber, PEG, lifestyle changes) and whether both magnesium hydroxide and heavy coffee use fit your overall health picture.

Coffee and Senna

Senna is a plant-derived stimulant laxative found in tablets, syrups, and teas. Brand names include Senokot®, Ex-Lax® (sennosides), Senna-Lax®, and many generics; senna tea is widely sold as a “natural” detox drink. Medical sources emphasize that it’s intended for short-term constipation relief or bowel prep—not long-term daily use. (Dr. Axe)

Senna works by irritating the colonic mucosa and stimulating peristalsis. Side effects commonly include cramping, loose stools, and, if overused, electrolyte imbalances. (WebMD) Coffee, as we’ve seen, can itself trigger colonic contractions in a sizable minority of people, regardless of whether it’s caffeinated or decaf. (MDPI)

Put together, senna and coffee often produce very quick, very strong results. That can be useful in a supervised setting where a bowel clean-out is needed—for example, some colonoscopy protocols incorporate senna tablets plus clear liquids (including black coffee) as part of the prep. But using strong senna products plus multiple coffees daily as a weight-loss or “detox” strategy is risky. Health articles and integrative-medicine sources warn that chronic senna use can cause dependence, bowel pigment changes (melanosis coli), and even liver or heart problems in extreme cases. (Dr. Axe)

If you occasionally use a standard dose of senna for constipation, it’s fine to keep a small morning coffee if that’s your norm. To stay comfortable:

• Avoid piling senna tea on top of senna tablets and several coffees.
• Drink extra water to offset fluid losses.
• Don’t use senna more than about a week at a time without medical advice. (WebMD)

People with inflammatory bowel disease, significant heart or kidney issues, or on medications like digoxin and warfarin should be particularly careful, as senna may interact or worsen electrolyte-sensitive conditions. (Medical News Today) In those contexts, even coffee’s seemingly modest laxative effect should be discussed with your clinician.

Coffee With Sodium Biphosphate

Sodium biphosphate (more commonly discussed alongside sodium phosphate) has been used in older colonoscopy preps and in rectal enemas such as Fleet® Phospho-soda Enema. High-dose oral sodium phosphate solutions are now less favored because of reports of acute phosphate nephropathy and electrolyte disturbances, but smaller enemas are still widely used.

Coffee primarily interacts indirectly with sodium biphosphate products. Enemas act locally in the rectum and sigmoid colon, drawing water into the distal bowel and triggering evacuation within minutes. If you’re also drinking large amounts of strong coffee, you increase the risk of:

• Multiple loose bowel movements from both above and below, leading to dehydration.
• Cramping and urgency can be hard to control, particularly in older adults.

For oral sodium phosphate tablets (such as older OsmoPrep® regimens), renal-safety concerns mean strict attention to fluid balance and avoidance of additional nephrotoxic or dehydrating agents. In that setting, many gastroenterologists would prefer patients to limit or avoid coffee during the prep window and stick to clear electrolyte solutions and water.

If you are using a small sodium-phosphate enema for occasional constipation at home, your daily coffee habit usually doesn’t need to change. But this is not a method that should be used frequently; guidelines recommend enemas for short-term rescue, not chronic management. When enemas become routine, it’s time to step back and address diet, fiber, activity, and safer oral laxatives instead of trying to “balance” them with beverages.

People with kidney disease, heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, or on ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or diuretics should be particularly cautious with any sodium-phosphate product and should avoid dehydration from heavy coffee intake at the same time. In these populations, phosphate loads and fluid shifts can tip kidney function over the edge surprisingly quickly.

