Dulcolax and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2019

For Constipation "After I took Dulcolax yesterday afternoon, I got online to check reviews and ended up TERRIFIED, so I felt compelled to leave a review too! I took 1 pill at 3:30 pm yesterday and had a soft BM at 4:30 pm. I made sure to sip 25+ oz while I waited for it to work. Bedtime came and I was scared to sleep. I woke up at 3:30 am to tummy rumbles (but no cramps or pain) and had another BM around 5:00 am, this time even softer. Again at 7:30 am, and at that point, it was diarrhea. Overall, I would say it's been an okay experience. It did what it was supposed to do. I have a headache this morning, and I'm tired, but I think it's because I stayed up reading reviews and was stressing myself out! So for the people like me who are doing the same exact thing right now, I wanted to leave a good experience here too. :)"

• ANB...
• July 8, 2021

For Constipation "Never using this stuff again! This stuff is awful! I wish I read the reviews before taking this. So here’s my story: I can never poop, I’m lucky if I go twice a month, and I had enough and wanted relief. I tried Miralax and Benefiber, and neither worked, so I decided to try Dulcolax. I took 2 of these teeny tiny bombs at 9 pm, woke up at about 4 am having the worst cramps ever, felt like I was in labor. It lasted all up until 7 am, and I got up to try to poop, I couldn’t even push because I was hurting so bad. Then finally it all fell out: complete diarrhea. At the same time, I got super nauseous and threw up. I got super hot and clammy, got super dizzy, and saw stars. I actually passed out on the bathroom floor mid crapping. I couldn’t get up, I was so weak and everything was spinning. For the entire day, I had diarrhea every hour or so, it wouldn’t stop. I had to call into work, I was so sick. I could barely eat anything. I then got a raging migraine from it all."

• P-m...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2020

For Constipation "So after reading all the reviews on here, I figured I’d share my story. I’ve taken this drug a few times. First two times I had mild constipation and shared the same experience as most of you on here have had. Horrible cramping, sweats, explosive bowel movements, laying on the floor, and overall just wanting life to be over! The next two times I had taken it, I honestly swore I’d never take this drug again, but this time my blockage had lasted over a week. That feeling alone is scary thinking that your intestines will explode. So I took it each time right before bed. Woke up early in the morning with cramping but immediately released in the toilet. Diarrhea for the next few hours but tolerable. So to conclude, this is a great product for severe constipation. I’m not talking about 3-4 days without a bowel movement, I’m talking about a week or longer. Try other outlets like Colace or Metamucil. Dulcolax should be a last resort after a long period without. Hope that helps someone :)"

• Zim...
• September 14, 2020

For Constipation "Took two tablets at about 8 am, expecting some gentle movement in a few hours. Next joke? Before 9, I was totally incapacitated with extreme cramps and nausea. This was closely followed by sweat pouring from my whole body, then the explosive diarrhea described by many others. I genuinely thought I was going to have to call an ambulance, I felt like I was dying slowly and very painfully. This product should not be sold over the counter."

• Jas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "DO NOT TAKE DULCOLAX!!! This pill does the job, but be prepared for excruciating pain. A week ago, I took two pills because I was backed up for 5 days, and it was the worst experience of my life! I took this at night, and around 7 am, I woke up to terribly bad cramps. This went on for like 30 minutes, and I decided to go to the bathroom. Thank god I did because it came out like a water hose, and I almost threw up. This lasted the entire day! When I finally thought it was over, I ate literally just a piece/crumb of bread, and I had to run to the bathroom again. I went on my phone to see reviews about this product, and I was so disappointed in myself for not reading the comments before I took this. I cannot imagine this pill being given to a child. Please do not give this pill to your child!"

