Docusate sodium is used to relieve occasional constipation. It usually helps produce a bowel movement in 12 to 72 hours. Docusate may interact with other medicines and supplements.
Drug Categories
The most common side effects of docusate are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of Docusate info your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Follow the storage instructions on your specific product. If there are no storage instructions, most medicines should be kept in a cool, dry location that is out of the reach of children and pets and not in direct sunlight. If you are not sure how to store your product, ask your pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. While it may be prescribed for children as young as 2 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply. 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. Furthermore, certain medications, including opioids, anticholinergics, iron supplements, and calcium channel blockers, may instigate constipation. Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
- Consult your doctor before taking docusate if pregnant or breastfeeding.
- It works by dissolving water and fats in your poop to soften it.
- It usually helps produce a bowel movement in 12 to 72 hours.
- Use a specially marked oral syringe, spoon, or dropper to measure each dose.
- Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur.
What are the serious side effects of docusate?
The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of docusate sodium in geriatric patients.
What Are Dosages of Docusate?
According to the product monograph, docusate is indicated for use when peristaltic stimulants are contraindicated, aiming to alleviate difficult or painful defecation. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our non-profit mission.
- Follow the product instructions, and ask your health care provider if you have any questions.
- Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- Tell your health care provider if you have constipation with stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting.
- Ensuring patient education on the effectiveness of docusate is of utmost importance.
Do not use this medicine if you are also using mineral oil. Take this medicine with 6 to 8 ounces of milk, juice, or infant formula to mask the bitter taste. Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
Docusate sodium (oral route)
Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific docusate products they stock. While less common, the most serious side effects of docusate are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Mineral oil may not be the only medicine that can interact with docusate. It is not known if docusate passes into breast milk.
Rectal
Do not use for more than 1 week unless otherwise directed by your care team. Drink plenty of water while taking this medication. Do not use for more than one week without advice from your care team.
If your constipation returns, check with your care team. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following. Docusate has no known severe, serious, or moderate interactions with other drugs. This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.
Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation. Docusate may be administered orally or rectally. Rectal administration takes effect within 15 minutes while it may take 12 to 72 hours for a bowel movement to occur after oral dosing. Rectal administration has local effects, while oral docusate is systemically absorbed and is metabolized by the liver and excreted in the feces.
Docusate should not be used if you have problems such as a gut blockage, appendicitis, or poop stuck in your digestive tract (fecal impaction). Docusate is a surfactant laxative, also known as a stool softener. It works by lowering the surface tension of poop, which allows water and fat to mix in. This helps soften your poop and makes it easier to pass through your digestive tract. The drug interactions listed above are not all of the possible interactions or adverse effects.
What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Docusate?
Excessive use of stool softeners including docusate, can cause dependence on them for bowel movements. This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.