Dulcolax and Pain: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Myb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2016

For Constipation "I broke my tailbone and was constipated because of it. Because it hurt too bad to try and poop. So I decided to take Dulcolax, I took 2. It definitely works. But terrible, terrible pain is followed. I did not have any dairy, all I had was water and a bit of broth. This isn't me being dramatic, it was the worst pain I've been in... in a very long time. And I gave natural birth. Just like many other people, I had cramps, sweating, and felt as if I would vomit but didn't. And, towards 4 am, my anus felt like it was spitting out lava. I'm never taking this again. Sticking to apple juice, which takes longer to work but works without the pain."

• Ray...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2018

For Constipation "I honestly thought I was going to die! Took two tablets at 6 pm and went to bed at 10 pm. I woke at midnight with worse pains than when I was in labor. I honestly thought I was going to birth an alien! Sat on the toilet in pain for three hours, being sick into a bucket with hot sweats, passed out around 4 am on the bathroom floor, still no BM. Managed to go back to bed at 6 am, only to be woken again at 8 am and glued to the toilet, being sick again for hours. Had three explosive BMs between 3 pm and 4 pm, 10 pm the next day, and I’ve got mild cramps, no energy, and feel like I’ve just had the worst stomach bug with no appetite at all. The thought of food is turning my stomach! How are these even allowed to be sold? Do not take unless you have a whole day off the next day!"

• Chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2021

For Constipation "So I took 2 pills this morning at 5 because my bowels haven't moved in a couple of days, and all day today I've been so sick, my stomach won't stop cramping. Not only that, I still haven't had a good bowel movement yet. It's now 3:15 in the afternoon, and I'm still in pain. Does anyone know when the pain stops?"

• Sor...
• December 8, 2016

For Constipation "This product should be taken off the shelves before somebody has a heart attack from its side effects. I took one tablet and within about five hours had a BM normally. A few minutes later, I needed to go again. Then all of a sudden, I started sweating, vomiting, and felt I was about to pass out on the bathroom floor. I made it back to bed and was screaming in pain, which went on for the next 20 minutes. It finally calmed down enough for me to spend the next day in bed with a hot water bottle on my tummy. Today is Day 3 post-Dulcolax Drama, and I am left dizzy, nauseous, and weak. If no better by Monday morning, I'm off to the doctor. I feel terrible and will NEVER take this tablet again. If you suffer from IBS, do not take!!"

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2021

For Constipation "Well, I take these pretty regularly, one doesn't tend to work, 2 does. Now, I always drink lots of water, I learned the hard way. I take the tablets about 7 pm, and at 6 am, I start to get mild cramps, then stronger. I go to the toilet, little pressure, then a normal bowel movement. Upon returning to my bed, I get those cramps and head back to the loo, softer, and then this repeats 2-3 times more during the next 1 hour. Last visit to the now stinky bathroom, and it runs out of me like a waterfall. Off back to bed. I get up 1-2 hrs later feeling great as I am no longer constipated, swollen, and uncomfortable. Next lesson I learned was not to eat and drink straight away, or it's nearest loo in quickest time, or it's a change of knickers. I wait a bit and then have a small drink, will still go back to the loo. Then all's fine. These tablets are the only thing for me that works when I am constipated. Yes, you get the pain, feel like you are going to faint while on the toilet. A cold cloth & windows open helps."

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2018

For Constipation "OMG! I am definitely giving this a 10 for being 100% effective, BUT I will warn you about the 2 to 3 hours of on-and-off pains in your lower stomach. You will be in all kinds of crouching positions, followed by a sprint to the toilet to let out fiery diarrhea. Despite the excruciating pain, there were some relieving moments when you think it's over, but IT'S NOT! This product is amazing."

• APa...
• February 21, 2018

For Constipation "The worst! 12 hrs after I took 2 tablets. I woke up in horrific pain from cramps, felt like throwing up, chills, sweating, and it's now 18 hrs after taking, I still have pain and feel weak. I can't believe this is available and, even worse, it has no warnings."

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2016

For Constipation "I have a wheat intolerance and also I am frequently blocked up and was recommended to use Dulcolax instead of my normal senna for a stronger, more effective result. I took 2 tablets at around 8 pm, and by 12/1 am, my whole stomach had bloated to the fact it felt like it was going to pop. It was pulling my skin that tight... Finally, this discomfort passed and the bloating did ease, however, the pains I experienced made me consider going to the hospital! I nearly passed out on several occasions... I did eventually go, and it did do its job, but I do not recommend this at all. It is not worth the severity of the side effects at all."

