Senokot and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Ran...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2020

For Constipation "I was having constipation problems for a week, and my doctor told me to get Senokot-S. I took 2 before bedtime around 11 pm, and then at 8 am, when I woke up, I had diarrhea. He told me it would be normal, but for the next 3 hours, I kept going back to the bathroom with diarrhea. I write this with severe cramping, nausea, and dizziness still. I’ve never taken a laxative in my life, so maybe my stomach can’t handle them. I feel so nauseous and weak, I’m never taking this again. I will say that it worked as the whole week I couldn’t go to the bathroom, and I felt full, but today it felt clear, although I’m not sure how worth it it was with these side effects."

• NoN...
• September 21, 2015

For Constipation "Took only one tablet (directions said to take 2) at 9 pm after being constipated and miserable for a week. Two hours later, I was doubled over with the most agonizingly painful stomach cramps I have ever experienced. Was on the toilet for 3 hours without any bowel movement, literally screaming from the pain. I honestly thought I was going to have to call 911. Finally, I had explosive diarrhea for the next hour. Slept on the bathroom floor and had intermittent diarrhea all night. I would rather be constipated for a month than go through that again. Second worst pain I've ever experienced (first worst was a second-degree sunburn on my feet and legs)."

• Exp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2016

For Constipation "Traveling abroad and had three days of constipation. Normally, I'm a daily guy. Thought my system was holding onto something bad I ate, so I decided it needed a little help expelling big bad toxins. Senokot did just that and more! I took one dose at 9 pm. By 3 am, I was on the pot with explosive diarrhea. It's 6:30 am and I'm back on the pot writing this warning for others to heed. I have to travel at 9 am. I hope this ends soon, as taking Imodium is not ideal either. I probably should have drank prune juice instead."

• Cou...
• August 7, 2016

For Constipation "Well. I took 4 tablets as directed before I went to bed. After around 12 hours, the tablets allowed me to use the bathroom as soon as I awoke in the afternoon. Insane diarrhea though, but I'm glad that it helped my constipation."

• Hwk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2016

For Constipation "Took two before bed after being advised to by my doctor, woke up feeling the same. After a few hours, needed to go, but nothing came out, went to work and felt my stomach churning and groaning. Got home, had my dinner, and now diarrhea. But not explosive or terrible! A tiny belly ache, but nothing bad. At least everything's moving!"

• Tru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2021

For Constipation "Senokot is a disgusting medication. I don't even understand how it's even legal to sell this. Not only does it not get rid of constipation, it gives you more problems on top of it. Basically: gas, nausea, extreme dizziness (sometimes I feel disconnected from reality), extreme farting, diarrhea (yes, I have constipated diarrhea now, even I don't know how it works, basically, a bit of poo comes out like water around the solid bit of poo that stays inside and creates cramps, making the constipation even more unbearable). Never take this, I beg you."

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2018

For Constipation "This worked really well for me. I was completely constipated for two weeks, and had tried Milk of Magnesia and Dulcolax with no effect at all. My Dr. recommended Senokot, and I took 1 of the Extra Strength at bedtime. It took 12 hours for me, but then everything got moving with ease again. I didn’t have cramps, pain, or diarrhea. I would definitely use this again."

• CZR...
• October 16, 2019

For Constipation "I took 2 of these as recommended on the pack and got violent bursts of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. The most terrible experience of pain ever. Next time I took 1, and it didn’t work. So it seems 1 is too little and 2 is too much. Be careful!"

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2015

For Constipation "I had a bit of constipation, and it was getting uncomfortable, so I decided to take 2 Senokot. I probably should not have taken 2, as the next day I couldn't keep off the toilet, and by the second day I had to take Imodium, which is the opposite, because I kept having diarrhea, and it seems to be making me feel really lightheaded. I drank lots of water. It definitely relieves constipation, but way too much! So if you are severely constipated, it's worth a go."

• Do...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2022

For Constipation "That stuff ripped through my intestines and gave me diarrhea and chills for hours. It doesn't just relieve constipation, it gives you a colon cleansing. Would not recommend it unless you have a really strong stomach or really bad constipation. The box saying it's gentle is a lie."

• Rin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2022

For Constipation "I had been suffering with constipation for about 4 days when my husband suggested taking Senokot, which worked for him. I took two tablets on the night of day 4, and on day 5-nothing happened... I took two tablets on the night of day 6. Nothing happened until about 8 am, and all hell broke loose. I've had the squirts for 24 hours with no sign of it stopping. Jesus, Mary, and the wee donkey, I'm certain my bowels are on fire. Pros: I'm no longer constipated, I've lost 3 lbs on the scales, I've learned how to sprint, haven't had to leave the house for fear of straying too far from a toilet. Cons: I haven't been able to put any faith in a fart in 24 hours, I've run out of Sudocrem for the ring sting, I'm like a shriveled-up prune, I'm afraid to take a pain reliever for the cramps in case they are the only warning shot before the onslaught of liquid fire from the depths of hell."

