Senna and Pain: What Users Say

• Blo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2020

Senna for Constipation "Due to other medical issues, I have been dealing with long-term constipation and can sometimes go a week without a bowel movement. I have tried several medications and have found Senokot to be the most gentle. My experience is fairly carefree. I take the maximum dose and have not experienced any nausea. I have had some random pains but they never last long, and find myself passing gas after taking a dosage. The end product is successful. Make sure to drink lots of fluids with and after your dose. It makes a huge difference! Also, for comparison, a while ago I tried Dulcolax and it was a nightmare. I felt so nauseated and actually vomited. Groaned and convulsed in pain for hours. Senokot did not give me any problems! This just proves everyone’s body reacts differently to products."

• Bun...
• October 2, 2020

Senna for Constipation "DO NOT TAKE Senokot!! I took two pills last night at around 11pm. This morning, I woke up and had a decent bowel movement but around 11am, I was struck with EXTREME abdominal cramps. They were/are so bad that I couldn’t breathe or talk. I could barely even scream (I have a very good pain tolerance when it comes to things like this). Please, for the love of god, use some Miralax, Dulcolax, magnesium citrate, anything but this. I will never take Senokot ever again. The only redeeming factor was I was able to go to the bathroom, but I’d 100% rather be constipated. It’s currently 3 p.m., and the extreme pain is still on and off."

• Ber...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2021

Senna for Constipation "I had a terrible experience with this drug. The worst stomach cramps I’ve ever had. Chills and nausea too. 15 hours later I feel wiped out and doubled over in pain still. My legs and calves cramped also all night and are still cramping. I would never take this again and I urge caution before taking this."

• Ros...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 7, 2020

For Constipation "The people complaining about Senna need to know how it works. It is a stimulant laxative, it will not soften your poo. To soften it, you need an osmotic laxative, but you stimulate movement. Senna is the absolute best! Incredible laxative, I love the stuff. I use heavy pain meds, so I get constipation. I use macrogol (aka Movicol) to soften my bowel motions and Senna to help push it along. Very predictable relief and works every time, thank God for Senna. If your poo is rock solid as you're dehydrated, taking Senna won’t help you, and it might cause pain. You should only take Senna when you know you're hydrated and your stools are soft. Most people can just take Senna without even thinking about this, but people who are severely blocked up and their stool has become hardened, then you need to soften the stool first with Movicol or any other osmotic laxative. There are a few different types, don’t use just one, use two, and it will have a synergistic effect."

• Mis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 27, 2020

Senna for Constipation "I have chronic constipation due to daily medications. I use the Senokot-S. I take the higher dosage once a week and follow up the next day with 2 in the morning and 2 at night. It gently works for me, no cramps, no pain, just relief. I may have additional BM for three days after the dosing, but that is what I want. Check with your doctor about what is best for you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2021

Senna for Constipation "I took this once a while ago, and it was great, no pain and relief. Because I had a good experience, the next time I was constipated, I was relieved to know I could take one... VERY different experience second time around. The extreme pain and cramping started about 16 hours after taking. I've had 4 children, and the cramps felt like labor pains. I had nausea and weakness. Almost 24 hours later, my stomach is bloated, I'm exhausted, and while I've gone to the bathroom, I have not had a good bowel movement yet. I will never take it again."

• Mai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2022

Senna for Constipation "I took one tablet as I had felt constipated for several days. Shortly after taking it, I was in a serious condition, doubled over in pain much worse than labor pain, I thought I was going to die. I screamed with the pain of each contraction. This went on all night and for several hours after. I was in a cold sweat and sat on the toilet screaming all night. I did not want my young daughter to be frightened, so I kept the door shut and used the toilet downstairs. I felt completely exhausted and wrecked for days afterward, as if I had been through a baby's labor. I wanted to call an ambulance, but was in too much pain to move from the toilet. I have never experienced pain like this and have had long labors with three babies weighing 10 lbs. This was unbearable and the pain was 10 out of 10. I have not gotten over it, it was terrifying. I thought I was going to die. Please do not take this poison."

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

Senna 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."

• Day...
• July 19, 2021

Senna for Constipation "I actually would recommend this product when you feel uncomfortably bloated. I took/take one tablet at night if I feel the need with a mixed herbal tea. The next morning, you do need a bowel movement, and you do get some cramping, but if you don’t take more than you need, it’s bearable and relieving. Heed the warnings, though, if you think you might not tolerate this or you’re tempted to take more than you should - DON’T. You will be on the loo on and off with severe stomach cramping for hours and hours. I took 2 one night, and I could barely walk around town the next day, I was in so much pain with my stomach and feeling sick. Can have really horrible side effects, but if it’s needed, it’s needed."

• Not...
• December 24, 2017

Senna for Constipation "Took 2 pills around 6:30 pm. At 3:15 am, I woke up to HORRIBLE stomach cramps/pain. I honestly thought I was going to pass out from the pain. I went to the bathroom, still having trouble going. Then I started throwing up. For the next 4 hours, I was rotating between diarrhea and throwing up, along with the chills. It honestly was worse than the stomach flu. I never could go back to sleep that night due to the extreme pain and nausea. I will NEVER EVER take this again. Even though I did eventually “go,” I’d rather be constipated than go through this again."

• Do...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2022

Senna for Constipation "My fiancée took it around 10 pm, woke up at 7 am, and is constantly on and off the toilet, unable to pass anything until 20 minutes after, but before that, she was in such pain she was literally shaking. If you’re reading this after the fact, then have some still water, milk, yogurt, or chamomile tea. It should help and avoid spicy food and fizzy drinks."

