Question

Difference in aperient and laxative meaning

Answer 1

and Absolutely no difference. Laxative & Purgative has no difference between them. It is also called as Aperient sometimes. All three serve the same purpose of stimulating or facilitating evacuation of the bowels, aka, to prevent or treat constipation. All three terms are used to describe the effect of Laxatives in adjective form.Where as, the drugs are officially called only ‘Laxatives’ & are informally called as Purgatives & by the lesser used term, Aperients, chiefly due to them being the synonymous adjectives. And not due to any difference in the aparent varying power of the drugs.But, Yes. There is definitely a difference between Laxatives & another related substance called Cathartic. Cathartics are substances that accelerate defecation. This is in contrast to Laxatives, which is a substance which eases defecation, usually by softening feces.Please make it clear that Cathartic is not a type of any drug. Most of These substances are neither recommended nor denied by the medical professionals for human or medical uses.Facts about Cathartic :It is possible for a substance to be a laxative with a cathartic affect. A popular example would be psyllium seed husks which also increase the bulk of the feces.Cathartics such as sorbitol, magnesium citrate, magnesium sulfate, or sodium sulfate were previously used as a form of gastrointestinal decontamination following poisoning via ingestion. They are no longer routinely recommended for poisonings.High-dose cathartics may be an effective means of ridding the lower gastrointestinal tract of toxins; however, they carry a risk of electrolyte imbalances and dehydration.Blood is a cathartic. Gastrointestinal bleeding will cause diarrhea.