dulcolax
What is Dulcolax?
Dulcolax is a stimulant laxative which contains bisacodyl in tablet form. A stimulant laxative means that it stimulates the muscles of the bowel wall to make them contract and so push food along faster. Dulcolax suppositories are also available, again containing bisacodyl.
What symptoms does it treat?
Dulcolax is a short-term treatment for constipation.
How is it taken?
Dulcolax tablets are swallowed with water. Dulcolax suppositories are inserted into the rectum.
REVIEWS OF DULCOLAX
Review by Lisa 
I noticed most people using this medicine were using the tablet form. I must agree that this is a powerful drug. Doctors prescribe it to their patients before performing colonoscopies. I used just the suppository after not having a bowel movement for one week. I left it in for about five minutes and then sat on the toilet. I had good results. I am seven days post-op from an abdominal hysterectomy and I started to get scared when water, fiber and all the natural methods were not working. For everyone who has problems with the drug use the suppository. It works well, and once the stool comes out it's done. No cramping and loose stools.
Review by Courtney 
OMG! This pill is the worst thing I could have ever taken! I had major cramping, nausea, and bad diarhea. After a few times I had mucus coming out. I never thought it was going to stop. I would not recommend this product to anyone!
Review by Stephanie
I am a healthy 20 year-old woman who does not have severe IBS, but for the past few weeks my symptoms having been bugging me, so I decided to take a Dulcolax. I only took one of these pills around 6:00pm before I started to feel very sick around 9:00pm. At first I thought I was just having acid reflux, so I took three Rolaids, and when that didn't work I thought I just had an empty stomach, so I ate a wholegrain granola bar thinking that that would do the trick,,,boy was I ever wrong.
In less than 20 minutes I was having tremendous cramping/having an acidic or nausea feeling, even worse than before. I really began to panic, thinking that it was my appendix or something wrong with my intestines, and I was about to call my mom, who is a nurse, or drive to the hospital. Yet I didn't have time to even do that, since the major diarrhea episode came. I was in the bathroom for a 20-minute period and then I was in and out of the bathro om for a whole hour. It felt like a neverending waterfall. I was getting really scared that I was going to start bleeding.
It is now 12:25am and I am starting to feel better. I just took one of those stupid pills and I felt like I was in hell. Hopefully, I won't get cold sweats, vomiting or anything else. I will never use this product again and I really feel they need to take this product off of the shelf.
Review by Melanie
I have suffered from extreme constipation IBS for 24 years and I have attempted every solution imaginable. When I say extreme, I mean I had a BM only twice a month usually. As I got older I began to feel ill until I had a BM and would resort to natural things like teas and colonics to get my bowels to work.
I went to the Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara a couple years ago when I was desperate for help and after many tests it was recommended that I have my entire colon removed. Unable to confront such a drastic solution I moved on to a new GI doctor at UCLA who ran many tests on me again. As usual, everything came back normal, and he diagnosed IBS again, with constipation due to a 'slow transit colon'.
He recommended that I try Dulcolax, and I was at first afraid to try a straight-up stimulant laxative because I had heard they are destructive to the bowels. My doctor told me that in fact I could take it the rest of my life without trouble. I wasn't sure if I believed that, but I gave it a try. To my surprise Dulcolax worked the very first night with only one pill. Occasionally when I don't feel emptied I will follow up the next night with two pills and this usually works.
One thing I discovered is that if I have had any dairy foods I will suffer from stomach pains or nausea in the middle of the night after I've taken Dulcolax. No dairy, no problem. I wonder if the other people on this site who have experienced extreme pain were big dairy eaters. I've since given up dairy entirely and this has helped my IBS a great deal. I couldn't live without Dulcolax.
Review by Kyle
I have tried many different remedies over the years, including Metamucil, Citrucel, Benefiber, magnesium, Miralax (which made me feel very gassy!) and Amitiza which made me feel nauseous. Plus, Amitiza did not help me at all! A few years back when I was in the ER for a different condition (a kidney stone - painful) the doctors saw that I was very constipated. I have had problems with constipation ever since I was a young child.
