Dulcolax® FAQs
Your Questions Answered - Products & ingredients
1. How does Dulcolax® work?
The active ingredient in Dulcolax® Tablets is bisacodyl. In Dulcolax® Perles
and Laxoberal Liquid, the active ingredient is sodium picosulphate. Both only
take effect where it is needed, in the colon itself. Dulcolax® laxatives
stimulate the colon's muscles to contract and, thereby, push the colon's contents
along.
They also
help ease elimination by accumulating water to soften the colon's contents.
2. I had cramps after taking Dulcolax®. Is that normal?
It is extremely unusual to suffer from cramps after taking Dulcolax® Tablets (bisacodyl) as directed. The Comfort Coating prevents the active ingredient from being released before the tablet reaches the colon. However, if you take Dulcolax® Tablets
less than one hour after taking antacids or consuming dairy products such as
milk and yoghurt, it can result in a more alkaline stomach. This can dissolve
the Comfort Coating too soon and this can lead to stomach discomfort and/or
cramps. If you have taken an acid reducer such as those mentioned above, wait
at least one hour before taking Dulcolax® in order to help prevent the
tablets' comfort coating - designed to help prevent gastric irritation - from
dissolving too soon. Dulcolax® should not be taken with medications that
reduce stomach acid.
Sometimes stomach cramps can occur if too high a dose is taken. It is often best to start with a dose of one Dulcolax® tablet. With Dulcolax® Perles (sodium picosulphate) and Laxoberal Liquid (sodium picosulphate) the dose should be adjusted to the smallest that is effective. Always
read the label.
It is a rare occurence but abdominal discomfort, faintness, rectal burning
or cramps can be experienced after using Dulcolax® Suppositories (bisacodyl).
3. Can I take Dulcolax® with milk or antacids?
No. You shouldn’t take Dulcolax® with acid reducers, which include antacids and dairy products such as milk and yoghurt. Dulcolax® tablets (bisacodyl) are specially coated so that their active ingredient is released only in the colon. If you have taken an acid reducer, wait at least one hour before taking Dulcolax® in order to help prevent the coating from dissolving before it reaches the colon, and possibly causing gastric irritation and/or cramps.
4. I have trouble swallowing pills. Can I chew or crush Dulcolax® Tablets?
No. Tablets must be swallowed whole; not chewed, crushed or broken. Dulcolax® Tablets (bisacodyl) are specially coated to help reduce gastric irritation and to allow the active ingredient to be released only in the colon. If you have trouble swallowing pills, you may find Laxoberal Liquid (sodium picosulphate) easier to take.
5. Can I take Dulcolax® when taking other medications?
Dulcolax® Tablets (bisacodyl) should not be taken with medications that reduce stomach acid, such as antacids. As with any laxative, consult a doctor if you are taking other medication.
Dulcolax® Tablets (bisacodyl) should not be taken within one hour of using dairy products, such as milk and yoghurt. See the question "Can I take Dulcolax® with milk or antacids?" for more information.
6. Is Dulcolax® sodium free?
Tablets and suppositories contain less than 0.2 mg per one tablet or suppository and are, therefore, virtually sodium free.
7. Can I store Dulcolax® Suppositories in the refrigerator?
Dulcolax® Suppositories (bisacodyl) should be stored below 77ºF (25ºc). Therefore, they may be stored in the refrigerator if the room temperature exceeds 77ºF (25ºc), this helps keep suppositories from softening. Allow the product to return to room temperature before using.
8. Can I take more than the recommended dose of Dulcolax®?
No. Dulcolax® is effective with the generally recommended dose. You should
stop taking any laxative, including Dulcolax®, and consult a doctor if
you do not have a bowel movement within 12 - 24 hours or if rectal bleeding
occurs. This could be a sign of a serious condition. You also should consult
a doctor if you need a laxative for more than one week. Always read the label.
