When preventing constipation, which practice involves reviewing medications that may contribute to constipation?

• A. Increase caffeine
• B. Decrease fluids
• C. Avoid fiber
• D. Monitor meds that may cause constipation

Answer: (D)

Medication use can influence bowel movements, so reviewing current drugs to identify those that cause constipation is a key preventive step. Some medicines slow gut motility as a side effect, and recognizing these contributors allows a clinician to adjust therapy or substitute alternatives, reducing constipation risk and guiding additional measures like fiber and hydration as needed. Increasing caffeine, decreasing fluids, or avoiding fiber don’t address the medication-related cause and can even worsen constipation, whereas checking and managing meds that may cause constipation directly targets the underlying reason. Monitoring meds that may cause constipation is the best approach.