Docusate Colace, Dulcolax Stool Softener, and others: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

Keep out of the reach of children and pets. You may report side effects to FDA at FDA-1088. Drinking water helps decrease constipation. Drink plenty of water while taking this medication. Do not use for more than one week without advice from your care team.

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Use of docusate may ease bowel movements and reduce pain in people with anorectal fissures and hemorrhoids. Follow the product instructions, and ask your health care provider if you have any questions. Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific docusate products they stock.

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This medicine is available as an over-the-counter (OTC) product. It usually helps produce a bowel movement in 12 to 72 hours. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

How is docusate supplied (dosage forms)?

• Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use.
• Ask your pharmacist if you do not have one.
• Docusate is a stool softening laxative available over-the-counter, used to treat constipation.
• Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Your health care provider will let you know if you should use docusate while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Do not use docusate for more than one week unless your health care provider tells you to do so. If you are using rectal docusate, it usually makes you poop in 2 to 15 minutes after using it. If you have any questions, talk to your health care provider. Tell your health care provider if you have constipation with stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting.

Docusate is commonly used to help you poop if you have occasional constipation. We anticipate reposting the images once we are able identify and filter out images that do not match the information provided in the drug labels. To view updated drug label links, paste the RSS feed address (URL) shown below into a RSS reader, or use a browser which supports RSS feeds, such as Safari for Mac OS X. Mix the dose in 6 to 8 ounces of milk, fruit juice, or infant formula before taking. Ask your pharmacist if you do not have one.

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The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects. Rectal administration takes effect within 15 minutes while it may take 12 to 72 hours for a bowel movement to occur after oral dosing. Docusate is a stool softening laxative available over-the-counter, used to treat constipation. Always check with your health care provider.

Do not use for more than 1 week unless otherwise directed by your care team. Do not take your medication more often than directed. Follow the directions on the product label. Take this medication by mouth with a full glass of water. It also helps the muscles in your intestines move stool.

What is this medication?

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. Take this medicine with 6 to 8 ounces of milk, juice, or infant formula to mask the bitter taste. Measure the oral liquid medicine with the cup it comes in, a teaspoon, or an oral syringe.

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker Does interact with other drugs you are taking? It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect docusate.

What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Docusate?

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of docusate sodium in children younger than 3 years of age. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines.

Tell your doctor right away if you have rectal bleeding or fail to have a bowel movement after using this medicine. Check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any questions about the medication. It is important to always tell your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, as well as the dosage for each, and keep a list of the information. Excessive use of stool softeners including docusate, can cause dependence on them for bowel movements.

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Docusate may interact with other medicines and supplements. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following. If you are using docusate as an enema, it is only for rectal use. If you are taking docusate oral liquid, use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose.

If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

Most docusate overdoses are accidental in children, however, overdose may result from overuse by some people in an effort to lose weight. Common side effects of docusate include excessive bowel activity, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, intestinal obstruction, throat irritation and bitter taste (with syrup/liquid), rash (rare), and rectal bleeding (very rare). Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking, who can advise you on any possible drug interactions.

Docusate may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider. You should not use docusate for more than one week unless your health care provider tells you to do so. This makes it easier to have a bowel movement. Together, they can produce a bowel movement in six to twelve hours. One is a stool softener, and one is a bowel stimulant. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your Docusate info doctor and pharmacist.

• This medication treats occasional constipation.
• Taking it with milk, juice, or formula (for children) can help limit this.
• It softens your stool to make bowel movements easier.
• Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

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While this medication may be prescribed for children as young as 2 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Some medications and conditions can make constipation more likely. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. It works by softening the stool, making it easier to have a bowel movement. It softens your stool to make bowel movements easier.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Colace® is a brand of docusate, which is a laxative that comes in a capsule form. You may report side effects to the FDA at FDA-1088. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.