Saline Cathartics are inorganic, poorly absorbed salts. When you put salt in the intestinal lumen, osmotic pressure increases, which pulls water toward it and creates more bulk. With more bulk we have increased motility and peristalsis takes place. These can work very fast, in a matter of 30 minutes to 3 hours.
What are saline cathartics examples?
Saline cathartics - Examples include magnesium citrate, magnesium sulfate, sodium sulfate, and magnesium hydroxide (Phillips Milk of Magnesia®. Disaccharides - An example is sorbitol which increases stool bulk through fermentation in the bowel.
What are examples of cathartics?
Examples of hyperosmotic cathartics include magnesium salts, sodium salts, and sugar alcohols.
- Magnesium salts are frequently used PO as saline purgatives. ...
- Sodium salts can be given PO as saline cathartics but are more commonly administered as sodium biphosphate or sodium phosphate enemas.
