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Dulcolax Laxative and Sweating: What Users Say

Sweating: mentioned by 18 users (14.3%)

Based on user experiences from 126 Dulcolax Laxative reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

cramps 41.3%
nausea 29.4%
vomiting 21.4%
pain 18.3%
sweating 14.3%
stomach pain 12.7%
diarrhea 11.9%
upset stomach 8.7%
dizziness 7.9%
tremors 6.3%

Reviews for Dulcolax Laxative

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Aan...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 19, 2021

For Constipation "DO NOT TAKE THIS..... I had been constipated for a week and needed something to help with that. I took Dulcolax at 9:30, it woke me up in pain at 3:30. It felt like period cramps at first, and I tried to sleep it off, but it finally was so unbearable I went to the bathroom and couldn’t go for 2 hours. I was in so much pain that I was sweating and threw up. This is not ideal for just needing a little laxative. I truly do NOT recommend, and I will never be taking it again."

1 / 10
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56 Report
  • Chr...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 16, 2021

For Constipation "WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. I took 3, like the box said (10 pm). I took it because I haven't been able to potty for a week. Around 2 am, I woke to my stomach cramping so bad. I got up and went to the bathroom, and nothing happened. 30 minutes later, I felt even worse, so I went back to the bathroom. At this point, I'm nauseated and very lightheaded, and once I got to my destination, sweat was literally pouring off me like I've been digging holes in the desert with a temperature of 115 outside. With all of this going on, I went into an anxiety attack, which now it's hard to breathe. Thankfully, it FINALLY released itself. The next morning, I felt like I've been run over by an 18-wheeler and exhausted beyond belief and shaky. Definitely not ever taking this again."

1 / 10
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37 Report
  • Cat...
  • July 19, 2021

For Constipation "I took these pills at 9 a.m., and by 1 p.m. I was overcome with intense stomach cramps, shaking, sweating, and diarrhea. Since 1 p.m. I’ve had multiple bouts of diarrhea, and I’m extremely nauseous. It’s now 6:30 p.m., and I’m literally afraid to leave my bedroom for fear I may not make it to the bathroom. Constipation is better than this. I will be throwing this product in the trash and advise others not to use it."

1 / 10
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32 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • OAK...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 22, 2020

For Constipation "Took two Dulcolax before bed because I had been constipated for a few days. All good until about 7 am the next morning when I woke up with the WORST pain I have ever had. I would like to mention I birthed two babies over 9 lbs :) this pain was way worse. I threw up, had sweat pouring off my body in agony. End result, it finally worked, but was not worth the severe stomach cramps. I truly thought I was going to pass out or die. Don't take it - save yourself :)"

1 / 10
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19 Report
  • Rom...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 22, 2019

For Constipation "I am still recovering from the worst evening and night of my life. I took 3 Dulcolax pills yesterday afternoon. I had some results by evening, but the cramping got worse and worse. They would come in waves and increase in intensity like a contraction. I began to throw up, and that continued, as did the excruciating pain all night. Between 4 and 6 a.m., I had diarrhea and enough relief that I could sleep for a couple of hours. Today I still have some diarrhea, a bad headache, as I try to rehydrate. I was drenched in sweat during the night and thought I might die. This is not gentle. There should be warnings on the box. Never again!!"

2 / 10
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18 Report

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  • Anonymous
  • August 21, 2012

For Bowel Preparation "I took one Dulcolax tablet at 9 pm. By 1 am, I was in severe gastric pain. The gastrointestinal cramping was very mild. I was sweating profusely and in agony. This side effect for me will stop me from ever taking it again for any reason. The excruciating pain almost landed me in the ER. Had to take 4 Pepto-Bismol to get some relief."

1 / 10
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28 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 26, 2016

For Constipation "I took Dulcolax last night around 9 pm. I woke up around 2 am with extremely bad abdominal pain. I was sweating and felt like I had to vomit. This lasted for 45+ minutes. It became so bad I had to take Aleve to alleviate the pain. I finally went back to sleep and had my first BM around 6 am. I had the second one at 8 am. No severe cramping, just bloating and discomfort. Will be happy when it's over. I will never take this medication again."

2 / 10
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10 Report
  • Cat...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 31, 2018

For Constipation "I was feeling like I needed to go #2 all day, and I just couldn't do it. At the end of the day, I decided to take 2 Dulcolax pills because it says adults can take 1 to 3. WORST MISTAKE EVER. I went to bed after midnight and got up after 1 a.m. because of stomach pain but couldn't get anything out. I went to bed again and got back up after 4 a.m. and spent 2 hours in the bathroom. The abdominal pain was the worst pain I had felt in my life. I vomited 3 times and eventually got the cold sweats. I could even hear my bowels loudly gurgling at points, and my bowel movements came out like someone turned a faucet on. This kept happening in intervals. The medicine certainly did its job by emptying me out (top and bottom), but I will never be using Dulcolax again. Horrible experience."

6 / 10
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8 Report
  • Los...
  • April 19, 2019

For Constipation "I am currently on a medication that makes me experience constipation, so I decided today to take 2 Dulcolax to try and empty out. I took it maybe 35-40 minutes ago, and I already have a horrible pain in my stomach. I’ve been sitting on the bowl now for an hour, feeling like I’m going to throw up or poop. It’s horrible. I have cold sweats, and my abdomen has so much pain. I’m afraid to push because I feel like I might vomit if I do. I do not recommend this to anyone."

