For some patients, inserting a rectal suppository may be difficult or more uncomfortable than they can stand. While suppositories work quickly, patients may prefer to take an oral dosage form.
Only your healthcare professional can decide what is right for you. Colace and Dulcolax should not be taken for more than one week without the consent of a doctor. Colace is an over-the-counter medication that is typically not covered by commercial or Medicare drug insurance plans. Get the SingleCare prescription discount card. Dulcolax is an over-the-counter medication that is typically not covered by commercial or Medicare drug insurance plans. Adverse events are rare with Colace.
Mild gastrointestinal cramping may occur. Dulcolax at normal doses for short durations of treatment may cause mild gastrointestinal cramping, faintness, nausea, and vomiting. Dulcolax used long term is likely to cause diarrhea and lead to fluid and electrolyte loss. This can lead to hypokalemia low potassium levels which may be dangerous. Prolonged use can also lead to dependency, and rebound constipation may occur when the medication is stopped.
This list may not include all potential side effects. Please consult your healthcare professional for a complete list. Colace and Dulcolax should be used cautiously in patients on loop diuretics such as furosemide or torsemide. These diuretics are potassium wasting, and that potassium loss combined with the potential electrolyte imbalance that can result from diarrhea when taking Colace or Dulcolax could lead to hypokalemia.
Colace should not be taken with mineral oil because it can increase systemic absorption of mineral oil. Inflammation of the intestine, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes could occur from mineral oil deposits at these sites leading to a foreign body reaction. Dulcolax is enteric coated and designed to have delayed dissolution.
Taking Dulcolax with antacids, H2 blockers, and proton inhibitors may cause the enteric coating to dissolve prematurely leading to stomach irritation or dyspepsia. Dulcolax should be spaced away from the administration of these drugs by at least one hour. This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of potential drug interactions. Please consult your pharmacist or healthcare professional for a complete list. You should consult your doctor before using Colace or Dulcolax if you are experiencing nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
You should also consult your healthcare provider if you have had a sudden change in bowel movements that have lasted for more than two weeks. When taking Dulcolax, cramping and abdominal discomfort may occur. Do not crush or chew Dulcolax tablets, and do not take Dulcolax within one hour of antacids or milk. If you have no bowel movement or experience rectal bleeding after taking Dulcolax, stop taking it and call your doctor.
Colace is an over-the-counter stool softener used in the prevention and treatment of constipation. Dulcolax is a stimulant laxative used in the treatment of occasional constipation. Dulcolax is available in enteric-coated 5 mg and 10 mg tablets as well as a 10mg rectal suppository. While both Colace and Dulcolax are used to treat constipation, they are not the same and do not work in the same way. Colace, a stool softener, helps soften the stool to make it easier to pass.
Dulcolax, a stimulant laxative, works by simulating the physical movement of the stool through the digestive tract. Stimulant laxatives. Products such as Correctol, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, or Senokot speed up how fast a stool moves through the intestines by irritating the lining of the intestines.
Regular use of stimulant laxatives is not recommended. Stimulant laxatives change the tone and feeling in the large intestine and you can become dependent on using laxatives all the time to have a bowel movement.
Are there precautions for taking laxatives? Take any laxative or bulking agent with plenty of water or other liquids.
Do not take stimulant laxatives regularly. If you need help having regular bowel movements, use a bulking agent, such as bran or psyllium for example, Metamucil.
Regular use of stimulant laxatives—such as Correctol, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, or Senokot—may change your body's ability to absorb of vitamin D and calcium. This can cause weakening of your bones osteopenia. Are there other ways to treat constipation? Related Information Constipation, Age 12 and Older.
Credits Current as of: April 15, Top of the page Next Section: Related Information. They take 2 or 3 days to work. Bulk-forming laxatives include: Fybogel ispaghula husk methylcellulose Osmotic laxatives Osmotic laxatives draw water from the rest of the body into your bowel to soften poo and make it easier to pass. They include: lactulose also called by the brand names Duphalac and Lactugal macrogol also called by the brand names Movicol, Laxido, CosmoCol, Molaxole and Molative polyethylene glycol Stimulant laxatives These stimulate the muscles that line your gut, helping them to move poo along to your back passage.
They take 6 to 12 hours to work. They include: bisacodyl also called by the brand name Dulcolax senna also called by the brand name Senokot sodium picosulfate Poo-softener laxatives This type of laxative works by letting water into poo to soften it and make it easier to pass. They include: arachis oil docusate Which laxative should I use?
Unless there's a reason why a type of laxative may be more suitable for you than another: start with a bulk-forming laxative if your poo remains hard, try using an osmotic laxative in addition to, or instead of, a bulk-forming laxative if your poo is soft but is still difficult to pass, try taking a stimulant laxative in addition to a bulk-forming laxative Speak to a GP or pharmacist if you're unsure which laxative to use.
Things to consider Laxatives are not suitable for everyone. They're not usually recommended for: children unless advised by a doctor people with certain health conditions, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Find out more about the considerations about laxatives How to take laxatives How you take a laxative depends on the form it comes in.
They're commonly available as: tablets or capsules you swallow sachets of powder you mix with water and then drink a capsule you place inside your bottom rectum , where it'll dissolve suppositories liquids or gels that you place directly into your bottom Some laxatives have to be taken at certain times of the day, such as first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
How long should I take laxatives for? Ideally, only take laxatives occasionally and for up to a week at a time. Stop taking a laxative when your constipation improves. After taking a laxative, you can make certain lifestyle changes to help stop getting constipated again, such as: drinking plenty of water exercising regularly including more fibre in your diet These are better ways of preventing constipation than using laxatives.
The side effects of laxatives Like most medicines, laxatives can cause side effects. The side effects you may get will depend on the type of laxative you're taking, but common side effects of most laxatives include: bloating farting tummy cramps feeling sick dehydration, which can make you feel lightheaded, have headaches and have pee that's a darker colour than normal Ask a GP for advice if you get any particularly troublesome or persistent side effects while taking laxatives.
Self-help alternatives to laxatives It's often possible to improve constipation without using laxatives.
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