Digestion problems often become a serious obstacle to a person’s normal life, especially if it is associated with constipation. In addition to discomfort, this phenomenon can cause intoxication, affect the condition of the skin, hair and nails. A good tool to facilitate bowel movements with constipation is Dulcolax. Candles, pills and drops under this name are advertised actively, but are they effective? To understand all the pros and cons of a laxative medicine, you should carefully study the instructions for use and reviews about it.
Dosage Forms
Dulcolax laxative, reviews of which will be discussed later, is available in several dosage forms:
- Enteric coated tablets.
- Dragees for oral administration.
- Rectal suppositories.
- Drops for oral administration.
As the active substance of the tablets and suppositories "Dulcolax", the instructions for use call the compound bisacodyl. One tablet, coated with an enteric or conventional coating (dragee), contains 5 mg of the active substance. In candles, the amount of this compound is 5 or 10 mg. Drops incorporate another active substance - sodium picosulfate monohydrate , the content of which in the preparation is about 7.5 mg / 1 ml (15 drops).
Dulcolax tablets have a rounded shape without marks, the shell is painted in yellow-orange color. They are placed in contoured opaque cell packaging of white color, 10 pieces each. One pack contains 20, 30, 50, or 100 tablets.
Candles "Dulcolax" instructions describe as torpedo-shaped, white or slightly grayish suppositories without a characteristic odor. They are placed in white contour plastic packaging of 6 pieces each. One box holds 6, 12 or 18 candles.
The drops are transparent, their color varies from yellow to tan. They are packed in bottles of transparent plastic or glass, equipped with a dispenser. The volume of drops in one package is 30, 50 or 75 ml.
Indications for the use of drops, tablets and suppositories
Among the indications for the prescription of the drug “Dulcolax”, the instructions for use name constipation (hypotonic or atonic), caused by errors in nutrition, age-related changes, as well as arising in the postoperative and postpartum periods. In addition, all dosage forms can be used as means to prevent the formation of too hard feces in the presence of hemorrhoids, cracks in the anus and proctitis.
The drug "Dulcolax" (suppositories, drops and tablets) is recommended to be used for quick and safe bowel movements during the preparation of the patient for surgery, radiological or instrumental examination of the abdominal organs.
Mechanism of action
How does this medication work? The active substance of all dosage forms after entering the gastrointestinal tract reaches the large intestine unchanged. Under the influence of intestinal bacteria, it breaks down to metabolites, which have a laxative effect. Firstly, bisacodyl derivatives irritate intestinal receptors localized in the large intestine, as a result of which mucus production increases significantly. Secondly, these compounds interfere with the absorption of fluids from feces by intestinal villi. And thirdly, under their influence there is an increase in peristalsis.
What does the instruction for use say about the time of the onset of the effect after using the drug "Dulcolax"? Candles begin to act approximately an hour after their administration. The activity of the tablets and drops occurs a little later, after about 6 hours. If the drug is taken orally before bedtime, the effect will be noticeable after 8-12 hours.
Since bisacodyl and its metabolites are not absorbed in the intestine, they practically do not enter the systemic circulation, and are also not found in the liver and bile. The medicine is excreted through the digestive tract.
Dosage and administration
The dosage regimen and method of taking the drug "Dulcolax" instructions advises to build, based on the age of the patient and the dosage form to be used. Tablets are recommended to be taken in the morning at least 30 minutes before the first meal or in the evening before bedtime. The daily doses for children and adults are calculated as follows:
- from two to seven years - 5 mg per day;
- from eight to fourteen years - 1 or 2 tablets per day;
- over fourteen years old - from 1 to 3 tablets at a time.
Chew or grind the drug "Dulcolax" (tablets), the instruction does not recommend. Also, you can not drink the medicine with alkaline mineral water or milk. According to experts, it is precisely these moments that are most often disturbed by patients, as a result of which various undesirable reactions from the intestine arise.
How to take other dosage forms of Dulcolax? Instructions for the use of candles are recommended for use in the following dosages:
- adults and children over fourteen years old - 1 or 2 suppositories (10-20 mg) once a day;
- children from eight to fourteen years old - 1 suppository (10 mg) per day;
- children under eight years of age - 1 (5 mg) or 1/2 (10 mg) suppository per day.
After the introduction of suppositories, experts also advise not to eat milk and dairy products in order to avoid side effects.
The liquid form of the drug "Dulcolax" (drops), the instruction recommends taking shortly before bedtime. For children under four years of age, the dosage is calculated based on body weight, and is 1 drop for every 2 kg. Children under ten years old are allowed to take no more than 10 drops per day. Children over ten years of age and adults are recommended to begin treatment of constipation with a dose of 10 drops. In the absence of effect, you can gradually increase their number. The maximum dose of the drug should not exceed 20 drops per day.
