How to administer the Microlax enema correctly?

Pharmacology

The drug is a laxative. Intended for rectal use. The composition contains several active components that enhance each other’s effect on the human body, helping to soften stool and facilitate the process of defecation.

Sorbitol helps increase the amount of fluid entering the intestinal lumen, which increases the volume of stool and softens it. As a result, the process of defecation is greatly facilitated.

Sodium citrate helps displace fluid from stool.

As a result, water is displaced from the stool and the amount of fluid entering the intestines increases, which significantly facilitates the process of defecation in people who suffer from hemorrhoids and constipation.

The effect of the drug is observed within 5-10 minutes from the moment of using the microenema. But the effect of the drug may depend on the patient’s personal characteristics.

Information on pharmacodynamics is not available.

Benefits of an enema

Laxatives intended for oral use begin to act after at least 4-5 hours. In contrast, rectal placement of Microlax leads to defecation almost immediately, which accordingly quickly improves well-being and allows you to eliminate discomfort in the shortest possible time. But this is not the only advantage of Microlax. Other advantages of the drug include:

• no toxic effects on internal organs;
• the possibility of using microenemas in any trimester of pregnancy;
• no age restrictions - the drug is suitable for eliminating constipation in infants and young children;
• a small number of contraindications;
• Convenience of administering an enema - a thin and semi-rigid applicator allows you to insert it into the anus correctly and quickly

Microlax is not addictive and can be used periodically for occasional constipation. Short courses of daily use of the drug are also permitted, but it must be borne in mind that in order to fully restore intestinal function, it may be necessary to take other medications.

Microlax is also convenient because each container contains a single dose, so there is no need to determine the amount of the drug.

Microlax does not interact with systemic medications. This is due to the fact that the components of the drug act only at the intestinal level and do not enter the blood. When using other drugs intended for rectal administration at the same time, you must wait until you have emptied before administering them. All components of Microlax are excreted along with the feces. After which you can safely insert suppositories with anti-inflammatory, regenerating or analgesic properties.

How to use Microlax

The medicine is used rectally. Before giving an enema, you need to wash your hands well and thoroughly clean the area around the anus. The seal must be broken off immediately before insertion. After removing the seal, you need to press on the tube so that the solution comes out. After this, the tip is inserted into the anus and the entire contents of the tube are squeezed out. You need to take out the enema with the walls of the tube compressed.

From the age of 3, the tip must be inserted completely. For younger children, half will be enough. One enema will be enough for a one-time dose.

The frequency of use and dosage can only be determined by a specialist, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Many people wonder about the emergence of addiction. Doctors say that you should not take the medicine for a long time. If a person has chronic constipation, then it is worth making an appointment with a doctor to undergo an examination and prescribe further treatment.

It is not recommended to take the medicine in parallel with alcoholic beverages.

Reviews about the drug are in most cases positive. In 95% of cases, the treatment takes place without any adverse reactions or discomfort. Parents note that Microlax has a much better and more effective effect on young children than other medications.

Providing microenemas for children

Preparing a child for the administration of Microlax is practically no different from the recommendations for adults. The baby also needs to wash the anus area and dry it. Be sure that mom or dad needs to thoroughly disinfect their hands. For children over 3 years old, the tip of the tube is inserted completely.

Children under three years old need to insert the applicator halfway, that is, up to the mark marked in the middle of the pipette.

The dosage for young children is selected individually, but usually pediatricians advise children under 3 years to administer half the contents of the tube.

Before the procedure, you need to put the baby on his tummy and bend his legs at the knees. The tip is inserted carefully, without sudden movements. After squeezing out, the compressed tube is removed. Then the child needs to squeeze the buttocks, this will prevent the solution from escaping before it begins to work. To enhance the effect, you can do a light tummy massage in a clockwise direction.

Analogs

To date, no drugs have been developed that could be classified as analogues of the active component. But there are analogues that are similar in the principle of influence and the list of indications for use. These products include glycerin suppositories, which can be given to adults and children from infancy. The cost of many analogues is lower.

Analogs based on the principle of action also include Glycerin and Norgalax. These drugs also have a laxative effect and are used rectally. Glycerin is also available in solution form for topical and external use.

Contraindications and adverse reactions

An absolute contraindication to administering Microlax microenemas is hypersensitivity to one or more components of the drug. Proctologists do not recommend using any laxatives for:

• intestinal obstruction;
• rectal bleeding;
• dehydration.

Caution when using the drug should be exercised by persons on a sodium-restricted diet and with severe kidney and heart disease. Intestinal obstruction is indicated by the absence of stool and gas for several days, severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen, weakness, sweating, drop in blood pressure, and vomiting.

Adverse reactions during an enema rarely develop. Most often, patients note a burning sensation in the rectal area. In rare cases, rashes appear on the skin around the anus and irritation occurs.

The burning sensation does not require discontinuation of the drug; it completely disappears after the intestinal contents are released. If other adverse reactions are noted, you should stop using Microlax further. To reduce the intensity of symptoms, you need to rinse the anus with warm water, dry it and lubricate it with an ointment with regenerating or antihistamine properties.

Special conditions

A sealed tube of Microlax should be stored at a temperature no higher than 25 degrees. It can be stored in the refrigerator, but before giving the enema, it is better to warm it to room temperature. The shelf life of the medicine from the date of release is 5 years.

If the medicine is not completely used, it should be thrown away immediately, since the therapeutic activity of the contents when the package is opened is significantly reduced.

