My main concern is about the abuse of laxatives. She won t listen to me. A. Chronic laxative abuse can undermine the body s ability to eliminate waste on its own. We have heard from many elderly people who started using laxatives in their youth and became dependent upon them. We are more concerned, however, about the potential interactions these young women might experience.
Strong laxatives can deplete the body of potassium.
In combination with a stimulant such as ephedra, an ingredient in many OTC diet products, low potassium could trigger a heart rhythm abnormality. This can be fatal, even in healthy young people. We have heard from mothers whose adult children have died from using ephedra products, even without laxatives. Perhaps your daughter would benefit from counseling on healthy weight management. Q. My husband has had a problem with high cholesterol, so his doctor prescribed Lipitor and then added Lopid.