5 Ways Laxatives Can Impact Your Kid's Health

Constipation is a common concern among school-aged kids, and laxatives are often used for relief. While effective short-term, prolonged laxative use especially without medical supervision can have side effects worth understanding.

Here are five potential ways long-term laxative use might affect your kid's health.

1. Electrolyte Imbalance

Certain laxatives, particularly stimulant and osmotic types can disrupt levels of key electrolytes like potassium and sodium.

This may lead to symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, or in more serious cases, irregular heart rhythms¹. Kids are especially sensitive to these shifts due to their smaller body fluid reserves.

2. Dehydration

Osmotic laxatives work by pulling water into the intestines. This water loss can sometimes outpace what the body replaces, especially in kids who already have a higher turnover of fluids. Without adequate hydration, laxative use can lead to dizziness, dry mouth, and even worsen constipation².

3. Risk for Dependency Concerns May Increase 

PEG-based (polyethylene glycol) laxatives are generally safe for short-term use, but overuse of stimulant laxatives may lead to decreased bowel muscle tone over time.

This can make the body reliant on laxatives for motility, potentially complicating recovery from chronic constipation³.

4. Emotional and Behavioral Effects 

Chronic constipation itself and the anxiety, discomfort, or social stress it causes can lead to behavioral concerns. Studies have linked early childhood constipation and soiling with increased emotional challenges such as anxiety and withdrawal⁴.

While laxatives aren't directly causal, the emotional toll of needing them long-term shouldn't be overlooked.

5. Nutrient Absorption and Gut Microbiome Disruption 

Frequent use of some laxatives may reduce the time nutrients spend in the digestive tract, potentially impairing the absorption of important nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. PEG-based laxatives may also temporarily alter the gut microbiome, which plays a critical role in immunity, digestion, and even mood regulation⁵.

Summary 

Laxatives can offer important relief but their use should be time-limited and monitored by a healthcare provider. If your kid struggles with constipation, first-line solutions like increasing dietary fiber, prebiotics, hydration, and movement may support a healthier, more sustainable path to regularity.