The doctor recommended Dulcolax. The first time I used it I do admit, it was a very strong laxative. I still think it is a strong laxative, but if it is used properly it can be quite effective. I have just come to the conclusion that I need it until Zelnorm comes out again! I take one every day or every other day to get results. I have tried Senokot in the past but it only causes bloating and cramps. It does not completely clean me out. Dulcolax just gives me the urge to go. I am a bit gassy sometimes after using it if I am really backed up, but I believe this is the best product for me!
Review by Lili
I am a 24 year-old female and I have dealt with constipation my whole life. I was diagnosed with IBS last year. I have tried everything from Fibercon to Metamucil to laxatives. Nothing gives me much relief. I go through good periods but then eventually I will begin to suffer again from constipation and abdominal cramping for days on end.
Yesterday I was fed up as it had been five days since I had a bowel movement. I decided to take one Dulcolax suppository. I had a bowel movement but it was not much at all. Later that night I decided to take another amd what a mistake that was! I woke up in the middle of the night with the worst pain ever! My stomach hurt so badly and I did move my bowels but in the most painful way. It lasted about four or five hours on and off and to be honest, I still don't feel completely cleaned out.
This was an awful expierence, and I was so scared that during the night I went online and came across this website. I read what others went through and felt a bit better about it, as I was beginning to think I should go to the ER! I wanted to share my story as well.
Review by Lili 
The first time I took one Dulcolax pill I slept on my right side, and the morning after I felt like it had only worked on one side. After several hours I went to the restroom. The second night I took another single pill. I slept on my left side this time and when I woke up I had to go to the bathroom. I had minor cramping like the ones I get during my period. Other than that I slept well with no pain.
Review by Julie
I have suffered with IBS all my life. I was recently prescribed Dulcolax for a colonosopy, but it was ineffective. It gave me unpleasant bloating, cramping, nausea and dizziness but did not get things going. I will stick with my ground flaxseed in a large glass of water. I do this every day and I do not have constipation anymore, and the gas goes away when your body adjusts to it. Constipation for me is about lack of water, fiber and exercise.
Review by Aoife
I suffer from terrible IBS, and I can be constipated for over two weeks. I have tried taking four tablets of Senokot and yet there was no movement so I had to get Dulcolax. I take my two tablets at around seven in the evening. I go to bed around 12 and I get results in the early morning. Yes, I do wake up with a cramp to go to the toilet, but it gives me results, and I don't feel faint or sore all through the night when I am asleep. The small pain wakes me when it is time. I find it a brilliant product!
Review by Shannon
It is not gentle, and I can see it's not gentle for many people, not just me! I had a headache, nausea, bad cramps, breathing irregularity, and night sweating which was the worst symptom. Overall it was a flu-like feeling. It is worse than the condition itself. I thought that this was doctor recommended? I guess that should have been my clue. It needs to be revised big time. I will stick with the most natural way: diet and gentle exercise.
Review by Ann
I have IBS and right now I am in a pretty bad constipation phase. Dulcolax works great for me when I haven't had a BM in a few days. I take one pill before bed and I always have a BM after breakfast the next morning. I experience more gas after taking it but I assume it's because the medication is making my lazy bowel move. I don't have all the terrible cramping that others complain about.
Review by Melody
I took two Dulcolax last night before I went to bed and boy what a mistake. I thought I would have to call 911. I was so sick. I have had three babies, and this pain felt the exact same. It's terrible to spend hard-earned money to get pain and misery. I will never take this drug ever again.
Review by Eve
I tried Dulcolax last night and woke up around 4am thinking I was dying. While in excruciating pain I called the 'questions or concerns' number on the box. The woman said 'What you're feeling is not typical, go to the hospital'. But according to all of these reviews it is typical and I find it very unsafe that this product is still available over the counter - especially labeled as gentle. My experience was in no way gentle and I would discourage anyone from using this product.