• Tan...
• January 19, 2019

For Constipation "This product works really well. I almost never get constipated, but I have quit smoking, and I was having this side effect. I had tried Dulcolax before, and it was a terrible experience with terrible cramps and urgent diarrhea. This medication was recommended by a friend. I was hesitant to try it, but I was very uncomfortable and desperate. I also had hemorrhoids due to the constipation that were healing, and I was scared they would return. I took 2 pills at 9 p.m., and at 4:30 a.m., I woke up to have a BM. The first one was normal, and I had to go about 4 times afterward, and it was diarrhea. I didn't have any cramping or discomfort. I just needed to be near a washroom for about 2 hours after it started working. I feel so much better now. No more bloating, the BMs didn't hurt my hemorrhoids, and I feel like myself again."

• Eli...
• February 15, 2020

For Constipation "I took 1 tablet before bed for constipation as advised by a pharmacist (I’d had diarrhea on Saturday, then hadn’t been at all for 5 days - usually I’m every 2-3 days). The Senokot made me have a bowel movement the next day, around 14 hours after I had 1 tablet. Then I went again a couple of hours later. I started to feel quite sick at this point, really uneasy stomach, not much of an appetite. I still ate lunch and snacks as normal and didn’t feel like I needed to be sick - just crazy nausea. Then a few hours later, I went again, but it was more like diarrhea - then I felt VERY sick. I had to go to a pharmacy again for nausea relief (I was taking a flight to go on holiday, so I wasn’t going to wait for it to pass naturally!) - she gave me Pepto Bismol in liquid form instead of tablets - it worked like a dream and I’ve felt fine ever since. ADVICE: If you get the nausea (it was really bad) - definitely get Pepto Bismol to counteract it! So worth it."

• Hat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2018

For Constipation "I couldn’t go to the toilet for more than a week (although I do suffer from constipation). I took Senokot at night, and the next day (around 3 pm) I had the urge to go. I went three times, roughly an hour apart, and ended up with diarrhea. I did feel relieved, but still a week later, I’m stuck again."

• JDB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2022

For Constipation "I am 7 days post-op from a hysterectomy, and the pain meds I’m on have caused constipation. I took 2 of the Senokot-S (stool softener + laxative) at the request of my doctor. 7 hours after taking the pills, I started getting sharp and severe cramps in waves. Gradually, they became more intense, more severe, and more frequent. This lasted for 6 full hours. I had 2 small BMs during this time. Finally, the cramping became so severe and there was no break between waves of pain that it had me comparing it to childbirth and kidney stones, it was damn close to both. At that point, I had an explosion of diarrhea - multiple times in the span of 5-7 minutes. This was approximately 13 hours after taking the pills. I was able to get some relief at that point from the cramping, but the bowels are still having spasms 24 hours later and expelling gas. Is this medication effective? Absolutely - it will 100% empty your bowels, but it is a HORRIBLE way to go. Don’t do it."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2018

For Constipation "Ok, so I took two pills at 8 pm to help with some constipation I’d been having for a couple of weeks. Honestly, I didn’t really look into it before buying it. I’d never taken a laxative before and didn’t really think about how they work. So after I took the pills, I Googled it. The reviews scared me to death. They read, “explosive diarrhea, extreme cramping, vomiting... then more explosive diarrhea.” Not the stuff dreams are made of. I was so scared. The next day, I was to have a 7-hour car ride with family, and I thought for sure I’d be stopping and exploding diarrhea all day. I packed toilet paper, Imodium, and Advil. What I got were period-like cramps, I felt a little crappy, but no diarrhea. Thank God. About 11 hours after I took the pills, I had soft stool. Then about 20 hours later, I had a little diarrhea. Not explosive :) I would use it again, though. I felt a little crappy all day, but it didn't really do much for me."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 25, 2018

For Constipation "I suffer with IBS-C (irritable bowel syndrome with constipation) and rarely will have a bowel movement naturally. I take Senokot-S every 3 days, and it consistently produces a bowel movement, but it varies how my body reacts to the medication. At times, I have to take two or three doses, and other times, it causes extreme cramps, nausea, and diarrhea after one dose. Unfortunately, any stimulant laxatives such as this cause “lazy bowel” and dependency issues. So, although effective, I would recommend starting with something different, such as Lax-A-Day, before turning to this medication."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2017

For Constipation "Took one the first night, got cramps and diarrhea, ate half the next night, was okay, half the third and nothing. Took one the next, got cramps and diarrhea. Took three-fourths of a tab for two nights straight, nothing, nothing. Took one the next night, STILL nothing."