9. Is Dulcolax® suitable for losing weight?
No. Dulcolax® is not a weight loss product. It has no influence on the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Consult your health care professional for assistance if you are worried about your weight.
10. Are there differences in the properties of the pure substance Bisacodyl and Dulcolax®?
Yes. It is known that the action of a medicinal substance can be modified and optimised by pharmaceutical technology, that is, by the way it is made up into a tablet, capsule, or other dose form. Medicines with the same active ingredient are often presented differently and thus can show considerable differences in effect. Dulcolax® is the original. The active ingredient Bisacodyl
stems from research at Boehringer Ingelheim. Dulcolax® is designed in
such a way that the active ingredient is transported unchanged through the
stomach and small intestine. Because of this design, neither the stomach's
gastric acid nor the juices in the small intestine can damage the Bisacodyl
which only takes effect in the colon. This special design helps avoid stimulation
of the stomach or small intestinal muscles, absorption into the bloodstream
or conversion of the Bisacodyl to its active form before it gets to the target
site of action.
Your questions answered: Safety
Be reassured that Dulcolax® has an excellent record of safety in use. Here are some answers concerning the safety of Dulcolax® and possible risks:
1. Can pregnant women take Dulcolax®?
Medicines should be avoided during pregnancy, however long experience has shown no evidence of undesirable or damaging effects during pregnancy. However, you should consult your doctor before taking any laxative, including Dulcolax®, during pregnancy.
2. Can children be given Dulcolax®?
Medical advice should always be sought first from your doctor if you suspect your child is suffering from constipation. Your doctor is best placed to recommend the most suitable treatment for your child.
3. Is it OK to take a laxative such as Dulcolax® daily?
No. You shouldn’t need to use stimulant laxatives, such as Dulcolax® or
senna, for more than a few days at a time. If you have used a laxative and
passed a bowel movement, it is possible that you will not need to pass another
movement for one or two days and that your natural rhythm is returning to normal.
Always read the label.
4. What if the laxative does not work?
If you have not had a bowel movement within 12 - 24 hours after taking a stimulant
laxative or if rectal bleeding occurs, you should stop taking any more laxative
and consult your doctor as soon as possible. Likewise, if you need to take
a stimulant laxative for more than a week, consult your doctor.
5. Can Dulcolax® be taken at the same time as contraceptives?
Dulcolax® special comfort-coated tablets (bisacodyl), Perles (sodium
picosulfate) or suppositories (bisacodyl) and Laxoberal Liquid (sodium
picosulfate)
do not develop their effect until they reach the colon. Unlike some other products
(for example laxatives that take effect in the small intestine such as Glauber's
salt, Epsom salt or castor oil), Dulcolax® products are not known to impair the absorption of contraceptive hormones from the small intestine to the bloodstream.
6. Is Dulcolax® pharmologically addictive?
No. The active ingredients of Dulcolax® products, bisacodyl or sodium
picosulfate do not work in the blood stream and thus no addictive potential
that could lead to dependence has been reported.
7. Has Dulcolax® been investigated for cancer-producing potential?
Yes. As a matter of routine, all laxatives were investigated in the USA to
establish whether there is a cancer risk or potential damage to genes. Extensive
tests with bisacodyl were conducted under the supervision of the American
health authorities (FDA) and Boehringer Ingelheim USA in 1999. The conclusion
of the FDA in spring 2000 was: "From all the data available, there are
no signs to suggest that bisacodyl presents a cancer risk if used as instructed."
References
1. Kamm MA. Constipation and its management. British Medical Journal 2003;327:460-462. http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7413/459
2. Tramonte SM, et al. The treatment of chronic constipation: a systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine 1997;12:15-24.
3. Müller-Lissner SA, Kamm MA, Scarpignato C, Wald A. Myths and Misconceptions About Chronic Constipation. American Journal of Gastroenterology 2005; www.amjgastro.com
For the relief of constipation. Dulcolax Tablets contains bisacodyl. Dulcolax Perles contains sodium picosulfate. Always read the label.
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