• Gwe...
• December 30, 2015

For Constipation "This drug is awful! Gives me bloating and not a very good laxative. I took 1 pill unlike the other reviews, I didn't get terrible diarrhea. But it woke me in the night every time I took it (maybe I took it 4 times) with terrible pain, like my stomach was burning and on fire. So sick, sick, sick and not sure whether I would throw up or what was going to happen. Sweating, shaking... the stabbing pain in my belly was so bad. Anyways, I am going to throw the rest of the package out to avoid taking it again. One time I was so super constipated I took 3 pills, and less than an hour later I got gas and diarrhea, but no abdominal pain. Then I kept waking up in the night and rushing to the bathroom, I almost pooped the bed!"

• Xc2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2019

For Constipation "I decided to buy Dulcolax due to constipation, and I will say it does work. Unfortunately, this made me so miserable. I took 2 pills around 10 pm. I woke up around 1:00 am with gas/cramps. By 2:00 am, I was lying on the bathroom floor in extreme pain. I kept trying to use the restroom, and nothing would come out. By 3:00 am, I was able to use the restroom. The cramps stopped, but then I started to feel very sick for a while. I will NEVER again take these pills. Not worth the pain."

• Leg...
• July 16, 2021

For Constipation "I took four, nothing. Took 2 more the next day. Well, it kicked in around 10 am. It felt like pains during the transition phase of labor, and yes, I have four kids, so I know what I’m talking about - the pain was so bad!!! And I still couldn’t get anything out. It wasn’t until another 45 minutes of pain, I am sweating, I’m about to pass out, that it all came out!!! And it took about 20 minutes until I was finished with all of that, and it was diarrhea at the end. I got on the scale and was 5 pounds lighter, that means I had 5 pounds of poop in me for the past 10 days waiting to come out. I am so sorry to be graphic, but my final review is: it will clear you out, but it won’t be fun. I’m going to drink more water and eat more fiber, I can’t go through that again."

• Tra...
• April 18, 2017

For Constipation "Due to a bacteria that caused traveler diarrhea for like two weeks, I had to take very strong antibiotics to get rid of it. Unfortunately, I then couldn't go to the toilet anymore for four days. On the fifth day, I took one pill at 4 pm, woke up at 4 am in the morning with really painful stomach cramps, but couldn't go to the toilet. At around 8 am, the pain was almost unbearable, and I felt sick and didn't know if I had to vomit while I was sitting on the toilet. Worked eventually, but only 16 hours later with a lot of pain in the hours beforehand. It does its job, but you have to accept the pain that comes with it."

• Anonymous
• July 14, 2019

For Constipation "Worst experience ever. I took 2 pills (as per dosage instructions) - went to the loo this morning ... and thereafter, have been suffering the most AGONIZING cramps. I have been doubled over in pain, to the point I could not even drive myself to the pharmacy to get some relief meds. It’s now 10 hours later, and I’m still in pain. I have taken Buscopan, which has given me mild relief at best. I too cannot believe this is on shelves. And it says something when the majority of people commenting here have had equally awful experiences. I did not overdose and have had other laxatives where, granted, there is “some” cramping, but not cramping that lasts for over 10 hours and severe at that. I have not been able to leave my bed all day. I am livid."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2019

For Constipation "I was thinking about taking the laxative dose for 1 week, I so wish I had read the reviews before I did. I used other laxatives several times before, and I never felt as much pain as this time. It was an exhausting experience. I took the medicine at 8:00 pm, and I woke up at 3 in the morning with very strong pain and went straight to the bathroom. I stayed there for 45 minutes, feeling a lot of pain, but finally, I managed to get everything out. I vomited a lot after having evacuated. I did not feel this pain with the other laxatives I took, and I do not intend to use Dulcolax again."

• Tat...
• April 18, 2017

For Constipation "My husband got this for me since I haven't been pooping that well lately. He told me it was better than any others because you don't get stomach cramps. WRONG. I took 2 a couple of hours ago, and now my stomach is in the worst pain ever. Thankfully, I have had a BM, but I don't think I will ever take Dulcolax again because of the severe pain."

• Ava...
• May 10, 2017

For Constipation "I'm between whether this is so bad or it's okay. I took two pills last night, and my goodness, I could not sleep the whole night. I had very, very bad pains in my stomach, like very bad cramps. :( I will never take this again because the pain I felt was crazy bad. I felt like I needed to be taken to the ER! But it did work in the morning at 6 a.m., but I'm still feeling cramps, so I would not take it again."

• Wor...
• December 29, 2015

For Constipation "I went 4 days without a substantial bowel movement due to a side effect of prescription. After feeling major effects of conscription, I took 2 pills with a glass of water at 10 pm. Around 6 hours later, at 4 am, I awoke to serious cramping. The cramping was the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life and lasted for about 5 hours until around 9 am. It was then that I was able to pass some solid bowel movements and then went straight to severe diarrhea. Guess it did what it was supposed to, but the pain was absolutely unbearable."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2018

For Constipation "Please, please do not use this medicine if you do not want to feel miserable for at least 24 hours. This was literally the worst pain I have ever felt (akin to childbirth). I took it around 10:30 a.m. because I was taking a sick day. By 1 p.m. I was hunched over with sweat and chills and severe, severe cramping. I threw up twice and kept feeling like I had to 'go,' but nothing would come out until hour 13. By then, I was exhausted and woke up the next day still in a complete fog and feeling sick. Please do not take this medicine."