Coffee and Psyllium

Psyllium is a soluble fiber from the husks of Plantago ovata seeds, famous under brands like Metamucil®, Konsyl®, Fybogel®, Benefiber® (in some formulations). It thickens into a gel when mixed with water, adding bulk and softness to stool; with enough fluid, it’s one of the gentlest and safest long-term options for constipation. Clinical guidance stresses that each dose should be taken with at least 240 mL (8 oz) of liquid, and that users should drink several extra glasses of fluid throughout the day. (metamucil.ca)

Where does coffee fit? Technically, you could mix unflavored psyllium into coffee, and some people do, but manufacturers and clinicians usually recommend mixing it into plain water or juice. The reasons:

• Psyllium thickens as it stands; hot coffee can become an unpalatable sludge if left too long.
• Caffeine is mildly dehydrating, whereas psyllium needs abundant water to avoid choking or intestinal blockage. (Cleveland Clinic)

More important is the overall fluid balance. Since psyllium’s bulking action depends on sufficient hydration, using coffee as your main liquid while skimping on water can backfire, making stools harder instead of softer. On the other hand, studies and patient tips emphasize that taking psyllium at any time of day is fine as long as it’s washed down with enough liquid—so a glass of water alongside your morning coffee works perfectly. (metamucil.ca)

Many people establish a “gut-friendly” routine:

1. Take a measured psyllium dose with a full glass of water.
2. Follow it with breakfast and a moderate cup of coffee to trigger the gastro-colic reflex.
3. Keep sipping water throughout the morning.

If you have irritable bowel syndrome or are extremely sensitive to caffeine, you might choose decaf or tea instead, but the principle is the same: let psyllium handle fiber and water, and let coffee provide a gentle nudge to bowel motility rather than trying to mix them into one super-drink.

Coffee and Lactulose

Lactulose is an osmotic laxative available as syrup or powder under names like Duphalac®, Chronulac®, Constulose®, Lactugal®. It’s used both for chronic constipation and, at higher doses, to help manage hepatic encephalopathy in people with advanced liver disease. It reaches the colon undigested, where bacteria break it down into acids that pull water into the bowel, softening stool and increasing frequency. (nhs.uk)

Interestingly, some patient leaflets explicitly advise people taking lactulose to restrict caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and certain colas. (MIMS) The rationale isn’t a classic drug–drug interaction, but a practical concern: caffeine can worsen dehydration and, in high amounts, may counter some of lactulose’s gentle osmotic effect by increasing urine output and sometimes causing gastric discomfort.

In people using lactulose for hepatic encephalopathy, the situation is even more delicate. These patients often have fragile fluid and electrolyte balances, are on salt-restricted diets, and may be taking diuretics. Adding a lot of strong coffee can make fluid management harder and may promote muscle wasting if it suppresses appetite. In that context, liver specialists tend to encourage small amounts of coffee at most, prioritizing water and protein-rich nutrition.

On the other hand, outside of severe liver disease, lactulose and moderate coffee can coexist quite well. Lactulose’s main side effects are bloating, gas, and loose stools; coffee may either modestly help move things along or aggravate cramping if both are taken in large amounts. (nhs.uk)

Practical pointers if you’re on lactulose:

• Take each dose with water, then feel free to have your usual small coffee, especially in the morning when the colon is naturally more active. (nhs.uk)
• If you notice very loose stools, abdominal pain, or signs of dehydration (dizziness, dry mouth), cut back on caffeine and talk with your prescriber about adjusting the lactulose dose.
• Follow any specific instructions your pharmacy leaflet gives about limiting caffeine, particularly if you have liver disease or other complex medical conditions. (MIMS)

Final word

Across all of these laxatives and bowel-prep agents—sulfate combos, bisacodyl, PEG, sodium picosulfate, magnesium hydroxide, senna, sodium biphosphate, psyllium, and lactulose—the pattern is the same: coffee is usually allowed, sometimes helpful, but rarely neutral. It adds its own mild laxative and diuretic punch, which can be a blessing in mild constipation and a curse if you overdo it during powerful bowel preps or in fragile medical conditions.

Always pair your love of coffee with:

And, most importantly, a quick conversation with your clinician or pharmacist whenever your bowels—or your health—are more complicated than “just a little sluggish.”

Generous non-caffeinated fluids

Respect for your prep or laxative’s instructions