You should not get carried away with frequent mini-enemas. The manufacturer recommends using Microlax 1 or, at least, 2 times a day. Increasing the frequency of delivery of the rectal remedy leads to the development of “lazy bowel syndrome”.

This is a condition in which peristalsis occurs only after stimulation of the receptors. For persistent and prolonged constipation, it is necessary to undergo an examination to determine the main cause of the problem, and then, based on it, select a treatment.

Preparing for examination by a proctologist

If you are concerned about severe pain in the anus, no preparation for examination is required. In other cases, attending an appointment is possible only after preparing the rectum for examination. There are several options:

Using enemas

An important condition for the examination is thorough cleansing of the colon from contents. On the eve of the examination, the patient is prescribed a low-slag diet during the day, and only tea in the evening. The study is carried out on an empty stomach.

To prepare the intestine for examination, it is cleaned using enemas (1.5-2 liters of plain water at body temperature). It is advisable to do the first enema the evening before the examination; approximately 3-4 hours before the examination, 2 more enemas are given with a 45-minute break. An Esmarch mug is used to perform a cleansing enema. It can be bought at almost any pharmacy. Esmarch's mug is a container (glass, enamel or rubber) with a capacity of 1.5-2 liters. At the bottom of the mug there is a nipple onto which a thick-walled rubber tube is placed. For a rubber reservoir, the tube is its direct continuation. The length of the tube is about 1.5 m, the diameter is 1 cm. The tube ends with a removable tip (glass, plastic) 8-10 cm long. The tip must be intact, with smooth edges. It is preferable to use plastic tips, since a glass tip with a chipped edge can seriously injure the intestine. After use, the tip is washed well with soap under running warm water and boiled. Next to the tip on the tube there is a tap that regulates the flow of fluid into the intestines. If there is no tap, it can be replaced with a clothespin, clamp, etc.

For enemas, use only water from a proven source (one that is safe to drink). For children, it is better to use only boiled water. The water temperature is about 37-38 degrees. Colder water significantly increases intestinal motility and causes unpleasant pain. Using water with a temperature of more than 40 degrees for an enema is dangerous to health.

One way to perform an enema is as follows. Lie on the bed close to the edge on your left side with your legs bent and pulled towards your stomach. Place an oilcloth (plastic film) under your buttocks, and lower the free edge of it into a bucket in case you cannot hold water. Pour 1-1.5 liters of water at room temperature into Esmarch's mug, lift it up to a height of 1-1.5 m and lower the tip down to release a small amount of water and along with it air from the tube. Fill the tube (drain some liquid from the tube), then, without lowering the mug, close the valve on the rubber tube. Check if the tip is broken, lubricate it with Vaseline (soap, vegetable oil) and, spreading the buttocks, insert the tip into the anus with light rotational movements. The first 3-4 cm, insert the tip towards the navel, then another 5-8 cm - parallel to the tailbone. If there are obstacles and the tube rests against the intestinal wall or hard feces, remove it 1-2 cm and open the tap. Pressurized water will enter the large intestine. Almost immediately there will be a feeling of “fullness” in the intestines and an urge to stool. At these moments, you need to reduce the flow rate of liquid from the mug by closing the tap on the tube or squeezing it. Gentle circular stroking of the abdomen will help reduce discomfort.

If the tip is clogged with feces, it should be removed, cleaned and reinserted. If your rectum is filled with stool, try flushing it out with a stream of water. Esmarch's mug does not need to be completely emptied. Leaving a little water at the bottom to prevent air from entering the intestines, close the valve that regulates the flow of liquid and remove the tip. Place a pre-prepared pad (cloth, repeatedly folded toilet paper, etc.) on the perineum, which must be pressed between the legs.

Using microenemas MICROLAX

MICROLAX - available in the form of microenemas with a ready-made preparation of 5 ml. The laxative effect occurs after about 5 minutes.

Advantages of the drug

MICROLAX is a remedy for constipation in adults and children with a high safety profile, presented in the form of a disposable microenema. Its main advantages are hygiene and ease of use.

Hygiene. The microenema contains the required dose of a laxative, which is administered once. Unlike a regular enema, MICROLAX microenemas for constipation do not require preliminary antiseptic treatment and are completely ready for use.

Time of action. Microenema MICROLAX can begin to act within 5–15 minutes: the laxative softens dense stool, facilitating their elimination and promoting gentle bowel movements.

Security profile. Being a topical laxative, MICROLAX acts directly on dense feces accumulated in the rectum and does not affect the organs of the digestive system located above. The laxative is suitable for children from the first days of life. It is also allowed to use microenemas during pregnancy (in all trimesters) and during breastfeeding.

Convenience. When using this remedy for constipation, there is no need to select an individual dosage: the tube contains the optimal amount of the drug to provide a laxative effect (5 ml). A microclyster is a container with a flexible applicator tip, the edges of which are rounded. This allows the laxative to be administered safely.

All special diagnostic tests are carried out only after consulting a doctor.

Analogues and substitutes

There are no analogues of Microlax that are completely identical in composition. When choosing substitutes, preference is given to those products that help quickly solve the problem, this mainly applies to rectal suppositories. Instead of Microlax, you can use suppositories:

• Glycerin;
• Glycelax;
• Bisacodyl;
• Sea buckthorn.

Glycelax and glycerin suppositories are suitable for relieving constipation in infants. Starting from three months.

Microclysters-substitutes for Microlax

Not all of the microclyster analogues listed above can be used to relieve constipation in children. Therefore, before purchasing them, you need to carefully study the indications and contraindications for the chosen product.