Dulcolax and Pain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• October 5, 2016

For Constipation "I've had normal BM for all of my life (34) until recently with a 2-week bout of constipation. I've been popping out number 1's on the Bristol scale bi-daily. Tried a little mineral oil, olive oil, mass hydration, stool softeners, and a change of diet. No change. Frustrated, I was told 'Dulcolax was where it was at, just take 2 and you'll have the best poop of your life.' This was so far from the truth. I'm on my second day of missed work of a 3-day ordeal. My insides feel like they have been detached. I can feel the entirety of my large intestine from tip to tail. Car rides and seat belts, laughing, sneezing, sudden movements in general reverberate pain through my colon. This is all after that nightmare of a night described by others here."

• Liv...
• February 13, 2016

For Constipation "So much pain! In the last 2 years, I have suffered with a brain tumor, so I have been in a lot of pain, to the point of morphine every day for a year. Then I had brain surgery, but the pain from this pill came pretty close! In serious pain, to the point of blacking out, hot and cold shivers, and just sat in pain, feeling like trapped wind/indigestion. It's just... ahhhh!!!! Don't take this!!!"

• Lol...
• February 16, 2016

For Constipation "I have been using Dulcolax for a couple of years. I only use it if I haven't been to the loo for more than 5 days and if I have the next day to be at home. I take two tablets around 7 pm, and when I wake in the morning, it completely clears me out. Yes, it does give some form of diarrhea, but I'm willing to accept this for an hour or so, as it makes you feel so much better. It does give you a tummy ache and cramps, and you do feel like the pain will never go away, but once you've been to the toilet, it goes, it can't last forever. You have to accept a bit of tummy ache/pain if you are pooing out days' worth of poop. Love Dulcolax. It's a strong tablet, but it gets the job done."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2018

For Constipation "I took this at 6 pm last night, figured 2 would do the job since it says 'gentle'... it is now almost 1 pm the next day with 16 hours of the worst pain I ever felt in my 30 years. Yes, it works, but with complete torture. I am basically counting down when it will be over, at some points, I feel like it never will be over.... I mean 16 HOURS so far in excruciating pain!!! And God forbid you want to drink something to hydrate yourself... it makes it even WORSE. Like, is the term 'gentle' a joke to these people? Take this off the market and file a class action lawsuit!!!!"

• kpi...
• March 18, 2017

"The amount of pain you experience when taking Dulcolax makes whether or not it works a completely moot point. I took this as directed and was up in the middle of the night writhing in some of the very worst pain I have ever felt. The type of pain where you think to yourself, 'I am going to need to go to the hospital.' They are small pills, easy to swallow, but don't let the size fool you. Serious waste of money. Because of the pain it caused, after only one dose, the remainder of the box went in the bin. If you don't like pain but need to relieve your bowels, I STRONGLY recommend you find a different product."

• Ouc...
• September 14, 2019

For Constipation "Do not take this. I took 2 because I was constipated for a few days. A little later, I was throwing up and on the toilet at the same time, not to mention the pain I had in my stomach. I’m not a whiner and usually handle pain real well, but this pain felt like the pain I had felt like giving birth. NEVER again, they need to be off the market!!"

• Jor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2019

For Constipation "I have had severe constipation problems since I was little, but this is the only drug that will get anything moving. I had to go to the ER after I didn’t go to the restroom for 2 weeks, and now it’s been a week, so I took three tablets, and there is slight pain. But I remember one of the first times it felt like I was birthing a child, but now it’s fine, just take one if it’s your first time."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2015

For Constipation "Everyone here has been complaining about this medication, which has gotten me a little anxious as I am in the process of waiting for the effect. I took two tablets at around 6 pm, and around 9:30 my stomach was grumbling insanely, passing wind for about half an hour. I melted to the toilet, thinking I needed to go, but I didn't. Then, all of a sudden, around 10 pm, I was in so much pain I was crouching down from the cramps and went straight to the bathroom and had a bowel movement. I am aware I might get a few more bowel movements throughout the night, but at this moment I'm hoping the pain isn't as unbearable as earlier before. Right now I feel quite relaxed after the first session on the toilet. Honestly, feeling great after taking it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2016

For Constipation "I was constipated for a few days, so I decided to give these a shot... never again. The most severe stomach cramps I've ever had in my life, and they lasted for two hours. Two hours of sweating profusely, lying on the bathroom floor, crying from the pain, considering how embarrassing an ER visit would be at 3 a.m. because of Dulcolax cramps. It's like period cramps, but a hundred times worse. When the medicine finally did its job, it produced staggered streams of hot lava for the remainder of the night. Needless to say, the intense pain wasn't worth the small, painful BM."

