Reliable laxative for short-term constipation.
Dulcolax is a tablet for constipation. It helps move food through the bowels and softens the stool, making it easier to pass through.
Answer a few questions about your health and get recommended reliable treatments for constipation. Order Dulcolax online and we’ll then deliver it to you the next working day.
Dulcolax is a stimulant laxative used to treat short-term constipation. It contains bisacodyl, which contracts and relaxes the muscles to move food and decreases water reabsorption. It's only recommended if you’ve tried natural ways to help your constipation, such as increasing your fibre intake, drinking more water or using other laxatives such as Fybogel and Lactulose.
Dulcolax is a gastro-resistant tablet, meaning it's resistant to being broken down in the stomach and small intestines. Instead, it reaches the colon where bisacodyl, the active ingredient, is converted into the more active form, BHPM.
BHPM stimulates the muscles in the gut to contract and relax, so food can move through more easily and efficiently. This process is known as peristalsis.
Additionally, you need something called ‘healthy colon motility’ to be able to have efficient bowel movements. BHPM can improve colon motility by:
Collectively, the combined actions of bisacodyl make it an effective laxative treatment for constipation.
Dulcolax comes in three forms; tablet, suppository or liquid. Dulcolax tablets and suppositories contain the same active ingredient, whereas the liquid form contains sodium picosulfate.
The time it takes for each Dulcolax form to work varies. Dulcolax tablets and liquid can take around 6-12 hours to work. Dulcolax suppositories can work in 10-45 minutes, so it’s best to stay near a toilet in case you have some urgency.
The doses for each form also vary. Dulcolax tablets come in 5mg, Dulcolax suppositories come in 5mg and 10mg doses and Dulcolax liquid is available in 5mg/5ml.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Always take the tablet as recommended by your clinician.
When you take Dulcolax:
Your clinician will decide the dosage and length of the treatment. If you haven’t taken Dulcolax before, you might start with one tablet.
You’ll take Dulcolax until your bowel movements are normal again. But if you’ve been taking Dulcolax every day for five days, stop taking it and contact your doctor. There may be an underlying cause of your constipation.
Bisacodyl tablets can take up to 12 hours to work. This is why it's best to take them at night so that you can relieve yourself in the morning. You may need to take the tablets for more than one day, as it can take several days for bowel movements to return to normal. But it's important not to take Dulcolax for any longer than five days.
If you take too many Dulcolax tablets, or take them for more than five days, go to your local casualty or talk to your doctor. Taking too many can cause:
If you experience any of the above, go to the hospital straight away.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Bisacodyl. [Updated 2022 Oct 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan.
Efficacy and safety of bisacodyl in the acute treatment of constipation: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 23(10), 1479-1488.
Docusate. [Updated 2023 Feb 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan
Laxative abuse: epidemiology, diagnosis and management. Drugs. 2010 Aug 20;70(12):1487-503.
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