Senokot

Reviewed on Dec 06, 2023. by Mr Craig Marsh Independent Prescriber Registered with GPhC (No. 2070724) Next review due on December 07, 2026.

Last updated on Dec 06, 2023.

Product info

Senokot is a laxative for occasional constipation.
It works by stimulating muscle contractions and reducing water absorption in the gut.
It usually works within 8-12 hours.

Senokot: essential info
Senokot: instructions
Important stuff you need to know
FAQ

What is Senokot?

Senokot is a laxative used for the short-term treatment of occasional constipation. Because everyone is different, what this means can vary from person to person. But generally, occasional constipation is when your stools are difficult to pass or you have fewer than three stools in a week.

How does Senokot work?

Senokot belongs to a group of medications called stimulant laxatives, also known as stimulants or contact laxatives. It contains natural Alexandrian and Tinnevelly Senna fruit (pods), equivalent to 7.5mg of sennosides, the active ingredients responsible for the laxative activity. These sennosides contain a sugar group, which is removed by bacteria in your gut to release the active compound, rhein anthrone.^[1]

Senokot works in two ways to provide relief from constipation:

It stimulates peristalsis, meaning that it increases the movement of your digestive system and helps to move food through your colon quicker.
It stops water and electrolytes (like sodium and chloride) from being absorbed (called an antiabsorptive effect), while encouraging more water and electrolytes to be secreted into your colon (called a secretagogue effect). This leads to increased amounts of fluid and electrolytes in your gut.

What forms of Senokot are there?

Senokot is available in different forms, all of them taken by mouth. Senokot tablets come under different names: Senokot 7.5mg Tablets and Senokot 7.5mg Tablets Adult. Both products contain Senna fruit equivalent to 7.5mg sennosides. The main difference between the two products is that Senokot 7.5mg Tablets Adult is not licensed to be used by people under 18. For this reason, Senokot 7.5mg Tablets Adult are available over the counter, while the other tablets are only available with a prescription.

There’s also Senokot Max Strength Tablets 12 Year Plus and Senokot Max Strength Tablets Adult. These contain Senna fruit that is equivalent to 15mg sennosides, so double the amount of the 7.5mg tablets.

If you’re not keen on swallowing tablets, there’s also Senokot 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus, suitable for children over 12 and adults. It contains calcium sennosides and it’s available without a prescription.

Treated trusted sources:

Senokot 7.5 mg Tablets Adult – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – (emc).

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Mr Craig Marsh on December 07, 2023. Next review due on December 07, 2026.

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.

How to take Senokot

It’s always best to follow your clinician’s instructions on how to use Senokot, but here are some guidelines you can take into account:

Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water at night before you go to bed.
Don’t chew, break or crush them. You can take them with or without food.
Take one or two tablets a day, as your clinician has advised you to. The maximum dose you can take in one day is 30mg (four Senokot 7.5mg tablets).

Don’t take other drugs within two hours of taking Senokot, since it can influence their absorption in your body.^[1]

How long does it take for Senokot to work?

Senokot takes between 8 and 12 hours to relieve constipation. This gives your body the time it needs to “process” the medication. During this process, the active ingredients called sennosides are carried to your large intestine. There, they transform into their active form known as rhein anthrone.

What is the best time to take Senokot?

Because it takes between 8 and 12 hours to work, it’s best to take Senokot at night, before going to bed. This way, you’ll likely experience its effects in the morning when you use the bathroom. You can also use Senokot during the day if needed. But keep in mind you might need to wake up at night for a trip to the bathroom.

How many Senokot should I take?

Your clinician will tell you how many Senokot tablets to take and adjust your dose based on your symptoms and medical history. Typically, you should take one or two Senokot 7.5mg tablets a day, with the maximum dose being four tablets per day (30mg).

You shouldn’t use Senokot tablets for longer than one to two weeks, unless you’re under strict medical supervision. If the symptoms persist or worsen while using Senokot, you should speak to your clinician. It’s possible that they may need to make changes to your treatment.
H3 – What should I do if I make a mistake while taking Senokot?
If you miss a dose of Senokot tablets, just take your next pill according to your schedule. Don’t try to make up for the missed dose by taking two pills at once.

If you accidentally take too many Senokot tablets, you might experience some or all of the following symptoms:

A lazy bowel due to overly relaxed gut muscles, leading to persistent constipation.
An imbalance in body water and electrolytes, hindering proper gut muscle contractions.
Reduced potassium levels in your blood, leading to muscle weakness, fatigue, dizziness and irregular heartbeats.
Dehydration, causing thirst, faintness, headaches and difficulty with urination.

If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or seek medical attention straight away. And take any remaining tablets or the pack with you, if possible.

Treated trusted sources:

NHS Medicines A to Z (2022). Taking senna with other medicines and herbal supplements. [online] nhs.uk.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Mr Craig Marsh on December 07, 2023. Next review due on December 07, 2026.

How we source info.

FAQ: Senokot

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.

How well does Senokot work?

Answer:

Senokot is generally very effective when it comes to treating constipation. One study, for instance, found that it was effective at relieving constipation in at least 93% of the people enrolled in the study, who were in the immediate postpartum period. By comparison, the success rate was 51% for the people who were given a placebo.^[1]

Two other studies also confirmed the efficacy of senna in chronic constipation. In the first, senna was better than placebo and similarly effective to a Chinese herbal preparation used for constipation. It increased the number of complete bowel movements by at least one a week. Compared to placebo, senna also increased the frequency of bowel movements, sensation of straining and severity of constipation.^[2]

In another study from Asia, senna (at a starting dose of 1g a day, which could subsequently be reduced) was more efficient than placebo in improving overall symptoms, stool frequency and overall quality of life.^[3]

How does Senokot compare to other treatments for constipation?

