Our Methodology

We cover the major OTC laxatives, stool softeners, fiber supplements, and probiotics sold in the United States. Our selection criteria:

• Market availability: The product must be available without a prescription at major US retailers (Amazon, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens) or their online equivalents.
• Published evidence: There must be at least one published clinical study on the active ingredient. We do not review products backed only by manufacturer claims.
• Reader demand: We monitor search volume data and reader feedback to prioritize the products people are actually comparing. If you want us to review something we haven't covered, let us know.

We do not accept products for review from manufacturers. Every product we review was purchased at retail price or is evaluated based on publicly available clinical data and FDA labeling.

Every claim — onset time, dosage, side effects, drug interactions — is checked against the sources above. When studies disagree, we note the disagreement and cite both. When evidence is limited, we say so explicitly rather than overstating confidence.

All sources are cited at the bottom of each page with direct links, so you can verify our claims independently. We cite the specific studies and their authors rather than making appeals to unnamed authority.

We do not have a medical professional on staff. Our authority comes from the published peer-reviewed evidence we cite — not from individual credentials. If you need personalized medical advice, please consult your healthcare provider.

Clinical research is our primary source, but we also document real-world experience with each product:

1. Clinical review: We read the published studies for each active ingredient — mechanism of action, efficacy data, side effect profiles, and contraindications.
2. Product experience: When possible, our team tries the product and documents sensory details — taste, texture, how it mixes, pill size, ease of dosing. These are things clinical studies don't cover but matter to real users.
3. Community feedback: We monitor user reviews, forums, and reader emails for patterns that clinical trials miss — like MiraLAX mixing poorly in thin liquids, or Dulcolax cramping being worse on an empty stomach.
4. Price tracking: We check current retail prices across Amazon, Walmart, and major pharmacies. We also verify generic availability and compare price per dose.

Medical evidence evolves. Products get reformulated. Prices change. Here's how we keep our content accurate:

• Quarterly review cycle: Every review and guide is checked at least once per quarter for accuracy — updated studies, reformulated products, price changes, and new competitors.
• Guideline monitoring: When the AGA, ACG, or other medical societies publish new guidelines relevant to our content, we update affected pages within two weeks.
• Reader corrections: If a reader reports an error (wrong dosage, outdated price, broken link), we investigate and correct within 48 hours. Email editorial@rx-laxatives.com.
• Updated dates: Every page shows when it was last updated. We only change this date when a meaningful edit is made — not for minor formatting fixes.

We earn money through affiliate commissions (see below), which creates a potential conflict of interest. Here's how we manage it:

• Products are scored before affiliate links are added. The editorial process and the monetization process are separate steps.
• We earn the same commission rate regardless of which product you buy. Recommending a more expensive product does not earn us more money per click.
• We frequently recommend generics over brand-name products — including cases where the generic has a lower price and lower commission value.
• We have never accepted payment from a manufacturer for a review, ranking, or placement.