Review by Becky
I tried taking two Dulcolax and nearly passed out as all the liquid in my body came shooting out at three in the morning and then every ten minutes for the rest of the night. The severe cramps felt like I was being stabbed in the stomach over and over and over again, my body went into a cold sweat, and I was unable to even stand up to get off the toilet.
The second time I took Duclolax, months later when I'd forgotten the excruciating pain, I thought I could just take one, but I got the same results only with less severe but still agonising pain, just not for as long. Dulcolax is a last resort.
Review by Michelle
This medication should not be over the counter! I had such a terrible reaction to this medication that I thought my husband may have to take me to the hospital. I took two tablets at midnight last night, at 2:00am, nothing, then at 5:00am I awoke to pain so severe I felt like I was in labor. Then came the vomiting, chills and sweats, and then rectal bleeding from straining just so I could try to get some relief from the pain.
I cannot believe the drug is on the market. I was so alarmed I called my doctor on a Sunday! It's been nearly 13 hours since that horrible experience began and I'm just now feeling better! (Advil helped with the cramping.)
Review by Leslie
Dulcolax hurts. Words can't describe the feeling but it does get the job done. I don't really know if it's worth it healthwise but I do get the clean senation.
Review by Tori 
This laxative is very effective, but I think it should be used with caution. This medication led to a violent BM. On the packet it says specifically 'If you have not used Dulcolax before, start with one tablet and increase to two if necessary'. This is not a subtle laxative. Other than that, once you are used to it, I have found it to be far more reliable than many other laxatives. I am almost guaranteed a BM in the morning when I have taken the recommended dose, and I haven't built up resistance to it unlike other products.
Review by Justin
I'm very glad I found this site since it has somewhat calmed my nerves. I took three 5mg Dulcolax tablets as recommended, and within a few hours my body was in absolute agony. 'Abdominal cramping' and 'stomach discomfort' are said to be expected, but that is a serious understatement. I was unable to get off the toilet at first, feeling like my entrails were hanging out of my body. I was actually locked in the position on the toilet in pain, with tears, snot, and drool pouring from my face. Then came the horrible stomach pain, which resulted in me throwing up the contents of my stomach and any subsequent liquid I took for the remainder of the day.
It is now the next morning and I awoke, only to get incredibly dizzy and fall flat on the floor. My stomach cramping seems to be getting a bit more manageable, but I still have pretty bad abdominal cramping and diarrhea. In summary, I seem to have had the same horrible, agonizing reaction as a lot of others have had. I tried Dulcolax for the first time because I saw the 'gentle, yet effective', and was hoping to not get the minor cramping from milk of magnesia...this was 10 times more painful.
Just for information, I want to add that I am an active and healthy (apart from the IBS) 22 year-old male, approximately 6'1", 170lb, and have had many pretty painful experiences in life, but this ranks very close to the top. It felt like what I always imagined drinking corrosive chemicals would feel like. Also, in response to an earlier poster, the vomit was exceptionally acidic, and burned my throat to the point I thought it might be swelling shut at one point.
Review by Kay
Dulcolax is a horrible medication. I suffer from chronic constipation and took three of these pills. The next day severe cramping hit me while shopping for groceries. I was nauseated, had a cold sweat, and it felt like knives were passing through my bowels! I was stuck in the bathroom because the pain was so intense I had to sit. This continued for hours before I finally had an unsatisfying BM. Dulcolax really should be pulled from the shelves.
Review by Shawna
After reading some of the negative reviews I must disagree on the benefits of using Dulcolax. I noticed that most people took three or four pills at a time and I wonder if that was the reason why they experienced cramping. I simply take one pill at 10pm and when I wake up the next morning I have a BM and it comes out smooth. There is no cramping and isn't strenuous on the body.
Review by Elizabeth
After a horrible night of nausea, cold sweats and pure hell, I typed into google 'Dulcolax and nausea' to see if it was the Dulcolax that made me ill. Well sure enough, up popped this site. I can't believe that something so seemingly harmless could cause so much agony.
