Stool softener

Stool softeners, also known as emollient laxatives, represent a pharmacological class of medications rather than a specific biological target, receptor, or enzyme. These agents, most commonly represented by docusate sodium or docusate calcium, function through their physical-chemical properties as anionic surfactants. By lowering the surface tension at the oil-water interface of the stool, they facilitate the penetration of water and lipids into the fecal mass, resulting in a softer consistency that is easier to pass. Stool softeners are primarily used to treat and prevent mild constipation and are particularly beneficial for patients who must avoid straining during defecation, such as those recovering from myocardial infarction, abdominal surgery, or childbirth. Because they act locally within the intestinal lumen through surfactant activity and do not bind to specific proteins or cellular receptors to exert their primary effect, they are considered a therapeutic class rather than a molecular target.

Other names

Emollient laxativeSurfactant laxativeDocusate sodiumDocusate calciumDioctyl sulfosuccinate

Acts as an anionic surfactant to lower the surface tension at the oil-water interface of the stool, allowing water and lipids to penetrate and soften the fecal mass.