Isabgol vs Consti Calm for Seniors: The Correc Dose and Timing

There are many families who begin treating constipation in their elderly parents with Isabgol. It is an affordable, convenient option that works for many.

Constipation has several causes, and some seniors have hard, infrequent stools that will benefit from the addition of fiber and adequate fluids. There are others who have slow bowel movements and may not have stools that are excessively hard.

Slow gut movement will not be helped by increasing fiber.

Isabgol has psyllium, which is a soluble fiber. It absorbs water, and forms bulk in stool, while aiding normal bowel movements with the intake of sufficient fluids. Make sure you follow the instructions on the product, and instruct your parent to drink the required fluids. This should be done unless a doctor has ordered a restriction in fluids.

Consti Calm has a more multi-faceted approach. It contains prebiotic fibers, herbal ingredients, and Actazin® kiwifruit extract. This has been formulated by AGEasy for slow bowel movements in the elderly.

Use Isabgol if your primary goal is to relieve constipation caused by hard stools and a low fiber diet. If your parents constipation persists and their bowel movements do not become regular, consider using AGEasy Consti Calm .

Follow the recommended doses and timing for both products. If you increase the dosage without the recommendation of a doctor, it may cause more harm. The dosage and the prescribed medicine may not be the only things you should be looking at if your parents have constipation. Look at diet, hydration, exercise and medical conditions too. Seek the advice of a pharmacist and doctor.

Bleeding in stools, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or changes in your parents appearance are reasons for immediate concern and warrant a trip to the doctor.

The correct answer for your situation depends on your parent’s symptoms, conditions, medications, and response to treatment.

Understanding Constipation In Older Persons

Constipation occurs when bowel movements become less frequent, when the stools become hard, when there is straining to pass stools, and when there is a persisting feeling of not completely emptying the bowels. Having a bowel movement on a daily basis is not the definitive indicator of healthy bowels. The more important factor is the person’s established routine.

As people age, there are changes to diet, activity, fluid intake, and medications. Some medications like pain medications that contain opioids, as well as iron supplements, some antacids, many blood pressure medications, and some medications for depression and Parkinson’s disease, all may cause constipation. Lack of regular movement and activity also may slow normal habits and routines of using the bathroom.

It is important to look at the whole picture before adding anything. Note how often your parent passes stools, the consistency, how much straining occurs, and when the straining and constipation symptom began. This helps a doctor or pharmacist make suggestions for treatment.

How Isabgol Works

Isabgol is the common name for psyllium husk. Psyllium is a fiber that absorbs water and stimulates the normal formation of bowel movements.

Isabgol is ideal for constipation related to infrequent bowel movements and/or hard stools. It is also a very easy fiber supplement to incorporate into the established routine of many Indian households.

Since psyllium is a fiber that absorbs water, adequate fluid must be consumed or the fiber will absorb the water in the intestine and can cause a complete blockage. This is why the instructions must be followed so that the psyllium is mixed with enough fluid and this is ingested as quickly as possible. If your parent's doctor allows for additional fluid intake, this should be encouraged as well.

Begin with the labelled dose. Quick increases in fiber can result in bloating, gas, and stomach discomfort. Speak with a doctor or other healthcare professional if your parent has trouble swallowing, a history of blockages, severe abdominal pain, or is on a fluid restriction before using Isabgol.

How Consti Calm Works

Consti Calm is the AGEasy gut health product available on ageasy.co.in and is a combination of prebiotic fibers, Actazin® kiwifruit extract, and the herbal ingredients jeera, ajwain, and mulethi.

Actazin is a gut motility aid, referring to the contractions of the muscles involved in the movement of food and waste through the digestive system. Prebiotic fibers support gut bacteria. Including the herbal blend for digestive support and jeera for a familiar flavor, completes the product.

Consti Calm is available in single-serving sachets. AGEasy suggests mixing one sachet with 200 ml water and taking it before bedtime. They advise taking Consti Calm daily, or as otherwise instructed by a healthcare professional, and each pack contains 20 sachets.

Consti Calm is sugar-free and gluten-free. It is a water-soluble alternative for seniors and adults who have difficulty swallowing tablets. While these features are designed to assist with compliance, your parent’s medical condition still requires consideration.

AGEasy Consti Calm does not replace laxatives or prescribed treatment. Adhere to this advice, especially if your parent's chronic constipation is managed with multiple medications.

Which Supplement is the Better Fit, Isabgol or Consti Calm?

Isabgol is better fitted for a fiber-first regimen, but can be useful when your parent has limited fiber intake, passes dry stools, or has low bulk stools. It can be a familiar and used option for this situation.

Consti Calm captures a broader supplements approach. Taking fiber supplements have not helped your parent, and a doctor or pharmacist has been involved. AGEasy has developed Consti Calm prebiotic fibers, herbal and kiwifruit extract supplement to aid slow bowel movements and regularity.

Neither supplement fits all. What helps one senior can cause the other to have bloating and discomfort. The product claims do not account for a professional evaluation of the constipation issue.

Dose and Timing are Important

Always follow the product labels. It can be dangerous to take extra servings after one hard bowel movement or to mix multiple constipation products without professional advice.

With Isabgol, you want to take the product and mix it with sufficient fluids. Fiber can interfere with other medications, so if there is a suggested gap time on the label or by your pharmacist, you want to keep fiber and medication separated.

For Consti Calm, take 1 sachet in 200 ml of water prior to bedtime. This is product guidance, and is not a substitute for your own personal medical advice. Your doctor will likely have other product recommendations based on your kidney function disease, your heart failure, diabetes, swallowing issues, and your medications.

Design a Routine around the Supplement

Building a routine around supplementary daily habits can be more effective in the long run. Discuss with your parent ways to stay within their fluid quota, creatively. You can also try including fiber in your parent's diet as long as you take things slowly, one step at a time, by adding one or two new vegetables, fruits, and pulses, oats or whole grains. Move your body, or encourage your parent to walk as much as he/she can, but always stay within your parent's limits.

To promote movement, most bathroom stools have a little footrest. Although positioning your parent on a bathroom foot stool might help them provide a stable surface to avoid a fall, do not strain them as it’s counterproductive.

To assist your parent to visit the washroom in a safer, easier way, check AGEasy bathroom safety products that are designed specifically for the elderly.

When to Seek Help from a Doctor

Monitor your parent’s health and contact the doctor if they start showing symptoms of constipation for more than a month, suffer from frequent relapses, or if these new symptoms start occurring after a new medicine is introduced. Other symptoms that warrant the need for a doctor’s consultation are unexplained weight loss, poor appetite, frequent vomiting, bloating, and continued change in the shape or consistency of stools.

Get help immediately if you or your loved one start showing any of the following symptoms, blood in the stool, black stool, severe abdominal pain, swollen abdomen, fever and confusion, or if you’re unable to release gas and stool.

Final Advice to Caregivers

Isabgol and Consti Calm are different products for different needs. Isabgol adds soluble fiber to the diet, while AGEasy Consti Calm contains fiber, kiwifruit, and herbal blend in a convenient, easy to use sachet.

Analyze the symptoms. Consider stool consistency, bowel movements, fluids, medications, ailments, mobility, problem length, and constipation severity. Adhere to the directions on the product label. Log your observations and, if needed, let your pharmacist or doctor know along the way.

Before purchasing Consti Calm, review the instructions, ingredients, and the product description on AGEasy Consti Calm .

Disclaimer: This article only provides general health information and should not be taken as a replacement for advice your parent’s doctor or pharmacist may give.