User Reviews for Dulcolax (bisacodyl) oral

I take this occasionally when I am very constipated—- as in no bowel movement for several days. I only take one and usually get results. But I never know when It will start working… could be the next morning after a nighttime dose or might be two days later. I only use when I know I don’t have to be anywhere important for a couple days.

Needed for next day colonoscopy. Took prescribed 4. 2 hours later extreme stomach cramping and pain, chills and shaking. After half hour of this finally had soft bowel movement. Three hours after taking, still bad cramps and pain and now diarrhea has started. Hopefully it ends soon, crampings still but lighter. Still chills and shakes even with heat turned up. I’ve done this twice before and don’t remember it this bad.

Was constipated for 2 days so decided to try these never have tried them before and i wont ever again i took 2 amd a few hrs later i started getting very painful stomach cramps to thenpoint i was crying sat on the toilet, sweating and feeling very sick eventually had a BM but the stomach cramps i am still getting so i am havin to lay in bed and cant eat nothin because wvwn a drink of water is sending me to the toilet and makin me cramp up very bad. I wont be using these again i will usebthe old method of a piece of soap as a suppository that usually does the trick Read More Read Less

I have been on this medication for years.. it is brutal. But only thing works for me. You can't eat around 4 or 5 hours before taking these tablets, so i have my lunch around 12.30 then take 3 tablets yes i mean 3 around 5pm, then the fun begins. They are so unpredictable they could take from 2 to 12 hours to work, the next day its normally lunchtime before i can eat anything even then I'm nervous. The cramps are unreal and running to the loo all nite. So no food for around 24 hours, not much sleep either so next day i am fit for nothing. But i have no alternative and just have to get on with it. Read More Read Less

OMG, the pain and cramping from taking this meds made my anxiety kick in. Only took 2 pills. It took about 3 hours for it to work and when it did I was praying. This pain hurts so bad. Don’t ever want to take this med again. Point Blank Period !!!!!

Please do not take this medication. I took one of these tablets on Tuesday evening at 10.00 pm. By 11.00 am I was in agony. I read the instruction leaflet before taking this tablet as I had a heart attack six years ago. I usually take Lactulose or Syrup of Figs but I had none available. What a big mistake. 11.00 am I started with a gurgling stomach and stomach pain, which then went on to become extreme intermittent stomach cramps (much like labour pains). I then started to sweat profusely and my hands became sweaty. This followed with palpitations which frightened me. I ran to the toilet as I felt as though I was going to be sick and I felt as though I was going to pass out. I spent the best part of three hours going through these symptoms. I then managed to pass everything in my system, but then spent until late into the evening wish shivering and feeling extremely tired and sickly. No-one should have to put up with this kind of pain. I will stick to my other medication remedies and use fibre on my diet instead. I am sixty-three years of age. God help anyone older taking this medication if they are on their own. I am also a little confused on the "Help others understand your experience better" questions - Age of patient only goes up to 19-24 as, as stated I am 63; and I have only used one tablet so why does the "Time on Medication" not reflect this?Read More Read Less

With in 2 hours , explosive diarrhea. After the 3 rd time , I sat on the toilet. I’m googling how long I will be having diarrhea. I’m afraid to get off the toilet. I actually first started having the explosive diarrhea when I was running to the bathroom ! I only took one pill. Never again will I take this medication! I had surgery 2 days ago and was trying to go to the bathroom. I had no idea I was going to go thru THIS. it was so bad I had to clean my floors to the bathroom and the whole bathroom itself. Omg. Warning to everyone Read More Read Less

I took 2 tablets (as suggested on the packaging) around 6pm for my constipation and by 11pm i was woken up by extreme abdominal pain and cramping shortly followed by vomiting and sweating. We considered calling the ambulance because i was in so much pain, though we were some what relieved after reading the reviews of others and experiencing the exact same thing. After I had been rolling around on the bathroom floor in extreme pain and vomiting, this passed 1 hour later though the explosives continued for a few hours. NEVER buy this product! Read More Read Less

I took 2 tablets at 9:30pm before bed and by 2am I woke up in extreme abdominal pain. I couldn’t tell if I was going to vomit or pass out. Eventually I made it to the bathroom in which diarrhoea went on until the next morning. The pain was so intense I ended up passing out from it. Stomach still feels a bit uneasy the next day. Does the trick but not worth the trauma.

Hi. From my own experience of using Bisacodyl, the one time that I did use it, has put me off ever using it again. The abdominal cramps were unbelievably painful. Even period cramps hurt less. ?? The nausea was quite terrible too. It's bad enough being in severe pain, but having nausea with it, made it feel a hundred times worse. And I have a phobia of vomiting, so you can probably imagine what a complete state i was in. At first, I thought I had food poisoning, but this was after I'd passed lots of watery stool as well as proper size pooh, so I had already emptied out my bowel by the time I felt like this. It was on the third day after taking it, so I hadn't even took any more Bisacodyl since two days ago, so there was nothing left to pooh out anyway, but that's probably why wasn't expecting the tsunami of pain to come along. I kept going dizzy, sweaty, shaking, unable to talk or respond much. I didn't know what to do with myself,as i was in so much pain that I couldn't even sleep because of how much pain I was in. If you don't believe that taking Bisacodyl can get this bad, then by all means try it. On the other hand, I'd rather you didn't try it. Ever. I say this from the bottom of my heart, because I feel sorry for anyone who had to go through the same amount of physical abdominal pain with it, and the nausea. It needs reporting. It shouldn't be making people feel this unwell. I sometimes wonder what is actually in this stuff, but then, I don't want to overtime things, so yeah. Even the toughest person on the planet would have a difficult time handling the extremely painful abdominal pains it gives you. Even if your doctor recommends this laxative, please don't agree to taking this. Many other laxative brands never gave me this kind of physical pain. For the sake of your sanity and your pain level, don't agree to take this. And if you have took it while reading these reviews, you'll wish that you believed most of these reviews, because you will find out how right we all are, about our experiences with Bisacodyl. Please think long and hard before taking it. I wouldn't be typing this if I wasn't so worried about other people experiencing the physical pain it gives.Read More Read Less

