What is a good stool softener?

Docusate Calcium and Colace are two good stool softeners, according to WebMD. Stool softeners are one of four different kinds of products designed to treat or prevent constipation. The other three are osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives and bulking agents.

Stool softeners remove rigidity from stool in the bowel, causing the body less stress to pass it. These medicines work most effectively if the patient drinks a lot of water during the day. Stool softeners have fewer risks than laxatives, which alter the feeling and tone in the colon over time, creating a dependency on the medicine in order to experience bowel movement, notes WebMD.