Senna and Stomach Pain: What Users Say

• Tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2019

Senna for Constipation "Oh my goodness, took this medication thinking it would help me. It worked the littlest bit, still can't really go. But the side effects: cold, shivering, breaking out in sweats, severe stomach pain, dizzy, lightheaded, basically passed out, thought I was going to die. It is 2 days since I took it, and I still feel awful. Will never, ever take again."

• DO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2018

Senna for Constipation "DO NOT USE. SEVERE stomach pain, cold sweats, lightheadedness. My stomach started gurgling about an hour after taking 2 tablets followed by bowel movements. But the INTENSE ABDOMINAL PAIN kept me awake all night. I thought something else might have been really wrong, but after reading many other Senokot reviews, I realize I’m not the only one suffering from the consequences of putting this in my body. DO NOT TAKE!"

• cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2014

Senna for Constipation "I suffered constipation for the past three days because of traveling. I tried a bunch of home remedies, but nothing seemed to work, and I felt extremely uncomfortable with stomach pain as well. So, I went to the nearest pharmacist, and they gave me Senokot. They told me to take two Senokot tablets straight away, so I took two at 3:00 P.M. As I waited, I still felt very uncomfortable. At about 10:00 P.M., my stomach started to make some noises, so I assumed that the laxatives were finally kicking in. At around 12, I went to the bathroom, and finally, I was able to get some bowel movement! I still had to push and all, but it did come out eventually, and I was extremely happy as I felt fresh afterwards. No pain at all!"

• she...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2016

Senna for Constipation "First time it was smooth going. Second time, severe stomach cramps for 2 days, near tears, would run to the bathroom and nothing. Worse than the flu, lightheaded, pale face, cold sweat like I was going to pass out, and I'm home alone with a 2 yr old!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2020

Senna for Constipation "I tried Senokot for the first time (2 tablets), without knowing what the possible side effects were. I started experiencing some serious stomach pains, nausea, and dizziness about 8 hours after taking it. I thought something was seriously wrong with me, but after finally going to the bathroom, the pain went away completely about an hour later. Although the side effects were really awful for me, it did work."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2022

Senna for Constipation "Do NOT buy. I took two tablets at around 8 pm on Sunday night. The following morning, I felt fine and had a BM that afternoon. However, that night, I developed severe pain in my stomach. I began dry retching and had the chills. I also lost my appetite. It is currently Wednesday, and I have been bed-ridden since Monday night. I still have stomach pain (however, it is definitely not as bad as Mon/Tue) and have no appetite. Do not, under any circumstances, buy this product. I’m sure there are other products out there that don’t absolutely destroy you. How they can have this product on the shelves with these kinds of side effects is beyond me."

• Dr ...
• September 20, 2019

Senna for Constipation "I'm sure Senokot works for many, but as the comments show, it doesn't work for everyone. It personally does nothing for me but give me terrible stomach pains. If it doesn't work for you, try Dulcolax, which is very effective."

• Nee...
• October 11, 2017

Senna for Constipation "Ok, I'm gonna give you advice. If you have never taken this medicine before, make sure you have the next day off. Don't try to take this med before bed, thinking you'll have one go at the toilet and you're ready to go. Second, I would try changing your diet, an enema, or even Miralax before considering this med. I was having stomach pain and had an X-ray of my stomach, and my doctor showed me how stopped up I was. It's amazing how much the body can hold. Anyway, I say all this because it does clean you out, but yes, your cramps are close to something like food poisoning cramps because it's forcing your body to do something it can't effectively do on its own. I hope this helps."

• Anonymous
• April 19, 2015

For Constipation "Had an awful stomach bug which caused me surprisingly to become very constipated. I could just about manage to pass a very small bowel movement but not enough to feel fully relieved. I took a senna tablet at about 11 pm because I had awful stomach pain. At about 1 pm, I started to have the urge to go to the toilet. Senna is fabulous!"

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2016

For Constipation "I hadn't been to the bathroom for almost one week. My stomach was rock hard, and I felt so sick. I took three senna tablets at 7 pm. At around 2 am, I woke up with the most horrible stomach cramps and gas. I lay on my left side with a cushion pressing into my cramping stomach until 5 am. I had the most intense urge to poo. I barely made it to the toilet. I had explosive diarrhea. It was the most painful stomach cramps I have ever had, I sat on the toilet for an hour, bent over my legs, crying from the pain. I still feel sick and crampy at 6 pm. It did get the poo out, but it was horrifically painful."

• Nev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2016

For Constipation "I'd rather stay constipated than use this again! Used Coloxyl with Senna to treat 4-day constipation due to a viral stomach bug. Supposed to work in 8 hours, but 4 hours after taking 1 tablet, I got bad stomach pains, nausea, and a general unwell feeling. Lasted all night and into the next morning."