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2016

For Constipation "I had surgery on a Thursday and was warned that the pain pills make you constipated, so I already had some Dulcolax pink pills in my cabinet I hadn't used yet, so I figured they would work. Surgery was Thursday, and by Monday after, I still hadn't had a bowel movement, so I figured I would take the maximum daily dose - 3 pills - and sleep on it. Woke up feeling no different than I had since the surgery. Took 3 more with my morning meds. At 7 pm, had a normal bowel movement and felt better. 20 minutes later, though, I suffered the worst cramps and pain I've ever felt. I LITERALLY lost 3 pounds from shitting. Oh, then I woke up the next morning and had shit the bed - first time ever; hopefully last. It's now been 24 hours of horrific pain and cramps."

• Liz...
• May 28, 2019

For Constipation "So I took this on Sunday evening around 8 pm, woke up with pain around 2 am. The pain was like giving birth but worse, I had sweating and felt like I was going to die. I too also had to take off my clothes and lie on the cold tile in the bathroom. The nausea continued the whole next day, but I also was in a coma-like state. I literally slept the whole day. I felt like I was in and out of consciousness for 24+ hours. It helped with the constipation, but the price my body paid was a high one. Next time I will look for a softer, easier way."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2016

For Constipation "Please don't take the pills! The suppositories are great, though! I took 2 around 4:30 pm. Before bed, I had a terrible burning feeling in my abdomen. At 1:30, I woke up in pain and went to the bathroom. Seemed to be nothing but gas-the worst possible gas you could ever have trapped inside you! I actually thought I was dying and wanted to call 911. Thirty minutes of this, then I finally pooped. Not much, soft but formed. Back to bed, an hour later the diarrhea started. It's 5 am, and it hasn't stopped. Explosive, watery, smelly, awful stuff. Felt like hot lava. Do not give this to children or adults. Never, ever take these. I'm throwing them out! I gave it a 2 because it technically works. I actually lost 2 pounds (so far) :("

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2019

For Constipation "Took Dulcolax before bed as I have had constipation for a few days. Woke up about 3 a.m. with bad cramps and awful gas. I had to sit on the loo for ages and still couldn't go, but had awful pains, felt sick, was sweating. Eventually, 30 minutes or so later, after cramps and the pain, I ended up with diarrhea and was physically sick, not just once, but a few times. I would never take this again, it is awful."

• Nev...
• November 5, 2015

For Constipation "I took one Dulcolax last night at about eleven p.m. I have taken it before without the problems I am having now. By four a.m., I was having severe stomach cramping, but no bowel movement. I experienced horrible cramps, nausea, bloating that would not relieve for hours, and now it is almost six p.m. the following day, and while the cramping is much less, I still have an upset stomach. I considered going to the emergency room last night, but I really could hardly move and knew there was little they could do for me there. I will not ever take this stuff again! The packaging says it is 'gentle.' Good lord, no, it isn't!! I've taken magnesium citrate before and did not experience the type of cramping and pain I had for hours early this a.m. with Dulcolax. Will never take this again, I am still not feeling well almost twenty-four hours after I took the one pill."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2021

For Constipation "I had horrible constipation for about a week, nothing was helping, so I took one Dulcolax around 9 pm. I expected the bowel movement to start in the morning, but nothing happened (just terrible tummy pain). Around 5 pm, the pain got so intense I was sweating and shaking but unable to open my bowel :( horrible, horrible experience. Finally, after around 2 hours of pain, nausea, cramps, sweating, and shaking, I managed to open my bowel. As soon as it happened, all symptoms went away and I felt massive relief. My advice is: take it only when other things are not working, it is very powerful, but it works. My colon was completely blocked, and it helped me to empty it and get rid of awful constipation."

• Poj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Let me start by saying I was pleasantly surprised. I was dreading my colonoscopy prep, which called for 4 Dulcolax the night before at 5 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by drinking a 32 oz Miralax-Gatorade mix (then 16 oz of clear liquids). The morning of my 2 p.m. procedure, I was then to take another 2 Dulcolax at the same time as the 2nd round of the Miralax-Gatorade drink. I am 5'3", 115 lbs. I thought I would be in a world of pain after reading many of these reviews, so I modified my intake a bit the 1st night. Instead, I took 2 Dulcolax at 3 p.m. and consumed the mix as instructed at 6 p.m. Because I was absolutely fine (yes, it made me go as expected, but no cramping or pain), the next morning I decided to take the other 2 pills at the same time as the prep drink as prescribed, and once again I was fine... absolutely no cramping or pain. By the time I got to my appointment, I was completely clean! I did hydrate a ton, ate a low-residue diet of fewer calories, and took Miralax for 5 days leading up to it."

