Docusate sodium works by osmosis to draw water into the colon. How are the mineral citrate solutions (stool softeners) not working by the same mechanism?
combinate 57 Posts Dec 7, 2014 I equated the mineral citrates with “saline laxatives”. Is that right? And, are those also the same as “Saline cathartics”?
loveofrn, BSN, RN 347 Posts Specializes in MICU. Has 3 years experience. Dec 7, 2014 Hint:Hypertonic and hypotonic
combinate 57 Posts Dec 7, 2014 It seems like Docusate sodium and the citrates could both be hypertonic and work by osmosis. ?
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN 4 Articles; 20,908 Posts Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma. Has 43 years experience. Dec 7, 2014 look here.......Laxatives , Constipation, treatment optionsThen come and ask questions. I think your answer is here.
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN 4 Articles; 20,908 Posts Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma. Has 43 years experience. Dec 7, 2014 If you look at the links I provided the answer is there....I thought Ducosate was anionic
SierraBravo 547 Posts Has 3 years experience. Dec 8, 2014 Docusate sodium works by osmosis to draw water into the colon. How are the mineral citrate solutions (stool softeners) not working by the same mechanism?Actually, docusate does not draw water into the colon. The MOA of docusate is by reducing the surface tension of the oil-water interface of the stool, thus the stool becomes "softer". An example of something that would draw water into the colon would be lactulose, a synthetic sugar.
