Bisacodyl and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Pay...
• August 1, 2016

For Constipation "I tend to suffer regular bouts of constipation and have found that Miralax and other powder-based laxatives have had little effect. I decided to give Dulcolax a shot while on a trip, as it was very uncomfortable to be so bloated while doing some strenuous activities. I took three tablets (I'm 6'5", 250 lbs, and usually take max dose) on Friday at 7 PM. Between HORRIBLE cramps, chills, cold sweats, weakness, and constant runs, I felt like I had taken the pill-form of food poisoning. It is now Monday at 11 AM, and I am still unable to eat anything without it going straight through me. This is not worth it, and Dulcolax should not be advising people to EVER take three of these. Awful experience."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2025

For Constipation "I stupidly took Dulcolax without reading much about it. I had extremely hard stools for the first time ever, like a ball that was stuck right at the exit. I panicked and remembered the Dulcolax in a travel kit. The box said 1-2 pills, and I felt this was an extreme situation, so I opted for two. I skimmed the instructions, knew I didn’t have any of the preconditions, so I didn’t think too much about it. Only after a few more tries in the bathroom did I start googling. Pure dread, after finding all the reviews about the pain, cramps, and hell I was going to face in a few more hours. I guzzled a lot of water (saw on Reddit that it helps) and braced myself for the worst. But… it was spectacularly uneventful. The rock-hard stool softened enough to come out (still with some effort) - but I’m happy to report I have not had any cramps or diarrhea. Not sure if it worked or whether it shifted/reshaped. Guess I’m lucky, but wanted to report that it wasn’t terrible!"

• Hor...
• July 19, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "A first-time user, I took two little orange pills and experienced the worst abdominal pain ever. I once terminated a colonoscopy that was underway on me with no anesthesia (long story), and this pain equaled that. My thanks to you, fellow website contributors, who gave me confidence to avoid the emergency room after searching on 'Dulcolax cramps.' The extreme pain lasted at least an hour; it subsided gradually over the next 5 hours. Have someone aware of what you're going through, and be safe about possibly passing out. I did not pass out. (Age 67/male.)"

• kim...
• July 24, 2014

For Constipation "To the person who said they were going to take half... Don't! The coating on these pills means they don't dissolve until they are where they are meant to get to! I learned this the hard way! The pain was worse than childbirth! And I am a regular taker of Dulcolax! I know what the normal painful cramps are like. This didn't even compare!"

• Emi...
• October 12, 2013

For Constipation "It is an effective product; I take about 2 pills every 2-3 days, and they work predictably, usually about 10-12 hours after taking them. Many people have complained about cramping, but the cramps are actually generally quite mild, as long as you drink at least a glass of water right after taking the pills."

• Bg0...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2021

For Constipation "I took 2 of these little red rockets and then settled back to read the comments! Oh brother, I almost induced vomiting because of all the horror stories. Thankfully, I had 10 minutes of light to medium gut squeezing sessions, and then I had 3-4 very large, very healthy, very smelly b.m.’s. I think I’m gonna take one tonight and hopefully I won’t have problems. I do remember about two years ago I took two and never experienced any of the life-threatening cramps all these unlucky folks have had. I truly sympathize with them all because I have kidney stones and I can definitely relate to laying on the bathroom floor wrenching with pain and wrestling demons that are inside of you ripping your insides apart. Try taking just one, and if that doesn’t work, then a couple of days later try two. I’m not brave enough to try an enema, even though it seems like that would be the most productive method without writhing pain. Good luck, and don’t take more than two!"

• dy0...
• March 29, 2015

For Constipation "Had been struggling for about a week to go regularly, so I decided to try something new. I took 3 pills at 10 pm with a 16 oz bottle of water and woke up at 3 am with horrible cramping that lasted about 3 hrs, but overall, it got the job done. I would definitely recommend this, just not the dosage. I would start with one... good luck."

• Tee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2014

For Constipation "I hadn't gone to the bathroom in 4 days, and so I decided to take 3 pills at 7 PM. Nothing happened until the next day at around 11 AM, and I was experiencing cramping pains, clamminess, cold shivers, a little bit of nausea, and I was farting A LOT. About 30 minutes of this, I had to run to the toilet because I had to go so bad. Let's just say I was relieved of my constipation by a great deal. Sure, there were some side effects, but it was worth it. I feel great now!"

• Noo...
• March 9, 2016

For Constipation "By far, the worst experience I've had with any medicine. I almost called an ambulance, no exaggeration. I've never used a product like this before and chose it based on the package implying that you take it, it works overnight, and produces a normal BM the next day. Um, no... I woke up about 2 AM confused, sweating, cramping, and could barely stand. I essentially crawled to the toilet and, once there, kept nearly blacking out and gagging. I was clammy and pale, irregular heartbeat, shaking, extremely weak - What literally stopped me from calling 911 was that I didn't bring my phone into the bathroom and after I violently eliminated for a few mins, I started feeling less like I was dying. Can't emphasize enough, this stuff is so effing awful."

