Suppositories or Enemas

Which is better to use when constipated?

Which one works better (not necessarily faster) suppositories or enemas?

An enema works every time for me. It works deeper and more efficiently. The relief it brings me is better than with suppositories. You might enjoy suppositories more though. Every person is different!

It is defiantly an enema. Bisacodyl suppositories are sometimes effective, but can yield very poor results. The one advantage of suppositories is that they don't take much time to administer, and you can go on about your business waiting about 20 minutes. An enema always works right away.

Convenient of the suppository

I was often constipated as a child. My mother gave me suppositories, which sometimes worked, sometimes not. If nothing helped, I was given an enema. The enema always worked.

Suppositories do not always work for me. I would much rather go directly for an enema. Sometimes just a few bulbs full will give me relief within minutes.

My siblings and I, as a rule, received enemas for constipation. However, when it wasn’t a convenient time or place for an enema, we got a laxative or a suppository, depending on the circumstances. We hated laxatives, because of the cramping they caused. And suppositories, because of the burning sensation in our rectum. Even through enemas took longer and gave us occasional cramps, we preferred them over laxatives or suppositories. Plus, they worked right away, unlike the other methods.

Suppositories work at 50-60%. Sometimes they can cause severe cramps and cramps. An enema always works perfectly.

This one will depend of of the intention:

- In the case that exclusively the rectum should be cleansed inserting a laxative suppository will be sufficient.

- In the case that the large intestine should be cleansed completely taking a high volume enema will be necessary.

Suppositories work at 50-60%. Sometimes they can cause severe cramps and cramps. An enema always works perfectly.

You are right, but remember the fact: By selling suppositories over the counter Big Pharma will earn a lot of money but not when normal soapy enemas will be taken. So the advertising concerning laxative suppositories will be immense but you will hear nothing recommending enemas in a regular manner in order to relieve a constipation and to remain healthy.

I go for an enema every time. I don't remember getting a suppository from mom as a child, it was the bulb every time. Maybe I got them when I was too young to remember, such as when I was still in diapers. My first try with suppositories was when I was pregnant and experiencing constipation. Maybe at the doctor's suggestion or maybe from comments by friends who had similar experiences, I tried glycerin suppositories but soon went back to the always works right now enema.

These days I have suppositories on hand but I use them only occasionally for a change of pace. Sometimes I put a couple of glycerin in, then after the big lumps are out, I follow it with an enema anyway, just because I want to. The Dulcolax work much quicker and more reliably than glycerin suppositories, but they irritate my rectum. I don't like using them.

According to my mom, the best remedy for constipation (and any other malady) was a "good" enema. I was given suppositories but only occasionally as a prelude to an enema session. With little fanfare she would slide that greasy stick into me, saying something like "this will get you started" as she left to prepare the soapy water. Of course, she was spot-on about enemas....a practice I've enjoyed my entire life.

My first experience that I remember is before surgery at a children's hospital. I think I was 12 or 13 and I expected an enema because that is what I got before my tonsils were taken out. I was watching TV in a room with several other kids my age and the nurse came and got me. I immediately thought it was enema time. She took me back to my room and put on a finger cot and gave me a Dulcolax suppository, very high insertion, and told me not to flush. I had to poop before I got the suppository, so I sat on the toilet right away and went back to the TV room. Next, the nurse returned and summoned me. She said I didn't hold it long enough, and gave me another one. I went back to the TV room until the suppository said it was time to poop. Nothing came out but I had excruciating cramps. I had already pooped, what did they expect?

After surgery I was given another suppository in bed. I was on a bed pan and barely coherent, it was awful, and again nothing but the suppository residue came out. When I got home my mom told me that I would have to have an enema if I didn't poop by the end of the week. My mom was not a fan of giving enemas to older kids, and was the queen of prune therapy. After several days of juice and stewed prunes I pooped well, no enema for this hospital trip.

Later I got a couple of enemas at home during an extended bought of a flu bug. That is what awakened my interest and preference for enemas over suppositories.

Enemas for sure! The effects are almost instantaneous, and much more thorough.

I suffer from lifelong chronic constipation and have used both enemas and suppositories in seeking relief. Enemas have always been faster to produce a result and more effective. At this point in my life, suppositories are kind of hit or miss in terms of producing a bowel movement.

