Over 150 prescription and many commonly used over-the-counter medications can disrupt your digestive system. (View list now.) Medications associated with constipation include antacids, antidepressants, opioid containing cough medicines, cold medicines, anti-parkinsons medications, and pain relievers. Some medications used to treat anemia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and various cardiovascular conditions, can also be associated with constipation.

Sometimes constipation is just a short-term problem that occurs as your body adjusts to a new medication. In other instances — such as when you are taking a prescription medication — constipation is a side effect that usually will not lessen over time.

If you are taking prescription pain medication, you may, with your doctor's recommendation, need to treat your constipation for as long as you are taking the medication. For medication-induced constipation, doctors and pharmacists often recommend a laxative plus stool-softener — such as dual-action Senokot-S^® Tablets — to treat both the bowel immobilizing and stool-hardening effects of some medications.

MEDICATIONS THAT CAN CAUSE CONSTIPATION
GENERIC NAME	GENERIC NAME
Cholesterol Lowering Agents	Iron Supplements
Cholestyramine	Ferrous gluconate Ferrous sulfate
Antihypertensives	Antidepressants/  Antianxiety
Clonidine Clonidine/Chlorthalidone	Amitriptyline Doxepin HCI
Opioid-Containing Cough Medicines	Duodenal Ulcer
Hydrocodone bitartrate, Chlorpheniramine polistirex Hydrocodone tartrate, Homatropine methylbromide	Sucralfate
Antiparkinsons Agents
Bromocriptine