Q. I take several medicines that I suspect may be contributing to uncomfortable constipation. They include Fosamax and calcium for bones and Lipitor for cholesterol.
Please suggest something to provide relief from this problem. My bowels are totally locked up. Do you have a home remedy for colon cleansing? I don’t want to spend a bundle on an expensive detox program.
A. We discourage colon cleansing except when it is medically indicated (such as before a colonoscopy). We can understand your frustration, however. Many medications (including those you are taking) can indeed lead to constipation.
Readers of this column have offered many suggestions for constipation including a daily dose of magnesium, fresh pineapple, dates or prunes. Other remedies include flax seed (found in Uncle Sam Cereal) and MiraLAX. We are sending you our Guide to Constipation with a special “Power Pudding” remedy that nurses have recommended and a dynamite pumpkin-bran muffin recipe.
