Dulcolax and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Ean...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2019

For Constipation "These comments are the only thing getting me through. The descriptions are gloriously accurate. The cramps are comparable to labor contractions, including the nausea and sweats that go with it. I can’t believe they’re allowed to put the word gentle on this box."

• Yas...
• January 7, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I was advised by a doctor to take Dulcolax before the colonoscopy. Day 1 @ 8:30 PM: 2 tablets, 5 mg each. Woke up at 6:30 AM with cramps and passed motion. Then it all started an hour later with severe diarrhea and cramps. The pain was so intense I thought I’d have to call an ambulance. Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), it was okay after a few minutes. Had mild broth for breakfast and a few hours later passed motion twice with severe pain again. Had to take Drotin DS, 1 tablet. Had motion again in the night. Day 2, 3:30 AM. Woke up at midnight with cramps and motion. Did my Tahajjud prayers and went back to bed. The feeling of discomfort and sense of passing motion remains for the next 2 hours. People with IBS-D & A should “never” touch this tablet ever in their life. It’s a poison, not a lifesaving drug."

• Lad...
• June 9, 2020

For Constipation "So the dosage says to take 1-3 pills for a single daily dose, so I took 3 and prayed for the best because I’m going on a beach trip. I’ve literally been either on the floor in my own vomit or curled up in bed with cramps so bad I want to go to the emergency room. This is TERRIBLE. Don’t buy!"

• Iss...
• July 17, 2019

For Constipation "Look, it is a laxative. Yes, it will cause pain. It says it on the box. TAKE IT WITH LOTS OF WATER! Seriously! I cannot reiterate this enough! I have IBD and sometimes I get constipated. This really helps. Yes, the pain can be uncomfortable (to some, unbearable), but take some anti-inflammatories and you'll be fine. The cramps are a signal that the meds are working like they are supposed to. Trust me as someone that has a bowel disorder and has had 5 colonoscopies before the age of 30, this works. It JUST TAKES TIME! I know poo pain. I know poo cramps. I know the pain! It sucks! It really does! Yet, it is effective. There are some people that may not be able to handle it, but others can. Don't be scared and understand it is good for a reason."

• yuc...
• September 10, 2014

For Bowel Preparation "I am getting ready for a colonoscopy, and I am taking these two days prior. I was thinking since I have problems with constipation I would take 2 with dinner, and then I took 3 before I go to bed. I woke up with the most painful cramps and have been peeing out my butt for 3 minutes. I would recommend not taking more than 1. I was stupid because I thought it wouldn't help. Wow, was I wrong."

• Lin...
• January 14, 2020

For Constipation "I have taken this product, Dulcolax, in the past and thought I was going to need an ambulance. But I have learned the trick to taking them, and it's LOTS of water. Many times I have been rolling around my bathroom floor, crying with cramps, in agony. Pressure in my stomach nearly too much to bear. But I heard about the water trick, and it works. At least 3 big glasses with the tablet and one as soon as you wake up, or if you're awake during the night, drink it then. Helps so much you can go to the toilet with only very slight cramps."

• Lov...
• December 28, 2014

For Constipation "So I was having cramps for 2 days, decided to try this by recommendation. Took 3 tablets at 9:00 pm, woke up at midnight with chills, the worst cramps since childbirth, and ran to the restroom! 2 hours later, I woke up to the worst sweats and nausea, wasn't sure which end to put on above the toilet! Then woke up 2 hours later with the cramping again! So yes, this stuff works! But seriously, start with 1 tablet, and yes, I stayed in bed the following day due to my lower back and stomach being so sore from the cramping."

• MAD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "Preparing for a colonoscopy, and Dr. instructions told me to take 4 Dulcolax tablets. I took 4 at 11:30 a.m. Been drinking Gatorade and now water. Finally had 'liftoff' at 1:45. Some cramping and noises from the intestines, think I'll be stuck on this throne for a long time. Make sure you drink a lot of Gatorade and water before even taking any of these. At 4 p.m. I start the Miralax. What a night this is going to be... dang."

• Opi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 23, 2013

For Constipation "I am on prescription opiate pain medication, which makes me constipated on a regular basis. I have tried every laxative on the market aside from enemas, and this is the ONLY one that relieves me. Yes, I do experience cramping a few minutes before 'it's time to go,' but it definitely does its job every time."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2020

For Constipation "Drink plenty of water!! You have to be very well hydrated with this laxative, otherwise, you will experience severe cramping, nausea, and vomiting. My very first time taking it, maybe 4 years ago, I thought I would finish my life in my bathroom. This time, I read reviews, and I hydrated with fruit and water all day before taking it at 6:30 pm. Because I hadn’t gone in almost 7 days, it didn’t kick in until 4:30 pm the next day. I still had some cramping, but not nearly as painful as my first experience."

• Abb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2020

For Constipation "I was constipated for 3 days, so I took two tablets. The next day, I woke up in so much pain that I couldn’t walk or move. My intestines were cramping so bad. A few hours later, I had the most violent, explosive diarrhea of my life. It was like a fire hose. I prayed because I thought I was gonna pass out. I am typing this from the toilet because it just won’t stop."

• Mom...
• October 12, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "This is the worst med ever! There is absolutely nothing 'gentle' about it. I've tried it 3x and have given up. First, the cramps were unbearable, to the point where the pain was so bad I started sweating real bad, my hands were clammy, I was dizzy, I felt like I was dying. I literally almost passed out! They need to pull this off the market!"

• jjt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2019

For Constipation "I have suffered with chronic constipation my entire life. I have had scope tests, tried all the things I read about and what the doctor says, but after a while everything stops working and I have to take a store-bought laxative. I bought Dulcolax for women because it said GENTLE overnight dependable relief. What a crock. This product almost killed me. At 11 pm I took 2 little pills. By 2 am the cramps started, by 4 am the pain was getting severe and I was up every 20 minutes. By 6 am I was vomiting and the pain was excruciating, by 8 am I had to call for my husband because I was sweating profusely, my skin felt clammy, my legs were tingling and my head started to spin like I was going to pass out. The pain just kept getting worse. I was a full 36 hours in sheer agony. It did move my bowels, but at this cost, it is not worth it. I actually thought at one point that I was going to die. This product is dangerous and should not be sold to anyone."

• Poo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2019

For Constipation "Took Dulcolax to help with constipation. BIG mistake. Took one pill last night for the first time at 10 pm and woke up at 9 am with some major cramps. My bowels exploded, and everything came out, but during this catharsis, my vision began to fade, and I realized I was about to pass out, but my inner conscious was like 'there's no way I'm passing out while pooping,' and I quickly wiped and redressed, only to start dry heaving when I got up. Grey specks covered my vision, and my ability to hear was fading. I fell against the wall, and luckily my mom was there to help me before I blacked out. It's been 4 hours since, and my bowels are still contracting. Dear God, pray you, do not take this pill unless it's entirely necessary. If I could go back, I would take Miralax and avoid the rectal turmoil that has ensued."

• Sio...
• August 2, 2016

For Constipation "Took 5 mg of Dulcolax going to bed at 10 pm. Woke at 4 with excruciating abdominal cramps, then started having heart palpitations, sweats, nausea, worse pain than childbirth... then I fainted! Woke up on the tiled bathroom floor with 4 children looking at me thinking I was dead... have a head injury from the bang on the tiled floor, soiled myself 'cause I hadn't the energy to lift myself to the toilet seat... profuse diarrhea for 30 minutes... bed-ridden for 6 hours after the faint... NEVER again will I take this medicine... on the bottle, it says 'for gentle relief of constipation'... nothing could be further from the truth. I'm actually traumatized."

• Rae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2020

For Constipation "Took 2 Dulcolax tablets at 8 pm for relief. Got no relief at all. Relief I actually survived the ordeal. By 3 am, I thought I was going to vomit. Cramps so incredibly strong. Nothing happened. Laid on the bathroom floor covered in cold sweat. Could not move, even to sit on the toilet was risky as I was extremely faint and lightheaded. Finally had a release. Thought my whole insides ended outside. Thought that had to be all, but no, another 3 hours of incredible pain, cramps, and sweats. Ended up sleeping on the bathroom floor to cool down. Two days later, and I can’t seem to eat without getting massive pain in my stomach area. Have a recurring cramping nearly every 30 minutes that has me hunched over in pain. If it doesn’t stop tomorrow, I will need to see the doctor. Hopefully not a twisted bowel due to tablets."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2021

For Constipation "OMG. Save yourself. Do the enema. Holy smokes. My diet was off, and I knew it. After the 3rd day, I figured I better do something. My abdomen was huge. I'm not a big guy and don't take meds of any kind willingly, so when it said I could take 1 to 3 of these tiny time bombs, I opted for 1. ONE. The cramps started about 6 hours later. Got me out of bed. I spent the next 2 hours doubled over in pain so high I vomited. No joke! Both figuratively and truthfully. No BM yet. I figured if it hurt that bad, I must have a real problem. Bowel obstruction? Cancer? I thought I was dying. I lay on the bathroom floor in a cold sweat, only getting up to vomit or try to crap. Once it finally happened, it took 3 days to be over. My body kept trying to turn my anus inside out. Poor butt bled for 24 hours. My stomach still isn't right 4 days later. Save your booty! Don't do it! Anything but Dulcolax... that part on the box that says 'Gentle, dependable relief,' there ain't nothing GENTLE about it!! POOPERS BEWARE!!"

