Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) 5mg Tablets

What are Dulcolax Tablets and what are they used for?

Dulcolax Tablets offer fast-acting relief from short-term, occasional constipation. Each tablet contains 5mg of the clinically-tested active ingredient Bisacodyl. Bisacodyl is known as a stimulant laxative, helping to get your sluggish bowels moving again quickly, giving you relief from the uncomfortable symptoms of constipation within an hour.

Dulcolax suppositories are manufactured by SANOFI and are specially designed to treat constipation in adults for a maximum of 5 days.

What is constipation?

Constipation is a common problem that can affect people of all ages causing reduced bowel movements and leading to dry, hard and lumpy stools that are sometimes large and hard to pass. Constipation can be incredibly uncomfortable causing sufferers to feel bloated, and nauseous and can even cause pain when trying to pass stool.

Constipation can have many different causes, but some of the most common causes include:

• A lack of fibre in your diet
• Not drinking enough water
• Not getting enough exercise
• Ignoring the need to go to the toilet
• Side effects of medication

How do Dulcolax Tablets work?

Dulcolax tablets contain the active ingredient bisacodyl. Bisacodyl is a stimulant laxative that helps relieve constipation by stimulating the muscles in your bowels, helping to temporarily speed up your bowel activity to help keep you regular, making hard, lumpy or large stools easier and more comfortable to pass.

Dulcolax Tablets alternatives

For some people making simple dietary and lifestyle changes can help to prevent and relieve mild, occasional constipation. These changes include:

• Drinking more non-alcoholic fluids
• Increasing the fibre in your diet
• Getting more exercise and moving regularly throughout the day

If you have tried making some simple changes and this has not helped improve your constipation there are different types of laxatives that some people may find more suitable.

• Bulk-forming Laxatives: increase the weight of the stool, take 2-3 days to work e.g Fybogel
• Osmotic Laxative: draw water into the stool to soften them, take 2-3 days to work e.g Lactulose, Movicol
  

For more constipation treatments and advice please take a look at our Advice for Constipation page.

Sources

• Dulcolax Tablets, Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/e...
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...

Dulcolax Tablets warnings

Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.

Avoid taking this medication and consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if:

• You are allergic to the ingredients in the product such as Bisacodyl.
• You are suffering from a blocked intestine, you have inflammation of the small and large intestines or if you have anal fissures (cracking of the skin around the anal passage), or if you have ulcerative proctitis (ulcers or inflammation around the anal passage), or if you have serious abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting or if you have severe dehydration, or if you have a severe abdominal condition for example appendicitis.

Dulcolax Tablets and other medicines

Because some medicines can affect how Dulcolax Tablets work, and also Dulcolax Tablets can affect how some other medicines work, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have recently taken or if you are taking any medication obtained with or without a prescription, including:

• Diuretics (water tablets - e.g. Furosemide or Bendrofluazide)
• Steroids (e.g. prednisolone)
• Other laxatives

Dulcolax Tablets for pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are expecting or planning to become expecting or if you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medication.

Please read all packaging and the Product Information Leaflet before taking any new medicine and inform your doctor of medicines you are taking or intend to take

Dulcolax Tablets dosage

Adults and children over 12 years: Take 1-2 tablets at the night with a glass of water for a maximum of 5 consecutive days. Initially take 1 tablet and then increase to 2 as required.

Milk, antacids or proton pump inhibitors (medicines that reduce stomach acid) should not be taken within one hour before or after taking Dulcolax Tablets. This is because they will stop the Dulcolax Tablets from working properly.

Dulcolax Tablets ingredients

The active ingredients contained in this medicine is: Bisacodyl 5mg

The medicine also contains the following inactive ingredients: Macrogol 400, propylene glycol, gelatin 195 bloom, purified water, sorbitol special (E420), glycerol, titanium dioxide E171, quinoline yellow E104, sunset yellow E110.

Dulcolax Tablets side effects

Not everyone will experience side effects when they take medication, however, if you do they can include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea

If you are concerned about these effects, or if the product affects you in any other way, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist.