Experiences with

Docusate

About docusate

Docusate is a laxative that is used to treat constipation (difficulty pooing). It helps to soften your poo and makes your bowel movements easier.

It is helpful when you have difficulty going to the toilet because of dry poos or piles (haemorrhoids) or if you have a tear in the lining of your anus (an anal fissure).

You may also be given docusate if you're going to have an x-ray of your stomach. It can help you empty your bowels beforehand.

Docusate comes as capsules and as a liquid that you swallow. It also comes as an enema – a tube of liquid medicine which you squeeze into your anus.

Docusate is available on prescription. You can also buy it from pharmacies.

Key facts

  • Docusate capsules and liquid take 1 or 2 days to work.
  • The enema usually works within 20 minutes – so it's best to stay close to a toilet.
  • Do not give docusate to a child under 12 years old unless their doctor prescribes it.
  • Do not take it for more than a week without talking with your doctor.

Who can and cannot take docusate

Most adults can safely take docusate, but do not give it to a child under 12 years old unless their doctor prescribes it.

Important

Never give docusate to a child under 12 years old unless their doctor prescribes it.

Docusate is not suitable for some people. To make sure it is safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

  • ever had an allergic reaction to docusate or any other medicines in the past
  • ever had an allergic reaction to fructose or sorbitol (types of sugar)
  • a blockage in your gut (intestine)
  • stomach pains
  • been feeling sick in the last 24 hours or have been sick
  • been taking a mineral oil laxative such as liquid paraffin

Do not use an enema containing docusate if you have:

How and when to take docusate

Docusate comes as capsules, liquid and an enema.

How to take it

  • Capsules – swallow the capsule whole with plenty of water.
  • Liquid – this comes with a plastic cup or spoon to measure the dose. Do not use a kitchen spoon as it will not give the right amount. If you do not have a cup or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. When you've swallowed it, drink plenty of water or another drink, such as milk or orange juice.
  • Enema – squeeze the tube of liquid gently into your anus. The information leaflet which comes with your docusate will explain how to do this.

Docusate does not usually upset your stomach. You can take the capsules or liquid with or without food. Try to take them at regular intervals throughout the day. Mealtimes (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are useful reminders.

There is no specific time of day to use an enema but it works quickly (usually between 5 and 20 minutes), so use it when you know you'll be near a toilet.

How much to take

  • Capsules – the normal dose is 1 capsule 3 times a day. Do not take more than 5 capsules in a day.
  • Liquid – the normal dose is 2 or 3 x 5ml spoonfuls. Take this dose 3 times a day.
  • Enema – normally 1 tube of liquid is all you need. If you need a second dose, you can use it later in the day or the next day.

You should feel more comfortable within 1 or 2 days of treatment. Reduce the dose as your condition gets better.

Drink plenty of fluids (6 to 8 glasses a day) while you are taking docusate or your constipation may get worse.

What if I forget to take it?

If you forget a dose of docusate, do not worry, just take the next dose as normal.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

What if I take too much?

Taking an extra dose of docusate is unlikely to harm you but you should drink lots of water. You may get diarrhoea and stomach pain but this should get better within 1 or 2 days.

If you're worried, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Side effects

Like all medicines, docusate may cause side effects in some people but most people have no side effects or only minor ones.

Common side effects

If you get any of these side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist:

  • feeling sick (nausea)
  • diarrhoea
  • stomach cramps

These side effects are mild and usually go away after a couple of days.

With the docusate enema sometimes people get a burning or pain around their anus. Occasionally the wall of the anus may bleed. This is a reaction to the enema and it should clear up quickly. If the pain or bleeding does not go away or you are worried about them, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to docusate.

These are not all the side effects of docusate. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

How to cope with side effects of docusate

What to do about:

  • feeling sick – try taking docusate with meals or mixing your dose with some water or fruit juice.
  • diarrhoea – drink plenty of water or other fluids. It may also help to take an oral rehydration drink to prevent dehydration. You can buy sachets of powder from a pharmacy which you mix with water. Reducing the dose of docusate may also help diarrhoea. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
  • stomach cramps – if you get stomach cramps, reduce your dose of docusate until it goes away.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Docusate may not be suitable if you're pregnant or breastfeeding because small amounts might be absorbed by your gut.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's always better to try to treat constipation without taking a medicine. Your doctor or midwife will first advise you to eat more fibre and drink plenty of fluids. It may also help to do gentle exercise.

If diet and lifestyle changes do not work, your doctor or midwife may recommend a laxative, such as lactulose or Fybogel. These are safer laxatives to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Cautions with other medicines

Do not take docusate with a mineral oil laxative such as liquid paraffin.

Mixing docusate with herbal remedies and supplements

There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with docusate.

