What is a strong laxative?

Strong laxatives are commonly referred to as stimulant laxatives, explains WebMD. These laxatives stimulate the intestinal lining for quick relief of constipation. Brand names of stimulant laxatives include Ex-Lax, Senokot and Correctol.

Strong laxatives should be used when other laxative methods fail, according to WebMD. A person suffering from constipation can use a stool softener, such as Colace, or fiber laxatives, such as Metamucil, Citrucel, Fiber-Lax and Benefiber, to help relieve mild cases of constipation. These fiber laxatives, also known as bulking agents, increase the bulk of the stool with added water content, making the stool easier to pass during a bout of constipation.