It is unbelievable to me that this is on the market. I tried this one morning, 2 pills around 9am. Drank at least 4 litres of water before “it” started. The most excruciating pain I had ever felt, I could not even go to the toilet because I could not sit up. I was screaming so loud I thought the neighbours would call the police. I’ve never felt pain like this before. Soon I was dripping sweat, extremely light headed and covered in pins and needles shaking violently. I was trying to call an ambulance but phone was too far away. This lasted around 3 hours of me on the bathroom floor certain I was dying, passing out and waking up in EXCRUCIATING pain over and over. Who do I contact to make a complaint about this? This is so dangerous. PLEASE DONT USE THIS!Read More Read Less

I just wanted to write this for anyone who just took the pills, THEN researched side effects and is now freaking out. I have a VERY sensitive stomach; Normally I have issues going to the bathroom too much, not too little. But in desperation I took one pill for constipation due to medicine for an injury that also had me immobile for a week. I was uncomfortable and bloated! Took pill at 5:30pm, and per directions did not eat for an hour or two on either side of dosage. Also, drank at least 96oz of water during the day prior to dose and another 32 after. At about 9:30pm, felt some gurgles, had one small still hard-ish BM. 10pm, more gurgles and some mild cramping and a soft BM. Same at 10:30. I stayed awake sipping water until midnight scared that other reviews would come true but zero issues. Next day, had breakfast of toast and water-fine. Then had some bacon which gave me another bout of mild cramps and a soft BM. No other issues all day until after normal dinner and glass of wine; then a (very brief) bout of watery diarrhea. My bad for not taking the food/drink slowly and eating gentle, non-irritating foods. In short, it worked well, my side effects were mild, but drink TONS of water before, during and after taking. Also, take the smallest dose possible, follow all directions and eat gentle stomach-friendly foods and you will be fine! Read More Read Less

I am scheduled for a colonoscopy/endoscopy tomorrow. I took 4- 5mg as directed. It kicked in immediately. The cramps only lasted 10 minutes for me but the chest pain, headache and nausea are seriously rough. Definitely use on a day with no plans and use caution. Everyone is different and some have experienced fainting.

I take this medication for constipation. Several people complain about the cramps. But complaining that a laxative gives you cramps seems akin to complaining that an alcohol makes you drunk. This is a very predictable medication for me —whenever I take it at night. Around the 5.5 hour mark, I start getting really bad cramps, similar to menstrual cramps but slightly worse. By the 6th hour, I use the bathroom effectively. My cramps entirely subside, as soon as I start using the bathroom. I would recommend it bc the brief cramps seems better than constant nausea from constipation. I just advise never taking three, and always taking it before bed. It works better at night. It’s far more efficient than any stool softener I’ve ever tried. Those take far too long to work, and are very hit or miss from my personal experience. This medicine has never not worked for me.Read More Read Less

I am 20 years old, 120 pounds and was experiencing mild constipation. I took 3 pills and THEN came to read reviews just out of curiosity. Big mistake. Almost had a panic attack. Basically thought I was going to end up in the ER or die. I then chugged water all day, ate as much as I could, and took 3 Tums before bed. Nothing happened. I had one BM around 2AM and no stomach pains. Don’t let the reviews scare you like they scared me. JUST DRINK A TON OF WATER.

I had a bowel obstruction and took one of these. When it came time to poop, I was pouring sweat and could not keep my eyes open. I felt nauseous and laid on the ground then leaned my head on the toilet because I thought I was going to vomit. Then I pooped. But afterwards my stomach hurt for well over 14 hours. Less than a week later, I'm constipated again. I don't want to take this again and don't know what else to take.

I took 4 tiny pills. About 10 hours later I got explosive very watery diarrhea and I was on and off the toilet for hours..

It wasn’t as bad as everyone is saying in my experience. I drank lots of water beforehand, took 2 around 8-9 pm. Experienced some painful cramps starting at 11 and had my first BM at 1am. Then I fell asleep as the cramps had stopped, when I woke up I had some cramps here and there, and some more BM’s. I’ve had senna and this one seems more effective. Any laxative is gonna be an uncomfortable experience unfortunately. If you want constipation relief though, this passes things through!

Was having an issue due to surgery last week and stool softener, water, exercise and Metamucil did not do the trick. I was desperate and bought Dolcolax. Directions say you can take up to three and it will take effect 6-12 hours. I decided to take two yesterday at 3pm. Big mistake. By 4pm I began to get tolerable cramping but still nothing. Had a very light dinner at 6 and about 7pm my nightmare began. Started with unbearable abdominal pain. I couldn't stand up. Was also feeling massive nausea. Long story short, did it do the trick? Yes and it is still doing the trick almost 24 hours later. I don't recall ever feeling this sick from an over the counter medication. I wish I read this board before trying it. Read More Read Less

No! Two days in my stomach won’t stop hurting ! Sure I sh*t like crazy but not worth the intense stomach pain