Enemas - YES, suppositories - NO!

An enema will provide immediate relief without the time delay and aftereffects of the alternative. If I am constipated, give me an enema any day of the week. Besides, the enema is so much more pleasurable.

Enemas. Suppositories don't work on me at all.

Depends on the context. Sometimes doing both at the same time is nice too.

I have a couple lady friends who shave a few Dulcolax suppositories up and put them in the soapy enema water. They said it gives the enemas an extra boost. Anyone else do this ?

Sorry Meant to thank Gyro for reminding me of this.

I definitely prefer an enema for a good result whenever the situation permits. I do use glycerine suppositories, especially when travelling for the convenience, but I find them less reliable for significant constipation. OK if used at the first sign of a problem. They can also be used discreetly. Which is not so easy with an enema.

Suppositories sometimes don't work.

I prefer an enema instead of a suppository.

I agree with those who use suppositories when traveling. I always keep a jar of them in my shaving kit when I'm on the road. They were especially useful when I was traveling for work and wanted to "take care of business" before venturing out. They most always brought results. That said, enemas are a lot more enjoyable and thorough.

When I was a kid enemas were a last resort when I couldn't go, even after a laxative at bedtime followed by a suppository in the morning didn't work. Then my Mom would give me a soapsuds enema to make me poop. The only exception was when I was sick enough to be kept home from school. Then I was given a soapsuds enema every morning to keep my bowels open (with the doctor's approval) until I recovered.

I have always found the enema to work every time and you know exactly when the urge to go will hit…. Compared to other things suppositories sometimes work

While I find that a suppository are pretty reliable in causing you to get the "urge" but they not very predictable timewise at least for me. They also cause me to have carryover effects neccessitating additional trip(s) to the bathroom sometimes over seveal hours. Best to stay close to home! The same carryover effects can occur with a soapy enema although less likely with a followup rinse enema.

I am very cautious about putting unknown chemicals in my body and prefer a plain water enema sometimes with a bit of salt and hold it for 5-10 minutes (I have good holding power) is very effective for a good clean out with no carryover effects. I almost never have experience constipation perhaps due to growing up with a twice a week (Sat & Wed) enema schedule that my mother and grandmother feel it is what keeps you well. I am hardly ever feeling ill, so it seems to work for me although I am sure medical "science" would disagree with me. lol

So to sum it up, I think enemas are more effective certainly much fun if you have the time and in to that sort of thing. Denise

I would say enemas, butt they're a pain to do solo. Fleets are easy to use. I had to do one an hr ago. I've been on painkillers for a week & have put off pooping for about that long because it hurts so much to get up. It was clearly backed way up.

Suppos are easy to use but glycerine doesn't work on me. Soap sticks work every time & was my mom's preferred method wen she didn't want to mix an enema. They'll rip your innards out.

I prefer the enema, it has a guaranteed effect.

I really prefer an enema. As a mater of fact I am going to take a soapsuds enema in about a half hour. Suppositories, mostly Dulcolax are convenient. A week ago Friday there was no time for an enema, and I had waited all day for a bowel movement, I decided to try an suppository around dinner time. Took about a half hour to give me an urge. Although I had over a day and a half with no bowel movement and was super uncomfortable only a minor amount of poo and a whole lot of suppository residue was forced out. It was also a very uncomfortable crampy bowel movement. the next morning I had a good poo with the help of the remaining Bisacodyl in the previous nights suppository.

Consequently, this morning I have the time so it's going to be 1500 cc's of ivory soap water, which will clean me out for a couple of days. I haven't discontinued the Mag Oxide, or daily fresh fruit, but Ozempic just slows my system down to the point that I only have a bowel movement once every 2 days. My Dr. has said that I should limit enemas to once every two weeks and I have tried to stay with that. I can wait to have a natural big poo, but when it happens you have to be close to a toilet. I try to plan around when I will be home. I belong to a local group that does parades and we just completed our annual summer festival with two weeks of parades. Last year I could count on having access to bathrooms in grocery stores. The homelessness problem has caused some stores to remove public access to all restrooms. So this year I did a preemptive enema before a day out with parades starting at 10 in the morning. It worked well and I was comfortable all day.

I may start to try using PEG if my body continues to build a tolerance to Mag Oxide.