1 / 10
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7 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 19, 2017

For Constipation "I had been constipated for 4 days with no bowel movements at all. So I decided to try Dulcolax pink. I took two tablets at 6 pm last night and drank a ton of water. I felt completely fine, went to bed around 11, and woke up to the worst pain of my life at about 2:30 am. Stomach pains that felt like stabbing and severe vomiting every 10 min. The pain would subside for 10 minutes after the vomiting, and then the excruciating pain would come back just as timed along with the vomiting and cold sweats. I eventually just sat in the shower with hot water running over me because that’s the only way I felt a little relief. It is now about 1 pm, and I finally had a bowel motion and haven’t vomited in 2 hours. Still going to see a doctor. PLEASE DON'T TAKE."

2 / 10
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8 Report
  • Jan...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 2, 2021

For Constipation "I used this after an appendectomy to counter the constipation from that and pain meds. Took two and had no adverse reactions and a good BM 12 hours later. Things were still not quite back to normal, so took 2 more after a couple of days. Within 2 hours or less, was overcome with intense stomach cramps. Another BM at that point, but no relief from the cramps. Started to feel sweaty and pale, and it hurt so bad I was afraid it was an adverse effect from the appendectomy, so called 911. Normal vitals, so was advised that laxatives can have this extreme effect. Constipation is way better than this."

4 / 10
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5 Report
  • Ash...
  • July 20, 2014

For Constipation "Noticing that I hadn't had a bowel movement in almost 6 days, I purchased this product and took 2 around 3 a.m. I woke up around 8:30 a.m. with the most pain I've ever felt in my life. I gave childbirth naturally with no medicines, but this, by far, felt almost the same. I felt nauseous and had a frequent flow of bowel movements. I got sweaty hot, then so cold I would shiver in a matter of seconds apart. I even felt faint, and my vision got blurry. After drinking 2 bottles of water, I felt somewhat of a relief in pain, but not 100%. If you need a bowel movement, this is your product, but it HURTS! Try a stool softener instead."

9 / 10
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10 Report
  • Dul...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 12, 2022

For Constipation "Took just one tablet for bed. Woke up with the sweats, feeling faint and sick about 7. Went to the toilet about an hour after, feeling like I was going to give birth to a hippopotamus, lost a lot of blood with the poo. It does work, but it’s nearly 8 at night, and I’m still in pain. Never will I use this medication again, not recommended."

5 / 10
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2 Report
  • Gig...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 11, 2018

For Constipation "If I could, I would rate this product -100. Took this product for the relief of mild constipation. I am otherwise very healthy (although maybe not now). Took 1 tablet before bed, 3 hours later, I was in horrible, gut-wrenching pain, with fever, sweat, hard time breathing, and literally thought I might die, and I am not prone to drama. I thought I would end up in the hospital, but after an hour in extreme pain, I received a little relief from throwing up (dry heaves) for 20 minutes. It was another hour of lesser but more pain before falling exhausted to sleep. The next day, I still had residual nausea for 12 hours. The FDA should ban this laxative from the market, as after the fact, I have read many similar, if not exact, experiences from other victims."

1 / 10
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2 Report
  • Kac...
  • May 15, 2022

For Constipation "I took this product after constipation while traveling. I had an appendectomy 3 weeks ago and have been having problems going to the bathroom since. The packaging says to take between 1-3 tablets. I took 2 at around midnight before bed. I woke up at 3 with severe cramping and have been running to the bathroom every 15 minutes since. I’m nauseous, dizzy, and sweating. I feel like I’m going to throw up in between bouts of severe diarrhea. I do not recommend."

2 / 10
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  • EDL...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 18, 2018

For Constipation "I was constipated about 3 days, so I decided to take Dulcolax. I took one tablet at 12:00 a.m. and woke up to excruciating cramps at 5:30 a.m. I was having discomfort in my chest, sweats, and chills. I'm 34 years old and was moaning and groaning and asking for mercy. I tried drinking hot cocoa, but it made me feel worse. Finally, I thought about the plain old baking soda trick, swished it with water twice, and it calmed the discomfort of the chest and cramping. I was able to have a beautiful bowel movement down to the diarrhea form, but it was so not worth it. I would NEVER take this or anything with the same active ingredients!!!"

2 / 10
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2 Report
  • Nev...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 26, 2021

For Constipation "Do not take. EVER. I took ONE at 7-8 pm because I hadn't had a bowel motion in 4 days. Around 6 am, I woke up feeling like I needed to go, and within 5 minutes my stomach was cramping with a pain so intense I literally was praying for relief. I swore to myself I'd never take another laxative again if I got through this. I was dripping sweat, nauseous, faint, and in severe pain for at least an hour. Currently resting in bed hoping it doesn't come back. Avoid this medicine."

2 / 10
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  • lus...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 24, 2022

For Constipation "Never use again at all. Severe pain. Sweating. Shakes. I’m actually quite scared I’m going to pass out."

2 / 10
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1 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.