Senna Dosage
This dosage information may not include all the information needed to use Senna safely and effectively. See additional information for Senna.
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Usual Adult Dose for:
Usual Pediatric Dose for:
Additional dosage information:
Usual Adult Dose for Bowel Preparation
Oral:
Syrup:
8.8 mg/5 mL:
10 to 15 mL (17.6 to 26.4 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 15 mL (26.4 mg) twice a day
176 mg/5 mL:
10 to 15 mL (352 to 528 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 15 mL (528 mg) twice a day
Tablets:
8.6 mg:
2 tablets (17.2 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 4 tablets (34.4 mg) twice a day
17.2 mg:
1 tablet (17.2 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 2 tablets (34.4 mg) twice a day
25 mg:
2 tablets (50 mg) orally once or twice a day
17 mg:
1 tablet (17 mg) orally, not to exceed 2 tablets (34 mg) twice a day
15 mg:
2 tablets (30 mg) orally once or twice a day
Usual Adult Dose for Constipation
Oral:
Syrup:
8.8 mg/5 mL:
10 to 15 mL (17.6 to 26.4 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 15 mL (26.4 mg) twice a day
176 mg/5 mL:
10 to 15 mL (352 to 528 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 15 mL (528 mg) twice a day
Tablets:
8.6 mg:
2 tablets (17.2 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 4 tablets (34.4 mg) twice a day
17.2 mg:
1 tablet (17.2 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 2 tablets (34.4 mg) twice a day
25 mg:
2 tablets (50 mg) orally once or twice a day
17 mg:
1 tablet (17 mg) orally, not to exceed 2 tablets (34 mg) twice a day
15 mg:
2 tablets (30 mg) orally once or twice a day
Usual Pediatric Dose for Bowel Preparation
Oral:
10 to 20 mg/kg/dose orally at bedtime, not to exceed 872 mg
Tablets:
8.6 mg:
2 to less than 6 years: 1/2 tablet (4.3 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 1 tablet (8.6 mg) twice a day
6 to less than 12 years: 1 tablet (8.6 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 2 tablets (17.2 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 2 tablets (17.2 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 4 tablets (34.4 mg) twice a day
17.2 mg:
6 to less than 12 years: 1/2 tablet (8.6 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 1 tablet (17.2 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 1 tablet (17.2 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 2 tablets (34.4 mg) twice a day
25 mg:
6 to less than 12 years: 1 tablet (25 mg) orally once or twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 2 tablets (50 mg) orally once or twice a day
17 mg:
6 to less than 12 years: 1/2 tablet (8.5 mg) orally, not to exceed 1 tablet (17 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 1 tablet (17 mg) orally, not to exceed 2 tablets (34 mg) twice a day
15 mg:
6 to less than 12 years: 1 tablet (15 mg) orally once or twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 2 tablets (30 mg) orally once or twice a day
Syrup:
8.8 mg/5 mL:
2 to less than 6 years: 2.5 to 3.75 mL (4.4 to 6.6 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 3.75 mL (6.6 mg) twice a day
6 to less than 12 years: 5 to 7.5 mL (8.8 to 13.2 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 7.5 mL (13.2 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 10 to 15 mL (17.6 to 26.4 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 15 mL (26.4 mg) twice a day
176 mg/5 mL:
2 to less than 6 years: 2.5 to 3.75 mL (87.5 to 132 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 3.75 mL (132 mg) twice a day
6 to less than 12 years: 5 to 7.5 mL (176 to 263.5 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 7.5 mL (263.5 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 10 to 15 mL (352 to 528 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 15 mL (528 mg) twice a day
Liquid:
33.3 mg/mL:
2 to 6 years: 5 to 10 mL (166.5 to 333 mg) orally 1 to 2 times a day
6 to 15 years: 10 to 15 mL (333 to 499.5 mg) orally 1 to 2 times a day
Strips:
8.6 mg:
2 to 6 years: 1 strip (8.6 mg) orally per day, not to exceed 2 strips (17 mg) per day
6 to 12 years: 2 strips (17 mg) orally per day, not to exceed 4 (68 mg) strips per day
Usual Pediatric Dose for Constipation
Oral:
10 to 20 mg/kg/dose orally at bedtime, not to exceed 872 mg
Tablets:
8.6 mg:
2 to less than 6 years: 1/2 tablet (4.3 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 1 tablet (8.6 mg) twice a day
6 to less than 12 years: 1 tablet (8.6 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 2 tablets (17.2 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 2 tablets (17.2 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 4 tablets (34.4 mg) twice a day
17.2 mg:
6 to less than 12 years: 1/2 tablet (8.6 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 1 tablet (17.2 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 1 tablet (17.2 mg) orally at bedtime, not to exceed 2 tablets (34.4 mg) twice a day
25 mg:
6 to less than 12 years: 1 tablet (25 mg) orally once or twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 2 tablets (50 mg) orally once or twice a day
17 mg:
6 to less than 12 years: 1/2 tablet (8.5 mg) orally, not to exceed 1 tablet (17 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 1 tablet (17 mg) orally, not to exceed 2 tablets (34 mg) twice a day
15 mg:
6 to less than 12 years: 1 tablet (15 mg) orally once or twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 2 tablets (30 mg) orally once or twice a day
Syrup:
8.8 mg/5 mL:
2 to less than 6 years: 2.5 to 3.75 mL (4.4 to 6.6 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 3.75 mL (6.6 mg) twice a day
6 to less than 12 years: 5 to 7.5 mL (8.8 to 13.2 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 7.5 mL (13.2 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 10 to 15 mL (17.6 to 26.4 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 15 mL (26.4 mg) twice a day
176 mg/5 mL:
2 to less than 6 years: 2.5 to 3.75 mL (87.5 to 132 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 3.75 mL (132 mg) twice a day
6 to less than 12 years: 5 to 7.5 mL (176 to 263.5 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 7.5 mL (263.5 mg) twice a day
12 to less than 18 years: 10 to 15 mL (352 to 528 mg) orally once a day, not to exceed 15 mL (528 mg) twice a day
Liquid:
33.3 mg/mL:
2 to 6 years: 5 to 10 mL (166.5 to 333 mg) orally 1 to 2 times a day
6 to 15 years: 10 to 15 mL (333 to 499.5 mg) orally 1 to 2 times a day
Strips:
8.6 mg:
2 to 6 years: 1 strip (8.6 mg) orally per day, not to exceed 2 strips (17 mg) per day
6 to 12 years: 2 strips (17 mg) orally per day, not to exceed 4 (68 mg) strips per day
Renal Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Liver Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Precautions
Senna is not recommended when abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting, or a sudden change in bowel habits are present. Long-term administration of senna is not recommended for the treatment of chronic constipation. Rectal bleeding or failure to have a bowel movement after senna use may indicate a serious underlying gastrointestinal condition, and warrants discontinuation of therapy and evaluation.
Case reports of severe diaper rash, blisters, and skin sloughing have been reported in pediatric patients who were administered suppositories. These effects have been more prevalent in children wearing diapers. Prompt changing of diapers, frequent cleansing of perianal area, and application of barrier ointment may help reduce the incidence and severity.
Dialysis
Data not available