Answer:

If Senokot isn’t working well enough for you, there are still plenty of alternatives available for constipation. Another stimulant laxative is bisacodyl, available as either a generic medication or under the brand name Dulcolax. Dulcolax comes in different forms, like tablets and suppositories, and is commonly used for short-term relief from constipation.

Docusate is a stool softener, so it works in a slightly different way to relieve constipation. It adds water to your stools, making them easier to pass without straining. It's especially helpful for those with conditions like haemorrhoids.

If you have a more severe case of constipation, you might have to take two laxatives together. Sennosides, for instance, can be found in combination with docusate in medications like Senokot-S Dual Action and Colace.

Is it safe to take Senokot every day?

Answer:

Senokot is generally safe,^[4] but using too much or using it daily for over two weeks can damage your health by:

disturbing the balance of important minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. These minerals help your nerves, muscles and vital organs to work properly;

causing severe dehydration, which can lead to symptoms like trembling, weakness, blurred vision, fainting, kidney damage;

leading to laxative dependency due to overuse, so that your colon doesn't respond well to normal doses anymore. This might make you need more and more laxatives to go to the bathroom.

Does Senokot help with weight loss?

Answer:

While weight loss is listed as a side effect of Senokot 7.5mg tablets, laxatives are not meant to be used for this purpose. They don’t reduce the absorption of calories from your food and if taken regularly they can cause diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and dehydration, which can lead to serious health problems.

If you’re looking to lose weight, simply start a conversation with our clinical team and tell us a bit about your health, medical history and weight loss goals. They’ll recommend the treatments that suit you best.

Can I drink Senokot while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Answer:

Yes, it’s generally safe to use moderate amounts of Senokot while you’re pregnant. Senokot isn’t well absorbed into your bloodstream, so not enough of it can get to your baby to cause any harm. However, it’s always best to talk to your clinician before taking any medication during pregnancy. They may suggest some dietary or lifestyle changes that can help you relieve constipation without the need for any medication.

There’s not enough research to say for sure whether it’s safe to take Senokot while breastfeeding. Some studies have shown that small amounts of its active metabolites are excreted in breast milk, but there’s no evidence that this has any negative effects on breastfed babies.^[1] ^[5] If you’re breastfeeding and considering taking Senokot, it’s best to discuss it with your doctor first.

Is Senokot available over the counter?

Answer:

It depends. Senokot 7.5mg Tablets Adult and Senokot Max Strength Tablets Adult are both available over the counter, but are not suitable for children and adolescents under the age of 18. On the other hand, Senokot 7.5mg Tablets and Senokot Max Strength Tablets are only available as prescription-only medicines, so you’ll need a prescription for them. One difference is that these can also be taken by people over 12, so they need to be more heavily regulated.

Does Senokot have any side effects?

Answer:

Although Senokot is generally well-tolerated, it can cause some side effects. However these side effects tend to be quite rare, mild and go away on their own within a few days.

The most common side effects of Senokot are:

Stomach cramps

Diarrhoea

Nausea

Vomiting

Weakness

Headache

Dizziness

Blurred vision

Constipation

Melanosis coli has also been reported with senna-containing compounds. It’s a condition in which the lining of your colon gets darker. When laxatives like Senokot are used over a long period of time, they can damage the cells lining your colon and cause them to produce a dark pigment called lipofuscin. Lipofuscin is a normal waste product that builds up in the cells over time, but it is more visible in the colon because of the thinness of the lining. It’s not usually associated with any major health problems.

Treated trusted sources:

Shelton, M.G. (1980). Standardized senna in the management of constipation in the puerperium: A clinical trial. South African Medical Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde, 57(3), pp.78–80.
Zhong, L.L.D., Cheng, C., Kun, W., Dai, L., Hu, D., Ning, Z., Xiao, H., Lin, C., Zhao, L., Huang, T., Tian, K., Chan, K., Lam, T., Chen, X., Wong, C., Li, M., Lu, A., Wu, J.C.Y. and Bian, Z. (2019). Efficacy of MaZiRenWan, a Chinese Herbal Medicine, in Patients With Functional Constipation in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 17(7), pp.1303-1310.e18
Morishita, D., Tomita, T., Mori, S., Kimura, T., Oshima, T., Fukui, H. and Miwa, H. (2020). Senna Versus Magnesium Oxide for the Treatment of Chronic Constipation: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 116(1), pp.152–161.
Rao, S.S.C. and Brenner, D.M. (2021). Efficacy and Safety of Over-the-Counter Therapies for Chronic Constipation. American Journal of Gastroenterology, Publish Ahead of Print.
Jalwal, P. and Middha, A. (2017). Recent advances on senna as a laxative: A comprehensive review. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 6(2), pp.349–353.

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Senokot

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Senokot

Product info

What is Senokot?

How does Senokot work?

What forms of Senokot are there?

Treated trusted sources:

How to take Senokot

How long does it take for Senokot to work?

What is the best time to take Senokot?

How many Senokot should I take?

Treated trusted sources:

FAQ: Senokot

How well does Senokot work?

How does Senokot compare to other treatments for constipation?

Is it safe to take Senokot every day?

Does Senokot help with weight loss?

Can I drink Senokot while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Is Senokot available over the counter?

Does Senokot have any side effects?

Treated trusted sources:

How we reviewed this page:

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