What damage does laxatives do to your body?

Many laxatives act by irritating the lining of the intestines or by directly stimulating nerves. Continual over stimulation of the intestines form laxative abuse can eventually cause the bowels to become non-responsive.

The misuse of laxatives can cause significant and severe medical complications. These complications include but are not limited to:

Abdominal pain, bloating, and fullness Dehydration Esophageal perforations and lacerations (Mallory-Weiss Syndrome) Electrolyte abnormalities Irritable bowel syndrome Ulceration of the bowel Malabsorption of nutrients leading to hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and calcium deficiency Fatty infiltration of the liver Pancreatitis Exacerbation of hemorrhoids Esophagitis Melanosis coli Gastritis Gastric ulceration Gastric bleeding Intestinal injury

Unless you are consipated you shouldn’t use them, and preferably under the instruction of your doctor.