• Jac...
• December 19, 2017

Senna for Constipation "Very helpful medication. I didn’t experience any pain along with it, despite all the previous comments. Just woke up and had to poo. I have IBS, and it helps a lot with my constipation (plus it doesn’t have a taste, unlike Laxaday)."

• Nie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2017

Senna for Constipation "I use this for 2 days before I was able to poop. The 3rd day, my stomach was cramping so bad, and when I didn't go to the bathroom, I had to use an enema to get relief because the poop was too large to come out on its own. But later that day, I had no problems pooping twice. The 4th day, my stomach cramped so bad I did poop once, but the pain wasn't worth it, especially since before these meds, I pooped more. But with these meds, the pain is not worth taking it anymore. The 5th day, my stomach cramped all day. This pain is terrible, when I drink or eat anything, it causes pain to my stomach. I will not take this pill anymore. I need to feel better, not cramping all day. I never had a problem with constipation before, but my doctor recommended this because of the meds that I am taking."

• Ong...
• April 2, 2017

For Constipation "I'm usually okay going to the bathroom, as I have IBS-D, but for some reason, I felt like I was backed up, still expelling a little here and there, but not satisfied I was okay. So I decided at 6 pm to take senna and BAM, at 7:30 pm, I had the sudden urge to go to the bathroom, almost didn't make it. However, while releasing the explosive diarrhea, I was in a chronic state of pain. It's now 8 pm, and I am hoping that the pain stays away, which from what I am reading, it can last a while. If you want instant relief, this helped me, I took one tablet. However, everyone is different. Happy pooping trails."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2021

Senna for Constipation "The first time it was just intense pressure in the abdomen, but it worked. The second was horrific. I am no squeamish person and can take pain, but my goodness, this really shouldn't be sold. Use the bulk-forming laxatives... or almost literally anything else."

• Up...
• June 26, 2018

Senna for Constipation "Took two max strength at midnight and went to sleep shortly after. Four hours later, I woke up with the most severe cramps imaginable! I felt like an alien was ripping my bowels and colon up! I've never experienced cramps so bad in my life anywhere in my body. I was moaning in pain, lying down with my knees bent up in between trips to the toilet to see if I could shift anything to relieve the cramps, but nothing came except the pain. I took the recommended dosage and followed the instructions. Six hours later, I went to the toilet (a few times in a row). Was it worth the pain? Not in my experience, I used the max strength Senokot, two tablets."

• Mye...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

Senna for Constipation "Never used before, so only took 1 tablet. One of my worst life decisions. The pain I endured when my intestines felt like they had exploded inside, reminded me of the Aliens film where the alien comes out of the chest, only with this drug, no alien but a violent physical contortion, the like I have never felt before. Nothing I could do but endure until it subsided. Will NEVER take again. My real life experience."

• Saz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2020

For Constipation "I suffer from IBS, so I get constipation all the time. Used to suffer diarrhea, but the last few months it's gone, don't know why. I always take it at night and stay in the next day, as wow, it's explosive, but I love it as my stomach goes down and the pain stops. Constipation is awful, the pain that comes with it is agony."

• Kei...
• September 12, 2018

For Constipation "This pill is the worst. I took it Saturday night. Nothing happened until Sunday night, which was the worst pain of my life. Now it is Wednesday, and I am still in pain on my left side. This pain is unbearable - never again."

• Ple...
• October 3, 2016

Senna for Constipation "I took Ex-Lax yesterday morning, and a few hours later, screaming with pain. I've puked and puked from the pain in my belly. Will never use again, and it's been 36 hours and still no bowel movement, just horrible pain."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2021

For Constipation "All guts are not created equal. Some of us can tolerate senna well, and others really cannot. Perhaps a pre-existing low level of inflammation in the gut + senna = the worst pain imaginable. The kind where you are overheating but cooling down from the vast amount of endorphins your body is producing just to get you through it, gooseflesh, and nightmare cramps. That's how it is for me. Best to experiment with low doses first just to see what your guts think of it before going the full monty. Some folks have almost no pain. You won't know until you try, lol. It was highly effective in cleaning out my gut, but I will never take it again, the pain was ridiculous for me, personally."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 17, 2024

Senna for Constipation "The pink Senokot for women is far gentler than the rest of the Senokot brands. Does its job overnight and does not cause severe cramping or pain. Don't believe the negative reviews. Constant severe constipation might mean you need a colonoscopy to rule out other issues like polyps, adenomas, and stricture. Also, drinking water is very important. But eating fiber bulks up your stool, making constipation worse. Try things like bananas, chicken, rice, bread, food without too much fiber. Caffeine and pain meds will add to your constipation as well."

• VER...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2021

For Constipation "Read many comments here wondering if anyone has had this experience. The bottle said to take 2 at night for up to 7 days. BM came after about 14 hours, preceded by mild lower abdominal cramping. I decided to take 2 more days to be sure everything was out. 2nd dose pain got worse, but I continued to poop. Third night, I decided to only take one. Up all night in the bathroom with intense pain. Felt like I needed to go but couldn't. Leaned forward using the counter and jiggled my belly by bouncing my knees. After an hour, explosive diarrhea came. Lasted most of the day and the pain continued off and on, awful, debilitating. It's now a week later and I'm still having bouts of pain. Kept me up all night last night, and this time there was severe nausea along with dry heaves and sweating. I feel like senna has upset the balance of my system so badly it may never heal. On top of that, constipation is back. But the jiggling while in pain eventually causes the ex. diarrhea again."

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2020

Senna for Constipation "This Senokot is the worst thing I have ever taken in my life, worse than labor with the pains and sickness! Couldn't breathe with pain, felt it was the end of my life."

• sen...
• July 25, 2015

Senna for Bowel Preparation "It takes 5 of these tablets to do the same job as one small, powerful Dulcolax tab... but with far less pain."