• Ico...
• December 25, 2016

For Constipation "I take opiate pain relievers, but if I do some walking, I usually don't have a problem. When I stay in the house too long, I get constipated pretty badly. It's been about 8 months since I've taken any Sennakot, so I figured it would work. The ones I'm taking are 8.6 mg, and I've found in the past that if I only take 2 or 3, nothing happens. I found that I need 5 or 6. Sometimes, I would get some bad stomach pain, but it was a small price to pay to get some relief. Twice this week, I've taken 6 before bed (8 a.m.), but nothing happened. The second time, while getting up to use the bathroom, I felt it working and went back to sleep, but when I got up an hour later, nothing. Anybody else have this happen? Maybe I sleep past my opportunity."

• Sto...
• June 14, 2016

For Constipation "I was recommended to take Senna-S, but Drug Mart said their brand Senna-Lax was the same thing. I took 2 pills as directed, and for the past 5 days, I have had explosive, constant diarrhea, black liquid, yellow mucus coming out non-stop. Horrible stomach pain and cannot eat, and deathly afraid to eat. Made me feel worse than the flu. Have been in bed for 4 days, and I am a hospice patient, so I would never, ever recommend this. I have had several colonoscopies, and their preparation was no way as bad as this. I won't buy drug generics from any drug store again. Pay the regular price, as the Drug Mart generics are not worth the results."

• Poo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 31, 2017

For Constipation "Senna totally works if you take the right amount. I see one girl took too much and experienced horrible cramps. Yes, you may get a little stomach pain, but think about what's going on inside of your body. The best way after you use senna, or if you don't find it works, is to eat strawberries, papaya, and blueberries on a little bit of shredded wheat cereal, more fruit than cereal... and continue to eat fruit, a ton, like a full cereal or salad bowl full of strawberries, blueberries, papaya, blackberries, apples... in the morning! Food is medicine, and fruit in the morning should be a requirement in life!"

• Nic...
• August 14, 2019

Senna for Constipation "I took two of these for constipation and saw no results, nor did I have any bowel movement the first day. The next day, I took two again, and the floodgates opened, but it was severe stomach cramps for about an hour and then began to ease after my bowels had opened. Then I got up, and they started again. I took these maybe an hour or two before bed and woke up at 4:30 a.m. Bottom line, it works well but causes extreme discomfort in the process."

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

Senna 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!"

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2021

Senna for Constipation "Senokot has been a lifesaver for me. I have been dealing with constipation, bloating, and gas pains for a long time. I am now getting testing done with my doctor, but in the meantime, he put me on Benefiber daily and Miralax if needed. The Miralax bloats me up and causes horrible stomach pains but never produces a bowel movement (took it 6 days straight once and had no luck, so I had to have an X-ray to rule out a blockage... no blockage, was just full of poop."

• Pap...
• November 30, 2020

For Constipation "Senna is absolutely horrible. I took 2 at night before I went to sleep. Maybe it was too much for my body to handle. Woke up this morning, didn't feel as bad, but around 10:30 am, I vomited all fluids. Thought it was meant to make me poop, not vomit. I had really bad stomach pains and nausea, which I hope eventually subsides as I don't want the pain tomorrow."

• NoP...
• February 11, 2019

For Constipation "Oh my gosh, after being constipated for weeks and barely passing anything, I saw an advert on this and thought to give them a go. Wish I hadn't bothered. I am more constipated than before (if that was actually possible), and it gives me awful stomach pains at night."

• I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2017

Senna for Constipation "Have IBS and on strong meds for ongoing pains elsewhere. I get bunged up quite a lot and have been again more so than usual for a few days. I took my pain relief meds as usual all day Monday, tried to go to the loo again on Monday night but couldn't, and I was doubled over in constipation pain, so I took 2 Senokot. All day Tuesday I was asleep on and off. Couldn't eat or drink a thing and felt very sick with stomach pains, couldn't even talk properly. In the evening I drank some water, but each sip went through me, it was like a laxative! Today (Wednesday), I still feel very sick and every little thing I've tried to eat or drink goes through me. I'm also getting a migraine and although I feel better than yesterday, I still feel ill. Rather be bunged up!"

• Way...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2021

Senna for Constipation "Horrendous 2 weeks with my first ever bout of constipation and stomach cramps (after a pretty poor lifestyle through the distress of COVID lockdowns and rules). I went on the offensive, decided enough was enough, nothing solid for a couple of days, and also a couple of Senokot, read the label, what harm could it do? Friday evening took 2, nothing. Saturday evening took 2 more, nothing. Sunday the same. Monday morning a further 2, a smoothie, and a full carton of apple juice. Hey presto, bowel movement of lessening density, no more than 5 times that day. Problem solved, I thought. Well, oh no, that evening in bed, woken by the most horrific stomach cramp ever, sweats and that water feeling in your mouth. Half asleep, thought not much of it. Next morning, feeling a bit groggy, needed to go to the toilet again, 2 times with decent consistency. All hell broke loose, stomach pain and cramps, 10 hours in now. Help me please, how long does."

• Lzo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2017

Senna for Constipation "Helps relieve constipation, but gave me the worst stomach pains ever! To the point where I was bent over and couldn't stand back up. Wouldn't take them again."

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

For Constipation "I really was happy with it. I have taken 2, and all of a sudden, it just stopped working. It has been almost days, causing stomach pain."