• Use...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2021

For Constipation "I don't know if people taking this just aren’t hydrated or what. I took three without having read any reviews and woke up the next day with light nausea and occasional, mild cramps, not unlike regular period cramps. As for BMs, slightly comical in intensity. I woke up early to start heading to the toilet, and my biggest complaint is that I’m sleepy and have had to get out of bed several times to attend the water closet. Honestly, this was a breeze compared to drinking one cup of Smooth Move tea."

• aas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2014

For Constipation "I had been constipated for a couple of days and had a package of Dulcolax in my medicine cabinet. I took one at about 3 pm and instantly started feeling nauseous. For the next couple of hours, I had horrible cramps that felt like someone was stabbing me. After about 6 hours, I finally went, but it was diarrhea. All night that night, I was up having diarrhea. For the next couple of days, I felt horrible and couldn't eat any food without feeling sick. Long story short, Dulcolax works to relieve constipation, but the pain is excruciating."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2017

For Constipation "I absolutely hate this medication. I had cold sweats, extreme cramping, horrible nausea, vomiting, and nearly blacked out. ALL FROM ONE PILL. I'm a 23-year-old woman. An over-the-counter constipation medication shouldn't do this. I would never recommend this medication to anyone. I honestly don't believe it should be on the market, or at least offered over the counter and readily available to the unsuspecting consumer."

• Twi...
• November 3, 2015

For Constipation "I took one Dulcolax on Sunday and then one on Monday for constipation. I was awakened last night at 1 a.m. with horrific stomach pain, cramping, nausea, and diarrhea that was like explosive water. All day yesterday, I was going to the bathroom, each time with a little bit of diarrhea. I must have been in the bathroom 25 times. But the pain and nausea I felt last night for hours almost sent me to the ER. I kept wishing I could go ahead and vomit so that I'd feel better, but I never could. But the nausea and the pain nearly drove me over the edge. I was in the fetal position for hours (when I wasn't running to the bathroom). I never, ever expected to feel this horrible. Never again. I still have sharp pains and watery diarrhea today."

• liv...
• October 1, 2015

For Constipation "(15 years old, 103 lbs) I took this at 3 pm yesterday morning. I was stupid and took three pills. At about 3:30, I was having horrific abdominal pain and cramping and bad nausea. (I never actually threw up, but I felt like I was going to several times.) At around 2 am, I had to go. After that, I went back to bed, but for the rest of the night, I had to get up at least every fifteen minutes with explosive diarrhea. I woke up the next morning in extreme pain with worse nausea than the night before. I tried going to school and had to be picked up early because I couldn't even control my bowel movements. It's now 10:16 a day after taking this laxative, and my stomach is cramping and growling, and I still feel nauseous. I do not recommend. If you take it, take only 1!"

• Anonymous
• September 24, 2019

For Constipation "Took one pill at 7 pm. I had only had some small bowel movements for the past 5 days, but I could tell I was backed up and bloated. At 5 am, I woke up to a burning in my stomach, and a feeling of doom washed over me. I went and sat on the toilet, but instead of coming out the back end, I vomited into the trash can while my stomach violently cramped. So many things crossed my mind. Maybe this is what happens to those women who didn’t know they were pregnant until they started going into labor (the cramps were that bad). With the amount I was sweating, I then considered that I was having a heart attack. Or maybe my gallbladder was flaring up? I have a history of debilitating menstrual cramps, so I know what pain feels like. This was a whole other level. I had almost forgotten that I took Dulcolax until I saw it on my nightstand, which is when I got on the internet and found these reviews. Thank goodness I stumbled upon this website or else I’d be racking up ER bills thinking I was dying."

• Pin...
• October 7, 2019

For Constipation "Do not take more than two pills, trust me, two will be bad enough. Do not take sleeping pills or you will poop the bed. Do not drink milk or consume dairy products while taking the pills. Milk will stop the drug from working, and dairy products will make you vomit. Drink plenty of water, stay close to a toilet for the next 3-14 hours. Yes, this gives you HORRIBLE cramps. Yes, if taken on an empty/full stomach, it will make you want to vomit. You will not have a solid bowel movement for 24 hours, but it’s not “I must run to the toilet every five minutes” for the full 24 hours. In my experience, that part lasts from the first bowel empty to the third time. After that, you’re mostly in the clear, just don’t try to fart - you’ve been warned. I’ve taken Dulcolax pink for three years now every 7-14 days. This is not the laxative for occasional constipation. Take the blue lax pills. This is the drug for severe & chronic constipation."