Adverse reactions
Regarding the intake of all dosage forms of Dulcolax laxative, the instructions for use report that there is a risk of side effects. Against the background of taking the drug, the patient may appear colic or abdominal pain, accompanied by increased gas formation. There is also information about allergic reactions to the components of the drug, expressed in the appearance of a rash on the skin, itching in the rectum (when using rectal suppositories) and the like.
In addition, diarrhea may occur, which, with continued use of any dosage form of the Dulcolax medication, may be complicated by dehydration, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and seizures.
As mentioned above, all adverse reactions can increase while taking laxatives and dairy products.
Overdose: signs and treatment
With prolonged use or non-compliance with the recommended dosage regimens of Dulcolax (reviews will be described below), an overdose may occur. Symptoms of this phenomenon include prolonged, ongoing diarrhea, atony of the large intestine, and dehydration. Laboratory studies can reveal hypokalemia and a general disturbance in the water-electrolyte balance. In case of an overdose of Dulcolax, patients often suffer from severe weakness and dizziness.
Treatment in the above situations should be carried out based on the available symptoms. As a rule, it is enough for the patient to stop taking the laxative and start to drink plenty of fluids.
Contraindications
Among the contraindications to the use of all dosage forms of the drug “Dulcolax”, the instructions for use mention diseases such as inflammation of the abdominal organs in the acute stage, including peritonitis, renal and hepatic insufficiency, metrorrhagia, proctitis and hemorrhoids in acute forms, as well as spastic constipation. In addition, for each dosage form, there are separate contraindications:
- tablets are not recommended for use in case of inflammation of the bladder (cystitis) in children under seven years of age and during pregnancy and lactation;
- suppositories are contraindicated in carcinoma in the large intestine and during pregnancy;
- drops should not be taken for those who have fructose intolerance.
Before taking medications, you must make sure that the above contraindications are absent.
Drug interaction
Particular attention when taking the drug "Dulcolax" should be given to the combination of various drugs with it. Adverse effects are possible with the combined use of several drugs. As mentioned above, tablets and drops can not be washed down with mineral water and milk. The thing is that such a combination leads to increased gas formation and, as a result, severe abdominal pain.
Antacids are also undesirable to take with the laxative "Dulcolax". Tablets, the instructions for use of which were described earlier, in this case are dissolved in the stomach and can irritate the mucous membrane of this organ. Otherwise, this drug is well combined with many drugs.
special instructions
What else should consumers know before taking Dulcolax laxative? Reviews, the tablets in which appear most often, indicate such a phenomenon when taken as dizziness. This often happens due to the development of a parasympathetic reaction in patients. Due to excessive straining when going to the toilet, dizziness can be so strong that loss of consciousness occurs. In this regard, the instruction recommends that when using laxatives be particularly careful when driving vehicles and operating machinery.
Particular care should be taken when prescribing laxatives and suppositories to pregnant and lactating women. Dulcolax drops are considered relatively safe in this regard, however, they should not be taken without prior consultation with your doctor.
It is not recommended to use the laxative "Dulcolax" as a drug for weight loss. As a rule, in this case it will take a long time to take it, and this can negatively affect the condition of almost all organs.
Reviews
One of the most reliable sources about the use and frequency of side effects when taking the laxative "Dulcolax" is reviews. Judging by the commercials, tablets, suppositories and drops effectively and safely relieve constipation. How are things really? According to surveys, all dosage forms of the drug really help to get rid of difficulties during bowel movements. A large number of consumers indicated the convenience of using tablets or drops in the evening. The chair in this case occurs in the morning.
About half of patients with a chronic form of constipation drew attention to the fact that when taking two tablets at a time (this dosage is prescribed by the instructions for use), severe diarrhea can develop. That is why experts recommend starting treatment for constipation with one tablet per day. If this dose does not bring the expected result, in a day it can be increased to two tablets. Experts advise to postpone important trips and meetings before taking the drug, since the reaction of the body in each case is individual.
To eliminate constipation in children, doctors recommend the use of suppositories, since they act more gently and can not affect the condition of the stomach and duodenum. In addition, the reviews say that they practically do not cause allergic reactions of the Dulcolax suppository. Candles are also called consumer reviews the most suitable means for emergency elimination of constipation. They confirm that the effect of them occurs within one hour. At the same time, they notice that it is better to use them during the day, and not in the evening. Otherwise, you will not be able to sleep.
Receives the drug and negative reviews. For example, many of his actions seemed too harsh. So, about fifteen percent of the total number of respondents indicated very severe abdominal pain after taking Dulcolax tablets. About half of them called increased gas formation as the main cause of pain.
Many consumers find the price of Dulcolax laxative affordable. For example, a package of twenty tablets costs about 150-180 rubles. This amount of medicine can last for a long time, especially when you consider that taking it for more than three consecutive days is not recommended.