• qwe...
• November 17, 2018

For Constipation "I have gastric pain and diarrhea on Monday and Tuesday, so I decided to take Gaviscon and the condition still persists, but I am also constipated for about three days. I went to the hospital to check, the doctor said that I have GERD, so he gave me acid reflux meds and Senokot. I took it at 11 pm before sleep, took it 12 hours ago, and now it's 3 pm the next day. I'm down with diarrhea and dizziness, lost appetite, and any time I eat, I will need to go to the toilet. I hope this goes away soon. Works well for some, doesn't work for some."

• Gra...
• November 2, 2021

For Constipation "I've taken Senokot before, and it usually works. This one time, though, I had severe side effects. Bad stomach cramping, grumbling, shooting pains, going to the bathroom every 7-10 minutes, burping like crazy, weak and nauseous, chest pains (what I imagined having a heart attack feels like), and watery stools. I've never experienced anything this bad before. I've never had a baby before, but I imagined this to be worse than labor pains, minus the giving birth part. I had so many things planned for the day, but I spent it curled up in a ball. The second day was better, less frequent bathroom breaks, but when I ate something, it started again. I honestly considered calling 911. Hopefully, the third day is better. I'd give it a five for the side effects. I've only taken two this time, before, I used to take four, and nothing like this happened before. Take with caution, seriously."

• Cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2021

For Constipation "I would not recommend. I took one tablet after not having a bowel movement in around 4 days, and 6 hours later got the worst diarrhea I've ever had in my life, think liquid, explosive, and painful. It happened on and off for a few hours and was terrible because I had just had surgery and was not the most mobile. I also had unbearable abdominal cramping to the point of nausea. I was surprised by this reaction since it seemed like a safe bet of a stool softener, and my chemist recommended it highly."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2022

For Constipation "I am a 26-year-old man who can handle a dodgy stomach. One Senokot and I suffered extreme stomach pain and watery poop like someone putting their finger over a hose. It was the worst! I took it at 11:15 pm, woke up at 4:30 am like a burst fire hydrant, then 7:30 am came the second wave. I had to work that day and turned up late. I was practically useless due to the diarrhea every hour. The stomach cramps were on and off constantly throughout it all and were terrible. The only reason for the second star is because it did work. It was just one of the most awful experiences of my life. Avoid at almost all costs unless it is your ONLY option!"

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2022

For Constipation "I am a 26-year-old man who can handle a dodgy stomach. One Senokot and I suffered extreme stomach pain and watery poop like someone putting their finger over a hose. It was the worst! I took it at 11:15 pm, woke up at 4:30 am like a burst fire hydrant, then 7:30 am came the second wave. I had to work that day and turned up late. I was practically useless due to the diarrhea every hour. The stomach cramps were on and off constantly throughout it all and were terrible. The only reason for the second star is because it did work. It was just one of the most awful experiences of my life. Avoid at almost all costs unless it is your ONLY option!"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2021

For Constipation "On top of fiber supplements and Miralax, I take stimulant laxatives once in a while for severe constipation. I have IBS, so I’m careful to only take one Senokot. I’ve been dealing with fecal impaction for a while, and there have been times the Senokot didn’t do much besides give me stomach cramps. I may not have taken enough. The strange thing is, about 3 o'clock yesterday I took a single 25 mg pill (half the recommended dose of Sennosides), and by nighttime I had a successful bowel movement, but to my dismay, the movements didn’t stop. Now I’m having watery diarrhea with incontinence. The stomach cramps are gone, but over 32 hours later I’m still dealing with soiling. I’m not sure why. I imagine it will stop soon, but I’ll be reluctant to ever try it again with my IBS. One good thing I can say is that it definitely worked. As far as comparing the cramping pain to childbirth, it is a similar feeling, but nowhere near as painful for me."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 7, 2022

For Constipation "Oh my God, I never write reviews, but this made me feel like I was going to die! I took it at 6 pm, and by 10 pm, I was having heart palpitations and chest pain, and the sweating started. I had to open a window, and I stayed up all night 'cause I was too scared to go to sleep! By the morning, I had constant diarrhea that lasted all day! So yes, it helped to relieve my bowels, but I won’t be taking it again."