• So ...
• October 24, 2015

For Constipation "Adult daughter took 3 pills as Dr. recommended about 9 pm. Luckily, I told her she should stay at my house in case she needed anything. At 4:30 am, she is in major pain, cramping, feels like she is on fire while actually being clammy and nauseous. She said never again. My husband has a crazy colon and had problems for years. He was sent to a Dr. for surgery and possibly to have a bag attached. An old German Dr. asked if he would first try an old remedy. Begin eating 3 tablespoons of wheat bran every day and return in a month to see if there was a difference. Increase as needed. He agreed and it began working. He was up to 8 spoons a day. That was 18 years ago. He is up to 2 5/8 oz per day. Mix 3 tablespoons ground flax, 1 packet sweetener, and water. Microwave for 2 minutes. Take every day."

• Doo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2015

For Constipation "I suffer with IBS/lazy bowel, having not had a BM in 7 days, so I resorted to buying Dulcolax as a last resort after trying countless different laxatives, dietary changes, and suppositories, basically at my wit's end, desperate for some relief. I can honestly say I would've rather stayed constipated! I have never been so ill in all my life, even food poisoning and stomach flu would be a welcome experience in comparison to the effects of this medication. I only took 1 tablet at 1:30 pm (glad I didn't take the 'recommended dose'), come after 3 pm, I experienced terrible nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, muscle cramping, excruciating stomach cramps and pains, generally feeling like I was about to die. I kid you not, after many hours of failed attempts..."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2015

For Constipation "I had an emergency c-section 23 weeks ago. I have normal bowel movements but have been in constant pain since my section. I had an X-ray, and it showed fecal impaction (full of poo). The GP gave me these tablets, and they are horrible. I took 2 before bed as recommended, woke up during the night in severe pain. I'd rather be in labor than have these pains. I had severe diarrhea with blood. I won't be using these again, ever. My stomach is still bloated, and I'm being sick. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone and never give them to children, please, it would haunt them for the rest of their lives."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2017

For Constipation "Took 1 Dulcolax 5mg. I always say I'm never taking this stuff again! It works, but I feel as if it is not worth the pain and the overall feeling you get from it. Yes, it does warn you on the back of the box what can happen, but I would recommend something else for sure! This is harsh!"

• liq...
• October 26, 2014

For Constipation "I've had Dulcolax many times before and always get a varied reaction. Usually, it kicks in after about two hours. I will have moderate to severe cramps for a further few hours, then diarrhea until the cramps stop. Sometimes I can't go for hours and am left with unproductive cramps all night. Sometimes there are no cramps and no effect (in this case, I follow up with Senna plus Dulcolax the next day). My worst experience was a few years ago where I didn't experience cramps until the morning. After an incredibly painful few hours, I passed an incredible amount of diarrhea over the next 24 hours to the point I was certain I had cholera; every five minutes, I would need to run to the bathroom and pass a few liters of water."

• Bre...
• October 2, 2019

For Constipation "I was constipated for a week. I have been suffering from constipation after I gave birth to my son. Due to the C-section, my bowels have stopped moving properly, and still, 10 months later, I'm still having bowel issues. I took two pills before bed and woke up to cramps and nausea. I then took two more, and there it was, a feeling that my life was about to end. Ugh, I was all over the bedroom floor throwing up and having diarrhea at the same time. My husband was so scared he called 911, but I thought I was relieved after getting some of it out. Till three hours later, the same result. I will take Dulcolax for emergency use only, but I'd rather go to the ER. The pain is unbelievable."

• tee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2019

For Constipation "Make sure you drink a LOT of water! I’m 53 kg and took 2 tablets around 9 pm (and had to be at an event at 9 am the next morning). THEN I read the reviews... GOOD GOD, I was terrified I’d be awake all night feeling like I was giving birth to an oversized child. I chugged a liter of water (and then some more!) then went to bed. Woke up around 5 am with cramps but was able to sleep. Around 7:45 am my stomach started gurgling and had the urge to run to the bathroom - the drugs had definitely worked! The floodgates of my bowels opened haha! It was only (very) painful when I had the contractions that I had to push, but it was about 4 times and it was all over. I left for my event at 8:30 am and was fine after that besides feeling physically off for the whole day, although I’d say it’s because I needed to get my electrolytes back. TL;DR, drink heaps of water and hopefully you have a good experience like I did. Obviously expect some pain - you’re literally compacted, it’s going to hurt."