I took three tablets of Dulcolax because the previous day it had given me good results. Note: I have been taking Dulcolax for at least two months with moderate results. I am now completely convinced that it's the Dulcolax that made me sick last night though because I had the same horrible sickness a couple of months ago and wrote it off to bad food.
One other symptom I'm wondering if any others have is burning vomit? It was horrible and my throat is completely raw today, as if I vomited battery scid. I am believing though that this sickness seems to occur when I take three tablets. I have been sick twice and both times I took three tablets. Anyhow, the sickness is not worth the gamble. I am never taking any dosage of Dulcolax again ever! Thank you for your help and for this site!
Review by Tamsyn
I'm hardly ever constipated, but I have been constipated and crampy over the past week so I took three Dulcolax, which my pharmacist recommended, last night. Oh my God! What a horrific experience. I woke up at about 4am with the worst stomach pain of my life. I had bad nausea and felt icy cold and had sweat dripping everywhere.
After about an hour of thinking I was dying I eventually had a BM, then vomited bile for about 10 minutes, then had diarrhea. My stomach felt better quite quickly after that, but I was freezing cold for hours, and I still feel headachey and a bit spaced out. I think the product should be pulled off the shelf, or at least come with strong warnings.
Review by Heidi
I've suffered from chronic constipation my whole life, but for the past year it has got worse. I wasn't having a BM for two weeks at a time and let me tell you that was so uncomfortable. So I went to my chemist, who gave me Lactulose. It didn't work so I went back and was given Dulcolax, and I have to say that for the first week of taking it I got the same symptoms as people are describing here: painful cramps, sweating, feeling sick, running to the loo, but then in the second week it started working great. Now I just go naturally, no pain. It's the best thing i have ever taken.
Review by Keri
As with many IBS sufferers my bowel movements are unpredictable and often do not occur for days, giving me a general feeling of being backed up and leaving my stomach feeling bloated, hard and painful. Last week, after a seven-day stint without a BM, I decided to take two Dulcolax, the dosage recommended on the packet. Five hours later I awoke experiencing cold sweats and extreme nausea and bowel discomfort. I thougt I was dying. For the next hour I was literally sitting on the toilet with the most horrendous diarrhea and had my head my head in a bucket, vomiting violently.
After an hour of draining my body, the cramps and nausea subsided but the diarrhea persisted the next day and I felt very light-headed and my stomach was tender and sore. Although I'd taken the laxative I honestly thought that a product claiming to give 'gentle' relief could not possibly be reponsible for this, so I came to the conclusion that I must have eaten something really dodgy and the fact that I'd taken Dulcolax was just a coincidence. Wrong! I took a couple more last night and have just gone through the whole messy process again, this time with accompanying burning sensations in my stomach. It's 5am and I haven't slept. I've chucked out the packet and never want to see another Dulcolax again. Terrible product!
Review by Lee
This is a great product for severe constipation. Be aware that it is very strong and not for a weak stomach. Cramps come along with this, but if you haven't used the bathroom in almost a full week it's worth it. I really don't recommend this for a mild situation though.
Review by Amanda
I am only 20 years old and have been suffering from IBS with constipation for almost two years now. Nothing really seems to work. I used to drink the Citrucel chocolate fiber shake, and that really helped, but they took it off the market. All other fiber supplements give me unbearable gas pains.
I was backed up for days and finally decided that I would take a laxative before bed to have some quick relief. Worst idea ever! I took two tablets at 5pm and I woke up at 2am with the worst stomach pains I have ever had in my life, hands down. I was freezing/sweating, crying, and so nauseous I came close to vomiting several times. I only passed three small bowel movements and I still feel crampy and painful 24 hours after taking the medicine. This was the worst experience of my life and I will never take Dulcolax again!
