But if you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Look on the pill packet to find out what to do. Do not take bisacodyl at the same time as dairy products like milk, cheese or yoghurt. The small amount of milk in coffee and tea will not affect your bisacodyl tablets. If you're constipated it's a good idea to stop eating pastries, cakes, puddings and cheese for a while, as foods high in fat can make constipation worse.
It's quite common to have constipation after surgery. Using a laxative may help. If you have constipation after an operation, it's better to use lactulose because it is gentler than bisacodyl.
You can get it on prescription or buy it from pharmacies. You can often improve constipation without having to use laxatives.
Before trying bisacodyl, or to stop your constipation coming back, it may help to:. Page last reviewed: 14 June Next review due: 14 June Bisacodyl - Brand name: Dulcolax On this page About bisacodyl Key facts Who can and cannot take bisacodyl How and when to take or use bisacodyl Side effects How to cope with side effects of bisacodyl Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about bisacodyl.
About bisacodyl Bisacodyl is a laxative. Before trying bisacodyl, it's better to try other ways to help your constipation by: having more fibre in your diet and drinking more water exercising Only use bisacodyl if you have tried other types of laxatives first such as: bulk-forming laxatives like Fybogel ispaghula husk and methylcellulose osmotic laxatives like lactulose and polyethylene glycol. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Bisacodyl tablets take 6 to 12 hours to work.
The suppositories take 10 to 45 minutes to work, so it's best to stay close to a toilet after you've used them. The most common side effects are feeling sick nausea , diarrhoea, stomach pain or cramps. Only give bisacodyl to children and young people if a doctor or pharmacist recommends it. Do not take bisacodyl tablets or use bisacodyl suppositories every day for more than 5 days. Bisacodyl can be used by most adults aged 18 years and over.
Important Only give bisacodyl to someone under the age of 18 if a doctor or pharmacist recommends it. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have: ever had an allergic reaction to bisacodyl or any other medicine signs of dehydration — these include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee severe stomach pain and you are feeling or being sick nausea or vomiting a serious problem in your stomach abdomen such as appendicitis a blockage in your bowel intestinal obstruction , ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease a problem with the muscles in your bowel not being able to move food and liquid along For suppositories, also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have: ever had an allergic reaction to suppositories tears or open sores anal fissures or cracked skin around your anus.
Dosage for tablets Bisacodyl tablets you buy self-treatment The usual dose for adults and young people aged 12 years and over is 5mg to 10mg, taken once a day at bedtime. Important: Information for ages 12 to 17 Only give bisacodyl tablets that you buy to someone aged 12 to 17 years if a doctor or pharmacist recommends it. Bisacodyl tablets prescribed by a doctor The usual starting dose for adults, and children aged 4 years and over, is 5mg, taken once a day at bedtime.
Dosage for suppositories The usual dose for: adults — one 10mg suppository, used once a day in the morning children aged 2 to 17 years — one 5mg or 10mg suppository, used once a day in the morning on doctor's advice only How to take tablets Take the medicine once a day just before bedtime. Do not take bisacodyl tablets at the same time as: dairy products like milk, cheese or yoghurt indigestion remedies antacids medicines to reduce stomach acid like proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole or pantoprazole Leave a gap of 1 hour between taking any of these and taking your bisacodyl tablets.
How to use suppositories Read the instructions in the leaflet inside the package. What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? If you're worried, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for advice. Common side effects Common side effects, which happen in more than 1 in people, are: feeling sick nausea diarrhoea stomach pain or cramps These side effects are mild and usually go away after a couple of days. Serious side effects Call your doctor straight away if these rare side effects happen to you: feeling dizzy blood in your poo being sick vomiting Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to bisacodyl.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information.
What to do about: feeling sick — try taking bisacodyl with some food. It may also help if you avoid rich or spicy food. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration , such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. Bisacodyl and pregnancy Bisacodyl tablets or suppositories are not generally recommended if you are pregnant. Bisacodyl and breastfeeding If your doctor or midwife recommends bisacodyl, rather than lactulose or Fybogel, it's OK to use it while you're breastfeeding.
Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Some medicines, and some foods, affect the way bisacodyl works. They include: medicines that make you pee more diuretics , steroids like prednisolone or digoxin a heart medicine — these can upset the balance of salts and minerals in your body if you have too much bisacodyl.
If you are taking digoxin, this imbalance makes it more likely you will have the serious side effects of digoxin. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before taking bisacodyl if you are taking any of these medicines. They can also make the bisacodyl irritate your stomach and give you indigestion. Do not take bisacodyl at the same time.
They can also be taken through the rectum — for example, suppositories or enemas. It is more important to notice changes to bowel habits. Constipation is when stools become hard, making them difficult or painful to pass.
Constipation can cause cramps in the abdomen and can make people feel bloated or sick. It can be separated into two different types :. Some medications can also contribute to constipation; these include antidepressants , iron, bismuth, anticholinergics, opioids, antacids, calcium channel blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , sympathomimetics, and antipsychotics.
Different types of laxatives work in different ways. The choice of laxative will depend on a number of different factors. There are four main types :. There are also some less common types of laxatives :. Like any medication, laxatives can have side effects.
Exactly what side effects a person will experience will depend on what type they are taking. There are some common side effects , which include:. Most side effects will disappear once a patient stops taking the medication; they can mostly be avoided by starting on a low dose and increasing the dose gradually. Serious side effects are rare. However, excessive or prolonged use of laxatives can cause diarrhea or intestinal obstruction, where stools become large and dry.
Long-term use can also cause levels of salts and minerals in the body to become unbalanced. Some laxatives react with other medications, so if a patient is taking other drugs, it is best to check with a doctor before taking laxatives. Laxatives can be taken for the wrong reasons and misuse is relatively common ; for instance, some people attempt to lose weight by the frequent and repeated use of laxatives.
Often, this occurs after eating binges under the mistaken belief that food and calories will be rushed through the body before they are absorbed. Active ingredient: mineral oil. How it works: It coats your stool and intestines to prevent water loss. It also lubricates your stool to help it move more easily. Considerations for use: Mineral oil is not for use on a regular basis. Lubricant laxatives are typically only good options for immediate relief of short-term constipation.
Find a selection of lubricant laxatives here. How it works: It draws more water into your intestines. This helps soften the stool to help it move more easily. Considerations for use: Hyperosmotic laxatives can also be used for longer periods with little risk of side effects. Find a selection of hyperosmotic laxatives here. How it works: It draws more water into the intestine. This softens the stool and stimulates movement in your intestines to help you pass it.
Considerations for use: Saline laxatives should not be used on a regular basis. When used regularly, they can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Find a selection of saline laxatives here. Considerations for use: Stimulant laxatives also should not be used on a regular basis. Find a selection of stimulant laxatives here. Emollient, bulk-forming, hyperosmotic, and saline magnesium hydroxide laxatives typically take 12 to 72 hours to work.
Stimulant laxatives take six to 12 hours. Saline magnesium citrate solution laxatives work a little more quickly, taking 30 minutes to six hours. Regardless of which type of laxative you use, rectal enemas and suppositories usually work the fastest. They usually take two to 15 minutes, but in some cases have taken up to an hour to work.
Dosages for laxatives vary, even among laxatives of the same type. Generally, laxatives are safe for people who are 12 years or older.
Some products provide dosages for children who are younger than 12 years, but you should talk to your doctor before giving any laxative to a child. Most people can use laxatives without any side effects, but some side effects are possible. The following table lists some of the milder as well as the more serious side effects of stool softeners and other laxatives. The more serious side effects are usually much less common. If you do have serious side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
Laxatives can also interact with other drugs, vitamins, and supplements that you take. Your doctor may even recommend a specific laxative, depending on the medication you take. For example, mineral oil can interact with stool softeners.
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