• Kri...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 2, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I have Crohn’s Disease and have had 23 colonoscopies over my adult life. I have used Dulcolax as a bowel prep for the last 12 procedures. It is not fun during the bowel prep, you will probably experience painful cramping just like you would any other time you have diarrhea, but that is the point of a bowel prep. You have to be thoroughly cleaned out. You will need to be home and near a bathroom during your entire prep, this is not a time to leave your house! If you are afraid of taking this many pills, ask your doctor for a different prep. I will never go back to one of the gross liquid drink preps, this has worked 100% for me."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "This stuff Dulcolax is awful. Was taking it for colonoscopy prep. I told them I had taken Dulcolax once before and it made me very sick, so they gave me Zofran. Zofran didn't work, all it did was give me a migraine. Took Dulcolax at around 7 pm and at 1 am was woken up by severe stomach pains and nausea. Rushed to the bathroom to puke, however, while I was barfing my guts out into the toilet, I pooped my pants. It just rushed out, I didn't even know it was coming. Left me bleaching half the bathroom and plainly throwing out my bottoms, and showering at 1:30 am. I know this is too much info, but this is to paint the pretty picture of how awful this medication is. WILL NOT TAKE AGAIN, NO MATTER WHAT. Would give 0 stars if I could."

• Anonymous
• March 3, 2020

For Constipation "This is absolutely horrendous stuff! I cannot believe they are able to sell this in shops! I took 2 last night as I’ve been constipated for a few days, woke up at 7 am with stomach cramps but managed to get back to sleep. I then woke up at 8:30 am thinking I was going to puke. I ran to the toilet and it was like an explosion of diarrhea. I then came over in a hot sweat and fainted on the toilet! Ears ringing, head spinning, dripping in my own sweat. Absolutely awful stuff, avoid!"

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

For Bowel Preparation "I had to take Dulcolax twice (2 pills x 2 doses 24 hrs apart) for scope prep and spent most of the week leading up to that terrified after reading these reviews. Totally understand that some folks had adverse reactions, but if you read the drug info that’s about 1-10% of people. Most won’t come online and report a good experience. I took 2 pills at 12 pm and awoke at 3:30 am with moderate cramps and diarrhea. Then I was back asleep by 4:30 and fine the next day. Next dose didn’t do anything, I was pretty cleaned out and on a liquid diet. So it CAN be an easy experience. I drank LOTS of water and didn’t eat anything too heavy the day before as recommended by some - that was helpful, so thanks! Don’t fear the Dulcolax - you will likely be in the 90% that are just fine when they take it!"

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2021

For Constipation "I was constipated, so I took 2 Dulcolax Saturday night. I started having diarrhea and lots of blood with it. That continued for 36 hours. Lots of stomach cramping and vomiting. I thought it was the end of me. The cramping was exactly like childbirth. I would suggest to anyone reading this review to NOT buy Dulcolax. It is just so bad and should be taken off the market. I was within hours of having to go to the ER. This product is literally toxic to a human being's system."

• Anonymous
• July 7, 2021

For Constipation "Had been having severe constipation, so I decided to go to the store and pick up some Dulcolax. Let me tell you, if you haven’t already, DON'T take it. The box said 1-3 pills, so I, of course, went ahead and took 3. I took them at 4 pm, and it is now 10:30 pm, and the pain is truly unbearable. It feels like your insides are being squeezed to death from the inside. I’m too scared to even go lay in bed because it is just too unpredictable. Throwing up, diarrhea, overheating one minute to chills down your whole body the next, sweating so much it looks like I just got out of the shower, so light-headed, seeing stars, caught myself passing out on the way to get water-luckily, I was able to sit down before I lost consciousness. This stuff should not be allowed, seriously debating going to the ER. If you can avoid it, avoid it."

• Ren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2020

For Constipation "I took two Dulcolax pills at approx. 10 a.m. with a glass of water. Then I read the reviews and was terrified at what I was in for. But for the entire day, I felt absolutely no symptoms and no bowel movements. I wondered whether this was going to work or not. Finally, at about 2 a.m., I had tummy rumbling and gas, but really that’s it. But at 8 a.m. the next day (22 hours after dosing!), I woke with my tummy rumbling and feeling the urge of diarrhea. I rushed to the bathroom. A few minutes later, I still had the urge to diarrhea again. I’d say between 8 a.m.-1 p.m., I had diarrhea about ten times. It was a lot. But the good thing is, any discomfort was minor (my stomach rumbled all day, and I kept feeling the urge to diarrhea), so I stayed home until the feeling finally passed. I did not experience nausea, vomiting, cramps, or anything like many reviewers. Other than the 5 hours or so of diarrhea and tummy rumbling, this was really painless and effective!!!!"

