About Dulcolax tablets and how it works

This medicine is used for the short term relief of constipation. It may also be used to empty the bowelbefore your doctor carries out certain medicalprocedures such as surgery or radiologicalinvestigations.

This medicine belongs to a group of medicines calledlaxatives. The active ingredient, bisacodyl works bymaking bowel muscles contract more often and withmore force. This increased muscle action moves bowelcontents to the rectum to be emptied and relievesconstipation.

This medicine is available in the form of tablets that aretaken by mouth.

This medicine should not be taken for long periods of time or used excessively as it may cause an imbalanceof fluids and salts and may also lower potassium levelsin your blood.

Consult your doctor if your symptoms do not improveafter taking this medicine for five days, or if they getworse during treatment with this medicine.

Before using Dulcolax tablets

This medicine may not be suitable for everyone andsome people must never have it. Check the leaflet thatcomes with your medicine to make sure that themedicine is suitable before having it.

 Always get advice from a healthcare professional beforetaking this medicine if:

• you are allergic or sensitive to or have had areaction to any of the ingredients in the medicine

• this medicine is for a child under 10 years of age• you have inflammatory bowel problems• you have ileus

• you have suddenly developed gastrointestinalproblems such as appendicitis

• you have an obstruction in the gut• you have severe dehydration and are losing fluids

from your body• you have stomach pain, are feeling nauseous or 

are vomiting• you have or have a family history of fructose

intolerance• you have glucose-galactose malabsorption• you have sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency

Medicines interactions

If you are taking more than one medicine they mayinteract with each other. Before taking this medicineconsult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines includingvitamins, supplements and herbal or complementarypreparations.

The following medicines may interact with this medicine:

• preparations that reduce stomach acidity such asantacids or proton pump inhibitors

• diuretics (water tablets)• corticosteroids

Possible side effects of Dulcolax tablets

Most medicines can cause some side-effects but noteveryone having the same medicine will get the sameside-effects.

The following side-effects have been associated with people taking this medicine:

• hypersensitivity reactions• angioedema• anaphylactic reactions• dehydration - stop taking this medicine and seek

medical advice if you are dehydrated and have

kidney problems or are elderly as dehydration canbe harmful

• feeling dizzy, fainting or brief loss of consciousness- this could also happen because of beingconstipated and straining when you empty your bowels

• stomach pain, discomfort or cramps• nausea• diarrhoea• vomiting• blood in stools• rectal and anal discomfort• colitis

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are trying to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breast-feeding, you should seek medical advicebefore taking this medicine.

Other important information

Make sure that you read the leaflet that comes with your medicine to check what dose you should take and if there is anything that you need to do if you take morethan the recommended dose. If you are in any doubtabout whether this medicine is suitable for you, speak toyour doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine usually takes between 6-12 hours to havean effect. It is best to take this medicine at night for relief of constipation the following morning.

Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.

Dulcolax tablets

Provided by www.medicines.org.uk/guides Page 1 of 1 Last updated 20 Jul 12Copyright © 2014 Datapharm