Common questions about docusate

HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence

43 public posts

Docusate in oral solution

Hospital sent me home with this as tablets not available. I tried one mouthful and it excoriated my tongue and throat as if I'd poured acid down my throat. Daren't try it again. Anyone experience of this? Am I supposed to dilute it further? Leaflet doesn't say so. Candy x
in My Ovacome

Loss of sense of taste

I'm going for four days at a time with no movement even though I'm taking docusate, senna, fybogel and macrogol all the time. Candy
in My Ovacome

2 year old with fecal impaction

My 2 year old daughter has long term constipation which led to fecal impact ion she has cosmicol and docusate although she is now going a poo a little bit more regularly even the smallest amount causes her severe pain she strains continuously through out the day she has a well balanced diet but I’m
in ERIC
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Laura Update - No More Chemo - On to Letrozole

But the cancer had slowed down my bowel function, but I have ended the months long torment of constipation with just Senna and Docusate Sodium. Hooray!
in My Ovacome

Any advice much appreciated

I took docusate just in case it was constipation. Sunday another bad day. Monday woke up and thankfully the pain had lessened considerably. I noticed I’d started bleeding. Not heavy not a proper period yet but brown blood. Still in pain now. Mostly lower right pelvis.
in Endometriosis UK

Long post but advice appreciated! 😢

Never experienced diarrhoea through all my issues if anything its the opposite and I took Docusate all weekend in case it was constipation. Sunday was also bad but I managed to get through the day with painkillers.
in IBS Network

what are the chances of me having colon cancer? i need advice.

calories diet. so yeah i have been taking care of myself. the only improvements i saw from the fodmap diet was that after cutting out whole grains and twitching it to whole grains i stopped having heart burn and chest pain. but the constipation remained. yesterday i drank 3 bottles of citroma, i take docusate
in Men's Health Forum

High-Dose Vitamin C Relieves Parkinson's Constipation

I had previously been using docusate sodium for this purpose, but I now find vitamin C is better - bathroom duties are handled quickly and without strain. I discovered this because I have been taking high-dose vitamin C due to a possible coronavirus exposure.
in Parkinson's Movement

Sausage shaped mass

Taking senna and docusate for constipation. Getting ultra sounds and colonoscopy soon but has anyone experienced or have a sausage shaped mass in lower left abdomen that gets bigger and smaller? I have read it can be a symptom of IBS Thanks
in IBS Network

Advice re Chronic Fissure for a 40-year-old Athlete

Here's what I've been doing: - I take 3-4 psyllium capsules with each meal - I take two docusate sodium at night - Going keto seems to have helped.
in Pelvic Pain Support Network

Docusate - long term?

I`ve tried all the diets and pretty much all of the laxatives but the GP has suggested trying docusate again at a higher dose than I did before.
in IBS Network

New member

Currently on 2-4 laxido and 3x5mls docusate daily.
in ERIC

Docusate sodium review; compared to psyllium

https://www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com/jhospmed/article/193136/hospital-medicine/things-we-do-no-reason-prescribing-docusate-constipation %%%. Psyllium is superior to docusate sodium for treatment of chronic constipation. McRorie JW, Daggy BP, Morel JG, Diersing PS, Miner PB, Robinson M.
in Parkinson's Movement

Update and ideas!

I have been told it is due to tumour activity which causes slow motility which constipated me for which I take docusate sodium and occasional Laxido. My fluid intake is often questioned and if I’m honest I don’t drink enough water - mostly because it tastes horrid at the moment.
in My Ovacome

Has anyone stopped movicol /medication altogether?

Lactulose, senna, sodium picosulphate, biscodyl, and docusate. They all work initially and then they just stop and she can't poo for a week or longer. It's as if her bowels have gone to sleep.
in ERIC

IBS-D/C and GORD/GERD history along with meds concerns

I kept asking my GPs about these problems but they had no recourse for me except Docusate Sodium and suppositories. These only helped a little.
in IBS Network

Colon transit bowel motility test/study for chronic constipation/ biofeedback therapy/anorectal physiology investigation

Hi all I have been fortunate to see a very understand, compassionate consultant who has finally listened to my experience with chronic constipation (I take 8-10 laxido a day, 4 docusate, 4 Senna, a suppository every other day and occasionally picosulfate and still find myself having little urge to use
in IBS Network

Post TAH BSO and bowel dissection Constipation meds’?

Does anyone here take Sodium Docusate and Movicol together? My surgeon likes SD but post chemo before this surgery I have always taken Movicol (oncologist) They work in different ways. Is it possible to take small doses of both? Very grateful for all advice
in My Ovacome

Prolapsed uterus - bowel movement?

I am not the functional when it comes to my bowels for which I take Docusate sodium 200mg twice daily and she gave me a prescription for pesseries (the which I have not needed) and movicol to be taken twice daily. I've had to stop all because I am constantly pooing.
in LUPUS UK

Slow Transit Colon with rectocele and intussusception - Prucalopride

It emptied for one or two days but after that, second or third go would not come out and very thin and hard even with coloxyl (docusate sodium) 120mg x 2 at night. Still requiring enema. I did start eating normal with lots of vegies, comparing to pre-Resotran.
in Pelvic Pain Support Network
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