Most patients can be detoxed or weaned from the laxatives, but this can be a very painful process requiring hospitalization. It is a very psychologically demanding task, because the principal side effect is rebound edema or bloating. This bloating or fluid retention is, of course, very frightening to individuals who already have an irrational fear of being fat. The good news is that most patients can be cured with informed treatment. It is however, a very painful process.
Laxatives are actually a very poor tool for weight control.
What fools people into thinking that they are losing weight is that laxatives cause dehydration, so when the person steps on the scale the numbers are lower. But they are lower due to fluid loss, not a reduction in body mass. The cruel next step is that within 24 hours the body will attempt to replace the fluids, usually at a level that is above normal for the individual. So when they get on the scale the next day, their weight is actually higher than before they took the laxatives due to the rebound edema. The individual usually panics and takes more laxatives, which will temporarily lower her or his weight again, but will eventually provoke even more rebound edema.