• Oak...
• March 23, 2014

For Constipation "Before my period every month, I get awful constipation for about a week before. I usually just wait it out because it eventually just goes away. But this time, I tried something new. I took 2 Dulcolax last night around 9 and woke up at 9:30 with severe nausea and cramping. Let's just say, after hours upon hours today of the worst stomach cramps possible, crying, sweating, and throwing up, I'm exhausted. It kept its word, it relieved all my constipation and I feel great now, I just wish all the side effects that came with taking it weren't so bad."

• Jea...
• October 1, 2016

For Constipation "Drink lots of water!!!!! I go every morning like clockwork. But due to surgery, I had to take painkillers, and I wasn't able to go for 4 days. My friend (who takes it regularly due to her celiac disease, which causes her a lot of stomach issues) brought me a pack for me to use, and she told me water is the key, and it's true. After I took one, I read the reviews below and freaked. You only need one. I took 1 pill at 7:30 pm with two bottles of 750 ml of water. At 8 am, I started to feel a little cramp and a light body ache, and I had my bowel movement. Then another one 20 mins later and a third about an hour later. I had smooth, clean bowel movements each time. Drink water and 1 pill!"

• Ang...
• June 7, 2019

For Constipation "This Dulcolax medicine is awful, truly awful and not “gentle” at all! I will be writing in a complaint. I had constipation, chose this over my usual brand of relief because of the TV advert, I thought “gentle”, okay I’ll give it a try then. What a huge mistake. I took 1 tablet at 11pm. Then at 5am, I woke up with horrendous cramp, worse than childbirth, nausea, lightheadedness, and very hot. These symptoms continued for 4 hours, I was in agony. At 9am-ish came a bowel movement, but the sheer agony of cramps and nausea continued for a further two hours until an “explosion” of diarrhea I had never ever experienced in 60 years of my life! It came unexpectedly, ruining my stairs and landing carpet en route to the bathroom. The bathroom has feces splattered everywhere, all over the bathroom and on me. It took over an hour for the areas to be cleaned and all soiled items binned. Two hours on and liquid is still dripping out of me like a tap."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2017

For Constipation "I've taken this a couple of times and never really thought about the side effects because my body is unpredictable due to other sicknesses, but this last time I took it, I wondered if anyone had experienced the same effects. Taking it gives you relief, but not without putting you through hell first. I take it in the afternoon and wake up the next morning with horrible cramps. I get cold sweats occasionally and I start shaking. It scares the living crap out of me, and then for the rest of the day, I feel extremely weak. If you're gonna take this, mentally prepare for that hell."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2016

For Constipation "Took three pills (I'm an adult) last night, and nothing happened. That was to be expected, most reviews I had read said a couple of hours later it would kick in. Cue to this morning, about three hours ago. I woke up cramping and hurting and squirming in my bed like a wounded animal, clutching at my stomach because it felt like I was shot. Eventually, I got up and moved to the bathroom, but nothing happened. So, I sat and waited, tried a little and succeeded some, but cramping came in and out in waves, which just made it worse for me. While on the phone with my parents, I hung up, and it instantly happened. My BM was quick, almost painless, but most importantly, it happened. So, it worked, but be wary of the pain that can induce when you use this!"

• mxw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2014

For Constipation "I had been getting wind pain and lower abdominal pain from not being able to go for about 4-5 days. I took 2 tablets around noon. I have never taken any laxatives prior to this. Six hours later, I experienced some mild cramping, which lasted for another 8 hours. When the cramping died down around midnight, I experienced some flatulence, which gave my bloated stomach some relief, and I was able to take a short nap. Woke up at 6 a.m. and I'm happy to say it did the trick. If I was in the same situation, I would take this again, I suppose most users don't post unless their reaction was extremely good or bad."

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

For Constipation "I was constipated for about 4 days. I tried Dulcolax on my 4th. I took one at night. I woke to little cramps, but I still didn't have a bowel movement, so I took a second one... when I tell you it worked the next minute. I started having painful cramps for about 10 minutes. Then all of a sudden it happened. Everything went out."

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

For Constipation "I was constipated for about 4 days. I tried Dulcolax on my 4th. I took one at night. I woke to little cramps, but I still didn't have a bowel movement, so I took a second one... when I tell you it worked the next minute. I started having painful cramps for about 10 minutes. Then all of a sudden it happened. Everything went out."

• Ith...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2017

For Constipation "Whoever posted that taking more than one is “overdosing,” the package instructions beg to differ. As per the instructions, I took two in the morning. I had rhinoplasty surgery 5 days ago and had normal meals every day since with no BM. I was not heavy with pain meds, but I have heard the anesthesia can block you up. So after trying coffee and oats, I realized it’s time to take a laxative. I’ve never had a laxative, so I didn’t know it would be this way. Just like everyone here, I had level 10 pain, sweats, cramping, nearly fainting. I was home alone, so it was terrifying, and I considered calling 911. Hours went by on the toilet."