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Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) 5mg Tablets
from £7.19
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About Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) 5mg Tablets
Dulcolax Tablets are a trusted and safe form of overnight relief from constipation, perfect for people seeking an effective and reliable way to restore their body's natural rhythm. Dulcolax Tablets use Bisacodyl as an active ingredient that works as a gentle stimulant, designed to target the colon for effective relief from symptoms.
- Suitable for age:18 years +
- Maximum per order:1
Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) 5mg Tablets information
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.
Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) 5mg Tablets reviews
Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) 5mg Tablets FAQs
It may be best to take Dulcolax tablets an hour or so before going to bed, as they need 6 to 12 hours to work on your system.
Children over 12 years of age and adults can take up to 3 tablets in a single daily dose for a maximum of 7 days. When you take this medication for the very first time, start with taking no more than 2 tablets in a single dose. Take them about an hour before going to bed and this should produce a bowel movement, upon arising the next morning. You can increase your dosage to 3 tablets, if needed.
You need to take up to 3 a day for a maximum of 7 days. For a longer period, you must first consult your doctor or a pharmacist.
This medication can be taken at any time but not within one hour of having consumed dairy foods or antacids.
It stimulates the intestines, to bring about a bowel movement. The special enteric coating gives the medication time to reach the intestines, before releasing the active ingredient.
Dulcolax Tablets have a special coating, which allows the tablets to reach the right place before taking effect, so they must always be swallowed whole and never broken or chewed.
No. Wait one hour after having consumed such foods, or having taking any indigestion medication, before taking Dulcolax tablets, or the special coating on the tablets will dissolve and the active ingredient will be released in the body before having reached the intestines. Such an early release can lead to cramping or vomiting.
Dulcolax Tablets help restore your natural rhythm and give effective relief from constipation. This medication gives predictable overnight relief.
If you take any other prescription or non-prescription medication, any vitamins or herbal remedies, or if you have another health problem, always speak with your doctor or a pharmacist, to ascertain whether taking Dulcolax Tablets will be right for you.
If you feel as though you may need more than one Dulcolax® product, first consult your doctor or a pharmacist.
Dulcolax Tablets should never be broken and should always be swallowed whole.
If you are pregnant, speak with your doctor or pharmacist first, so as to determine if Dulcolax is right for you, as there isn't yet sufficient well-controlled studies to confirm its effects on pregnancy.
Related Treatments for Constipation
CosmoCol Sachets
Fybogel Sachets
Dulcolax Pico 5mg/5ml Liquid
We stock 18 other treatments for Constipation
Visit our Constipation page for treatments, advice and FAQs.
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Authored by
Dr Donald GrantMB ChB DRCOG MRCGP Dip.orth.medGMC 3058367GP & Clinical Advisor
Dr Don Grant is The Independent Pharmacy's original online prescriber and has advanced in his role to become the Clinical Advisor, using his wealth of experience to advise on our clinical polices and prescribing guidelines.
Reviewed by
Daniel HurleyMPharm IPGPhC 2078790Pharmacist Independent Prescriber
Dan is an experienced pharmacist having spent time working in both primary and secondary care. He currently supports our clinical team by providing robust clinical governance review of our internal processes and information.
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