• Spr...
• December 8, 2013

For Constipation "I've been constipated for over a week. A friend recommended Dulcolax. I took two tablets with several glasses of water, and about 2 to 3 hours later, I felt a normal urge to go to the bathroom and did. I've read reviews on here about terrible cramps. I had none. Will use again, if needed. Maybe drinking a lot of water helps."

• s3n...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 7, 2019

For Constipation "I use this awful drug because I have a paralyzed bowel from a tethered spinal cord. I would not recommend this to anyone who is experiencing just occasional constipation. This stuff is intense, and if you don't feel like canceling all plans for the day and being on the toilet for hours, then this ain't it, chief. Extreme cramping, vomiting, fainting, you name it. I'm the type of person that goes hard and takes the full dose (3 pills). Let me tell you, don't do that unless you want to be writhing on the ground contemplating if you are dying. Overall, the only positive thing about this medication is after hours of intense pain, all hell breaks loose, you see the sunrise on the horizon, a choir of angels starts to sing, and you feel 20 pounds lighter. You get the picture."

• Add...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2019

For Constipation "Why, oh Lord. Why did I not read the reviews first? What a nightmare. In 1 hour, I had 8 bowel movements, and the last 5 were explosive diarrhea. Painful cramps made me regularly grimace in pain on the bathroom floor. Nausea. Sweating. Never. Never again."

• Tee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2020

For Constipation "Using these for a while, so learned the best ways around the cramps. You've probably read on here and pooped yourself (you wish). I can't poop for about 5-7 days sometimes, so I take them depending on the severity of constipation. If I haven't been for 5+ days, I take one before bed and go fine in the morning. If I've not been for 3/4 days, I only take half a tablet and go fine. If I take a whole one with no severe constipation, I've noticed that the poop is more runny and the cramps are heavier. I will take one before bed and set an alarm to take a painkiller at around 5 a.m. to prevent the cramps, it works! No cramping = pleasant pooping. I've been taking these once or twice a month for over a year, and they do work. I suggest only half a tablet if the constipation is only 2/3 days old and the full one for anything over, but don't forget the painkillers for a better experience. Happy pooping!"

• Oww...
• September 6, 2020

For Constipation "I had taken this before. Once after surgery and the blockage that happens. I had tried everything, stool softener, suppository, nothing worked. So I took one Dulcolax, and about 6 hours later - relief! Fast forward to last night. Took 2. Woke up at around 1 a.m. with the worst pain in my upper abdomen, truly horrible acid pain. Took some antacids and went back to bed. Woke up at 4 a.m. still in pain. It’s 9 a.m. now, and the pain is still there but just had the first lower abdomen cramping start. Hopefully, relief soon, but the rest of the pills will be going straight to the trash. Nope. Never again."

• KBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2020

For Constipation "This product made me miserable. I took it at around 6 p.m., and by 1 a.m., I was bound to my bathroom. I was awoken at 12 a.m. by horrendous cramping and very loud stomach gurgling. I then proceeded to vomit twice and have liquid diarrhea for the next few hours. Good thing I don’t have anything to do the next day. Did it work? Absolutely. Will I ever take it again? Absolutely not."

• ddf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2014

For Constipation "Do not go to sleep after taking! Take in the morning, and cramping will be mild. If you go to sleep, your body is not going to wake you until you're really hurting. Expect diarrhea for several hours, so plan to stay home for the day. Starts working in about 3 hrs if you're awake. One 5 mg tab is more than enough!"

• 6-1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2014

For Constipation "Constipation was causing pain, and I could not relieve myself. I never take anything for this. I took 2 pills about an hour ago and have already had a bearable bowel movement. Great relief. Worked quickly. Hoping no cramps, pain, or irritable bowel to come over the next few hours. So far, so good. I will use again if needed. By the way, I drank plenty of water, so that may have helped me avoid the cramping."