Review by Lisa
After using Senokot for many years and eventually becoming immune, I tried Dulcolax as an alternative. It is not without symptoms and I do experience some cramps, however a BM is more or less guaranteed within 12 hours. Therefore, I find it very reliable.
I have tried quite a few brands of laxative and I've yet to find one that doesn't result in some kind of cramp. Working full time in a very demanding job at present I find Dulcolax a lifesaver! I do however worry about the long-term effects of taking any form of laxative.
Review by Mike
I have IBS with chronic constipation. The constipation can get pretty bad. When nothing else is working, I can always count on the results from three Dulcolax tablets taken at bedtime. I have a very thorough movement within an hour of waking up the next morning and then several more large movements throughout the day. Sometimes there are cramps, but most of the time it is pretty cramp-free until right before I move my bowels the first time.
Sometimes I use the suppository form if I can't take an oral laxative and need relief within about 30 minutes. They are really good when traveling, but they do cause some crampy, burning discomfort. This is a serious laxative, but it works more efficiently and comfortably for me than anything else.
Review by Tammie
I was getting a colonoscopy and part of the preparation was to take four Dulcolax tablets. So about four days before the procedure I took two in the hope of helping the cleaning out process. Oh my God I thought I was going to die, the cramps were horrible along with sweating and nausea and faintness. It scared me. I was sick the remainder of the day. My stomach ached and my bowels felt sore, and this was with only two pills and they want me to take four. I don't think so. This product is not gentle at all!
Review by Paul
Dulcolax pills are nasty and give me cramps, cold sweats and faintness, but the suppositories work quite well. I take two at a time and wait until the urge is very strong and get a really good clean out and a few minor but not too bad cramps. I really like the suppositories, they are just enough stronger than the glycerin ones to do a good job.
Review by Eric
Dulcolax is an insidious laxative. I was told to take four tablets because I am over 200lbs. It caused severe abdominal cramps and vomiting. I could not retain water or any liquid for that matter. Bowel movements were every 15 minutes for six hours, even though I had consumed nothing but water for the entirety of the day. A better solution would have been two tablespoons of Metamucil twice a day for two days, and a fleet enema the night before.
Review by Larissa
I ended up taking two Dulcolax tablets a day. I have tried Senokot but it has stopped working for me. I have been in absolute agony from the Dulcolax, I have hade agonising stomach pains for days. I did have a violent BM but then I started vomiting as well as having cold sweats, and I ended up in the emergency room on a drip. Yes it does clean you out but surely there must be some other medication you can take. I am feeling miserable from this drug but I am miserable without it as well if that makes sense.
Review by Jenna
I took four tablets as prescribed the night before a barium enema. At about 1am I woke up with severe stomach cramps. I went to the bathroom and was hit with the worst runs/nausea/cold sweat combo. I then threw up every 30 seconds for at least 15 minutes before curling up in a ball on the floor. Horrible experience...I would not recommend this drug to my worst enemy!
Review by Stephanie
I took one Dulcolax pill at night like the instructions say, and I woke up at 5am this morning with horrendous stomach cramps that persisted for five hours. I finally went to the toilet and began sweating all over my body, and I was dizzy and out of control as if I could have blacked out, it was really scary. I was moments away from going to the hospital, it was that bad. It relieved my constipation, but at an awful price. It is now noon and I still don't know if I'm going to have another wave of this misery.
Review by Felicia
Dulcolax is a terrible product. It is very scary and I have felt like death. I have taken dieter's tea before to go to the bathroom and thought those were bad, but this...I had to throw the box out because looking at it made me want to vomit. I cannot believe how often I've been to the bathroom and I have barely slept all night.
Review by Leigh
I used to use one Dulcolax pill on an occasional basis. Every time I'd wake up around 6am, have cramps, but ultimately clean out my system. Unfortunately, one time I got really dizzy, started sweating, and even blacked out while in the bathroom. I went to the ER and got an IV for dehydration. I will never again take this and I have since discussed alternative methods with my gastroenterologist such as Miralax.
