A Patient Is Using Laxatives Three Times Daily to Lose

A patient is using laxatives three times daily to lose weight. After stopping laxative use, the patient has difficulty with constipation and wonders if laxatives should be taken again. Which information will the nurse share with the patient?

A) Long-term laxative use causes the bowel to become less responsive to stimuli, and constipation may occur.
B) Laxatives can cause trauma to the intestinal lining and scarring may result, leading to decreased peristalsis.
C) Long-term use of emollient laxatives is effective for treatment of chronic constipation and may be useful in certain situations.
D) Laxatives cause the body to become malnourished, so when the patient begins eating again, the body absorbs all of the food, and no waste products are produced.

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