Dulcolax 5 mg 40 dragees

Dulcolax - dragees are a laxative. When the active ingredient bisacodyl comes into contact with the mucous membrane of the colon, they stimulate your bowel movements. When used correctly, Dulcolax dragees have no effect in the stomach and small intestine. Therefore, they do not change digestion or the absorption of calories and nutrients in the small intestine.

field of use

Dulcolax - dragees are taken

• for the short-term relief of intestinal sluggishness and constipation;
• to prepare for operations and examinations;
• for diseases that require easier defecation.

Contraindications

Dulcolax must not be taken

• if you are allergic to bisacodyl or any of the other ingredients of this medicine listed in section 6;
• if you suffer from intestinal obstruction or problems with gastrointestinal permeability;
• if you suffer from acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• if you suffer from chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with acute attacks (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis);
• if you have acute abdominal pain that requires surgery, such as acute appendicitis;
• if you have severe stomach pain along with nausea and vomiting - these may indicate a serious illness;
• if you have a severe loss of water in your body and, as a result, a disturbance in your electrolyte balance.

Dulcolax tablets must also not be taken by children under 2 years of age.

Interactions

If you take water tablets (diuretics) or medicines made from adrenal cortex hormones (adrenocorticosteroids) together with Dulcolax tablets, your body may experience an increased loss of potassium. Such a possible potassium deficiency can increase the effects and side effects of medicines used to treat heart failure (so-called cardiac glycosides) when taken at the same time.

You should not take Dulcolax tablets at the same time as medicines that reduce the acidity of the stomach (neutralizing stomach medications (antacids) or medicines from the group of proton pump inhibitors). If such medicines are necessary, you should take them at least half an hour after Dulcolax tablets.

Gastrointestinal problems can be exacerbated by the simultaneous use of other laxatives.

Taking Dulcolax with food and drinks
Avoid taking Dulcolax tablets at the same time as foods that reduce the acidity of the stomach, especially milk. If such foods are necessary, you should take them at least half an hour after Dulcolax tablets.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Dulcolax tablets - like all medicines - should be avoided during pregnancy and only taken on a doctor's recommendation.

Clinical studies show that bisacodyl and its metabolites are not excreted in the breast milk of healthy breastfeeding women. Therefore, Dulcolax can be taken while breastfeeding.

Dulcolax dragees contain lactose, sucrose and castor oil.
Please only take Dulcolax dragees after consulting your doctor if you know that you suffer from a sugar intolerance.

Dulcolax tablets contain 66.4 mg lactose (milk sugar) and 46.8 mg sucrose (cane sugar) in the recommended maximum daily dose for constipation (2 tablets) or 132.8 mg lactose and in the maximum daily dose for preparing examinations (4 tablets). 93.6 mg sucrose. If you suffer from a rare inherited metabolic disease (fructose intolerance, galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, glucose-galactose or sucrase-isomaltase utilization disorder), you should not take this medicine.

Note for diabetics: Dulcolax dragees contain 57.6 mg of carbohydrates in one dragee, corresponding to 0.005 bread units (BE), of which 23.4 mg are sucrose, corresponding to 0.002 bread units (BE).

Dulcolax dragees contain castor oil and can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. 

Application

Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. The recommended dose is:

For constipation
adults: 1-2 tablets (5-10 mg) daily

It is recommended to start with the lowest dose. To restore regular bowel movements, the recommended maximum daily dose can be increased. The recommended maximum daily dose should not be exceeded. 

Use in children and adolescents
​Children and adolescents over 10 years: 1-2 dragees (5-10 mg) daily

It is recommended to start with the lowest dose. To restore regular bowel movements, the recommended maximum daily dose can be increased. The recommended maximum daily dose should not be exceeded.

Children from 2 to 10 years: 1 tablet (5 mg) daily

The recommended maximum daily dose should not be exceeded.

Children up to 10 years of age with chronic constipation may only be given Dulcolax dragees under medical supervision. Dulcolax tablets must not be given to children under 2 years of age.

Method of
administration Oral use.
If necessary, Dulcolax tablets are taken once a day before going to bed. When taken in the evening, 1-2 soft discharges occur after about 6-12 hours. Dulcolax tablets are taken whole with sufficient liquid. It is important to avoid taking it with milk or medicines that reduce the acidity of the stomach (see sections “Taking Dulcolax with other medicines” and “Taking Dulcolax with food and drinks”).

Duration of application
Longer application should be avoided. The need for continued use should be checked after one week and the required duration of use determined in each individual case.

In preparation for operations and examinations
Complete bowel evacuation must always be carried out under medical supervision. The treating doctor determines the laxatives required on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the special circumstances.

To ensure complete bowel emptying, you should use both Dulcolax dragees and Dulcolax suppositories as directed by your doctor.

Adults, adolescents and children over 10 years: On the day before the examination, 2 Dulcolax dragees (10 mg) in the morning and evening and on the morning of the examination 1 Dulcolax suppository (10 mg)

Applications for diseases that require easier bowel emptying.
For diseases that require easier bowel emptying, the dosage is initially the same as for short-term use to treat constipation (1-2 Dulcolax dragees). Your doctor will continually adjust the dosage to suit the specific needs of your condition. 

Side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

The most common side effects during treatment were abdominal discomfort and diarrhea.

The following side effects were observed in studies with Dulcolax:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Cramps and pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, nausea

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• ​Dizziness
• Discomfort in the abdomen, vomiting, blood in the stool, discomfort in the rectum and anus 

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

• Hypersensitivity reactions, reactions that can be associated with failure of the cardiovascular system (anaphylactic reactions), swelling of the skin and mucous membranes, which can also cause shortness of breath (angioedema)
• dehydration of the body
• fainting
• Inflammation of the colon (including inflammation caused by a circulatory disorder)

The occurrence of dizziness and fainting after taking bisacodyl appears to be associated with a reaction such as: B. for cramps in the abdominal cavity and the increase in pressure when defecation (see section “Warnings and precautions”).

Diarrheic, watery stools can lead to loss of fluids, electrolytes and, above all, potassium, and can subsequently cause fatigue and muscle weakness. 

composition

The active ingredient is: bisacodyl. 1 tablet contains 5 mg bisacodyl.

The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: lactose monohydrate (33.2 mg), corn starch, modified starch (corn starch, oxidized), glycerol, magnesium stearate
Tablet coating: magnesium stearate, sucrose (23.4 mg), talc, gum arabic, methacrylic acid methyl methacrylate Copolymer (1:1), methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymer (1:2), castor oil, macrogol 6000, bleached wax, carnauba wax, shellac, dyes: titanium dioxide (E171), iron oxide yellow (E172)

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