22 answers

Constipation Due to Medicine

My 3 year old daughter had surgery on Sunday after she fell and broker her arm. She has been on Tylenol with Codine since and has not gone to the bathroom. Any suggestions on what I can give her to help loosen her stools. I really don't want to give her something that is going to clean her out, just something to help her go. She has pins in her arm so it's hard for her to get up and go on the potty.

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

First, I'd like to thank everyone for your responses and great ideas. I called her ped. and he suggested an over the counter softner but that would take 1-3 days to work so I decided to mix prune juice with just a little apple juice and finally yesterday she went potty - twice. Who knew that I could be so happy when my little one went potty - the joys of motherhood! Thanks again for all the responses. It's great to have a network of mothers helping each other out!

Featured Answers

You can try adding dark Karo syrup to her juice, or prune juice (my 3yr old daughter likes it!), or pears. Good luck!

For constipation issues remember the 3 F's- fiber, fluid and fitness. The pain med does slow things down. SOmetimes just drinking warm water or juice can help increase the waves to move things. (people think its their coffee that makes them go but its the hot liquid) anything with a P usually looses things up as well- peaches,pears, prunes etc... good luck!

More Answers

Plum Smart Juice. Tastes great.

Hi L.-

Sunmaid Raisins are the ticket. Just let her casually eat them throughtout the day.. They make miracles happen..

Give her nectar juices-peach, pear, nectarine. My daughter had a similar reaction to medicine when being treated for a UTI. Give her a full 8 oz, not watered down, and hopefully that will help ease things along. I found my juices at Dominicks and Whole Foods

A pediatric glycerin suppository should do the trick. To try and prevent the constipation give the Tylenol after a meal/snack.

I would check with your ped as well.

Poor little one.

Miralax works really well. It comes in powder form and dissolves in anything. It should help her. It may take a couple of days to get her going, but don't load her up on the stuff or she will have the opposite problem. 1 or 2 doses sould do the trick. They sell Miralax at your local phamacy. Godd luck!

For constipation issues remember the 3 F's- fiber, fluid and fitness. The pain med does slow things down. SOmetimes just drinking warm water or juice can help increase the waves to move things. (people think its their coffee that makes them go but its the hot liquid) anything with a P usually looses things up as well- peaches,pears, prunes etc... good luck!

Try whole prunes or warm prune juice or apple juice and increase her daily fluid intake of water, (age appropriate amt.) One of the side effects of codine is constipation, both for adults and children. Maybe the pediatrician can recommend another pain relief formular. Call her pediatrician's office for further advice

You can try adding dark Karo syrup to her juice, or prune juice (my 3yr old daughter likes it!), or pears. Good luck!

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