Since DOK is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. After taking DOK capsules or tablets, you should have a bowel movement within 12 to 72 hours.
Laxatives for Constipation
The best way to deal with constipation is to address the source. However, multiple sources could exist, and it might also be difficult for some people to pinpoint the exact cause of constipation. https://soberhome.net/cocaine-addiction-definition-symptoms-causes/ Some treatment options can be tried to relieve constipation. This can sometimes make diagnosis and treatment difficult, especially if there is more than one reason for hard stools.
Renal Dose Adjustments
You should not use DOK if you have a blockage in your intestines. Do not use docusate while you are sick with nausea, vomiting, or severe stomach pain. This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects. Docusate is generally considered to be safe during breastfeeding. Docusate is not known to be carcinogenic or cause reproductive toxicity.
- Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions.
- The patient will then be asked to squeeze the muscles of the anus or to bear down as you would with a bowel movement.
- This procedure is not generally needed to diagnose constipation but may be used if there are symptoms that suggest further assessment is needed.
- Please speak with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions about this medicine.
- Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.
- This list may not describe all possible side effects.
What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
It may happen from time to time, or it may be a frequent occurrence. Selected from data included with permission and copyright by First DataBank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. Please speak with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions about this medicine.
Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Do not take your medication more often than directed. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Throat irritation has occurred in some patients after taking liquid formulations of docusate orally. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often or for longer than directed. Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 2 years old without medical advice.
Lifestyle changes to help reduce obstructive sleep apnea
If your constipation returns, check with your care team. In Australia, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate is sold as Coloxyl and Coloxyl with senna. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Use this medication for temporary relief of constipation only. To prevent becoming dependent on laxatives, do not use this medication for a long period of time. Before using docusate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to substance dependence it; or if you have any other allergies. If you are using the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read and follow all directions on the product package before using this medication. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist.
Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation. Docusate softens the stool by reducing the surface tension of the oil-water interface in the stool, which increases the absorption of water and fat into the stool. Medicines that interact with docusate may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with docusate. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does.
This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug. Recent studies suggest that docusate’s mechanism of action is due largely to it’s surfactant effect in the intestines, which allow fat and water into the feces to soften the stool4. Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. This is not a complete list of possible side effects.
Additional trials may be necessary to further define the role of intra-aural docusate in the treatment of this condition. It’s safe to crush docusate and senna tablets, but they can be hard to crush, and they won’t https://sober-home.org/alcohol-and-dopamine-does-alcohol-release-dopamine/ taste good that way. Take this medication by mouth with a full glass of water. DOK is used to treat or prevent occasional constipation. Do not use for more than one week without advice from your care team.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if you have not had a bowel movement within 1 to 3 days. Overuse of a stool softener can lead to serious medical problems. For effective constipation management, it is crucial to identify and treat the underlying etiology. Mitigating the underlying cause can ameliorate constipation symptoms and enhance the overall quality of life.
It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. If your condition lasts or gets worse, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, get medical help right away. Store at room temperature away from moisture, light, and heat. You should not use docusate for longer than 1 week, unless your doctor tells you to.