• Sg2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2021

For Constipation "So I have always had nausea, and my chiropractor suggested trying a laxative because my back is so inflamed that it puts too much pressure for normal bowel movements. I took one pill at around 6:30, was fine the whole night until around 2-3 am when I woke up in so much pain and air bubbling in my stomach that I couldn't move. I just cried until I fell back asleep. It is currently 1:44 pm the next day, and I have gone to the bathroom once and was extremely nauseous all day so far, and will be going right to bed after work. I think I will stick to my usual hot compress on my back until I am ready. Also, wish I had read reviews before!"

• Bob...
• August 29, 2019

For Constipation "I’m on holiday seeing my boyfriend in Dubai at the moment: we were going out eating loads, and I hadn’t pooped since I left the UK (4 days). We found Dulcolax at a local pharmacy, and I decided to Google it. The reviews terrified me, but the pain and bloating got so bad I thought... y’know what... screw it. It’s worth the “experience.” Now, I was really blocked up, so I did feel a lot of cramps overnight. Pretty bad - but it was surprisingly relieving to even feel activity going on down there. No throwing up, drenched in cold sweat, sprawled on the bathroom floor, lol. Come the morning, I was still bunged up and crampy, but throughout the day I was and still am completely relieving myself. Don’t panic if it’s not immediate. I also made sure to down loads of water/an ion supply drink yesterday and today. I was also gonna take another one when I woke up, considering I thought it hadn’t worked. Glad I didn’t! Just be patient, it may take a bit longer than 12 hours!"

• Cri...
• October 11, 2016

For Constipation "I decided to take Dulcolax last night because I have been constipated for about a week and a half. I thought my constipation was going to get better in time; however, it did not. When I did go, my stool looked like small angular black pebbles. I took this medication around 7:30 pm. Then the pain started at 3:12 am in the morning. I have never felt such a pain in my life. I feel like I'm being stabbed in the stomach. I can hear the gas in my bowels shredding through my stomach. I am sweating and nauseous. I don't even know what to do. I thought sitting on the toilet would help. It is now 3:58 am in my Dulcolax journey. I wish I had taken something else, correction, ANYTHING ELSE before I tried Dulcolax. The pain just keeps getting worse! AVOID!"

• Liv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2019

For Constipation "Hadn't had a bowel movement for several days, so took two of these tablets going to bed one evening. I woke up with stomach cramps that lasted for hours, they became worse and worse and can only be described as rather unbearable. Yes, they made me go to the loo, but the pain was not worth it!"

• mij...
• April 18, 2017

For Constipation "Update: drank 1 tablet at 8:30 pm with lots of water and went to bed. Woke up with severe cramps at 3:30 am, followed by a BM. Had some serious cramps for about 5 more hours. Had 1 liquid BM. Then I took Buscopan because the pain was no longer tolerable. After an hour, no more cramps. I can eat and drink normally again. Very effective, but the side effect is very traumatizing."

• Gri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2017

For Constipation "Took it for 2 days bowel prep 3 weeks ago, and along with everything else I was taking, it worked. Initial BM was very difficult and painful. Took 2 pills yesterday at about 2:00 pm for constipation. Woke up at 4:00 am sick and vomited several times with terrible pain. Sweating, shivering, and husband found me on the floor of the bathroom at 6:00 am. It took another hour of the worst pain, cramps, and vomiting before I finally went. Then the spigots were open and had explosive, painful diarrhea several more times - sometimes vomiting along with it, but always the terrible pains. It is now over 24 hours since I took the 2 tabs and still cramping every 1/2 hr with some liquid diarrhea. Just trying to keep hydrated. Almost thought about going to ER!!!!!"

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2017

For Constipation "Took 2 tablets at 9 PM, went to sleep at midnight, and woke up in excruciating pain at 3 AM! The time now is 3:50 AM, and I'm writhing in pain, shaking, and feeling like I'm going to vomit. I rushed to the toilet thinking I was going to have a BM, only to find I didn't, it was only gas. I'm never using these again. I hope this cramping pain and terrible nausea will subside soon as I can't sleep."

• GMo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2023

For Constipation "I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - constipation. Have been taking 3 Dulcolax tablets in the evenings for one month. I don't get pain, cramps, nausea, or vomiting, but I am having incomplete evacuation. My bowels are not getting emptied fully. I have looked up on the net, and it says incomplete bowels are because of IBS. Anybody else have this problem? Please post your reply. Thanks."

• Shi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2016

For Constipation "I am 18 years old, having constipation for the last 5 days. Took 2 tablets at around 10:30 pm. I woke up at around 5:30 am, having pain and went to the bathroom, had little hard stools, then around 6:30 am, same little stools. Then at 7 am, there was sharp pain. When I was moving to the bathroom, I was going to faint, blackness was there in front of me. I couldn't stand on my feet. I pooped my pants and my head struck the wall of my bathroom. Hearing this noise, my mother came and made me sit on the floor and threw some water on my face, then my senses came. I think no more trouble should come from this medicine now. I will never take this medicine in my life. This was the worst experience of my life. I advise you not to take this medicine."