Review by Catherine
I have had IBS for several years now, and luckily I have only suffered minor symptoms which are appeased by a healthy diet, exercise and a daily dose of aloe vera juice. This week however I had severe constipation and the pharmacist recommended that I try Dulcolax.
Last night, as directed by the instructions, I took four at around 10pm. By 5.30am this morning I was in agony with horrendous stomach cramps, sweats and a headache. Although it did the job of relieving constipation, it came with excruciating pain and the fear of not being able to leave the toilet, even now, six hours on! This product may be effective but it is definitely not gentle.
Review by Fiona
This product is a big no! It is not 'gentle yet effective'. I took the tablets around 12am right before I fell asleep, to wake up at 6am to horrible cramps and uncomfortable abdominal pain. Going in and out of the bathroom for the past 10 hours still did not stop this pain. I felt that there was nothing left to come out of me but yet I only felt safe at the toilet! If you are taking the pill right now and feel as if someone has taken your intestines and drained them you are not alone. I am way too afraid to take Dulcolax again or any other laxative. This caused me to take two sick days from work.
Review by Nancy
I have had IBS for as far back as I can remember, although it wasn't until about 15 years ago I realized what it was called. I had impactions pretty often, one time a serious one that sent me to the ER. Later I described my symptoms to my physician and the diagnosis was confirmed.
I developed a rectocele, and probably many of you know what that is like, and how that makes evacuation even more difficult and complicated. About a week and a half ago, I had to have a total hysterectomy, and I also asked the surgeon if he could repair the rectocele. He said this was not difficult and he would go ahead.
After surgery, I became very frightened when nothing happened for several days, since I hadn't had a BM without "splinting" for many years and that was not an option now (especially because of internal stitches). I finally tried a Dulcolax suppository but it did not help (I should also emphasize I drank plenty of water and got plenty of fiber).
Finally the doctor sent me to the ER for an enema. I was so afraid that all the various stitches from the surgery would break open, but in fact it was a very ho-hum procedure and very helpful. Since then, I've used a Dulcolax suppository every day or every other day, and I also find it very helpful, since it still hurts to strain at all.
So, my experience is that Dulcolax is helpful for short-term use in some situations. Today I am looking up more info, because I know that long-term use is a bad idea. I think I'm going to need help for a while longer, and I'm wondering about switching to a saline enema.
Review by Candace
I'm 21 and I have been diagnosed with IBS-C. Before I was put on Zelnorm I was taking Dulcolax almost every day for my chronic constipation. I took three tablets (the maximum recommended dosage) every day for around three weeks and it didn't help at all. After five days of taking the Dulcolax I finally had a BM but it was not without straining. Dulcolax didn't work for me at all, but then again I do have a bad case of IBS-C.
Review by Isabel
I suffer from occasional constipation, which is usually relieved by drinking prune juice or senna tea (or taking Senokot tablets). But last week the constipation got worse than usual, so I decided to give Dulcolax a try. I took two tablets before bed and woke up at 6am with the worst stomach cramps I've ever had. I broke out in a hot sweat, barely made it to the bathroom and almost fainted from the cramps and nausea. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get up from the toilet. This is a terrible product and I'll never take it again!
Review by Shell 
I have suffered from IBS with constipation for three years now and I am young. Nothing helped me, including the fibrous diet my doctor prescribed, so I started taking Dulcolax. I ended up getting dependent/addicted to it and it literally started to ruin my life. It gave me the worst stomach pains and cramps you can imagine. I fainted from them in class. They made me throw up, and the list goes on.
I finally realized that if I didn't do something I was going to pretty much die so I began Miralax and weaned myself off the Dulcolax and I felt so much better. Dulcolax did not help me!
Review by Lysa
I often get constipated - there are times when I don't have a bowel movement for five or more days. I take Dulcolax and I find relief in less than 24 hours (it cleans me out). This is a wonderful product.
Do you suffer from IBS? Have you tried Dulcolax? Please send in your review.