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2021

For Constipation "I took 2 tablets with my meal (6:30 pm) and then before bed read all the scary reviews. I saw that some said they didn’t have a horrible experience when drinking a ton of water, so I quickly downed 50 ounces of water before bed. I woke up at 2:00 am with a slight crampy sensation and loose stools. It happened again at 2:15 am and again at 3:00 am. It is now 8:30 am, and the diarrhea is the same, but I have no cramping, no nausea, no shaking, and no lightheaded feelings. My stomach is still rumbling to clear itself out, but it wasn’t horrible as I thought. I think the key is to drink a glass of water when taking it, take it with food, and drink a ton of water after. I didn’t have a scary experience. I will probably never do another laxative again though unless absolutely necessary."

• Fan...
• October 29, 2019

For Constipation "I had been constipated for several days and decided it was time to try a laxative. I picked Dulcolax because it advertised as 'gentle relief.' This was the beginning of my doom. I took two at bedtime because of the suggested dosage. I woke up a few hours later in a cold sweat with some of the worst stomach cramps ever. I rushed to the toilet and had a massive explosion of diarrhea. I honestly thought my organs were leaving my body, it felt like a never-ending evacuation out of my rear end. I felt horrible the whole time and started to get dizzy. I ended up passing out on the toilet and falling into the bathtub. Upon waking up, I stood up to get myself together and I passed out again. I ended up having to call an ambulance and went to the ER, where I had the pleasant experience of explaining to every medical professional I came in contact with that I had passed out while pooping. It did thoroughly clear out my bowels, but I would not wish this nightmare upon anyone."

• Unc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2014

For Constipation "I hadn't gone for 4 days and decided to try Dulcolax. I am 5'1" and 120 lbs. The bottle says anywhere from 1-3 pills, and my constipation was pretty bad, so I decided to take 2. Worst mistake of my life. I took the pills at 2:00 pm, and by 6 pm I had the most terrible cramps I have ever felt in my entire life. I was shaking, cold sweating, and felt like I was going to throw up several times. Hours later, and I'm still having terrible diarrhea. It works, but the side effects are too much for me."

• App...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I took Dulcolax as directed for the colonoscopy preparation. It was a horrendous experience. I vomited and had blasts of diarrhea. In addition, I suffered from excruciating stomach pain. I will not take Dulcolax again!"

• 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."

• Cur...
• September 20, 2014

For Constipation "I normally take Miralax when I'm constipated because it just softens my bowels and regulates me afterwards, but I couldn't find any in the store, so I bought Dulcolax for the first time. Well, I took two tablets at 11:30 at night, thinking I would wake up late in the morning and use the bathroom-no problem. No. At 4:30 am, I woke up and felt like someone was punching me in the stomach, and I thought I was going to vomit. I then had diarrhea, and then the 'peeing from my butt' experience."

• Too...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2016

For Constipation "Okay, so I did the worst possible thing and not read the packaging. Thought they were an instant fix, not hours, so when after half an hour I took the first one and nothing, I took another two. And then after an hour, another two. I repeat: READ THE PACKAGING. Two hours later, I had the worst diarrhea of my life visiting a sick relative. Since then, which was 7 hours ago, I haven't been able to get up off the toilet. These work, but please don't be an absolute idiot like I was and take that many. There is nothing left to come out of me, but it's still coming. It feels like Satan is trying to rip my heart out through my anus."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Hay...
• December 4, 2019

For Constipation "Please, for the love of God, do not take Dulcolax. It’s 3 am, and the only thing keeping me somewhat sane is reading these comments and knowing that I’m not the only one who is going through this nightmare. The word gentle is complete and utter bull. I took 2 pills around 9 pm tonight, and at midnight, I woke up to the worst full stomach cramps ever. The diarrhea has been pretty much nonstop and so, so painful. I wish I would’ve found this page before taking these pills. They are in the trash, and I pray that this will end soon."

• 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!"