Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor’s recommendation. Docusate softens the stool by reducing the surface tension of the oil-water interface in the stool, which increases the absorption of water and fat into the stool. Medicines that alcohol-associated liver disease interact with docusate may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with docusate. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does.

Treatment & Diagnosis

Use this medication for temporary relief of constipation only. To prevent becoming dependent on laxatives, do not use this medication for a long period of time. Before using docusate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. If you are using the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read and follow all directions on the product package before using this medication. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist.

What is DOK?

The salt forms of docusate are considered to be interchangeable. Docusate was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1957. This medication is used to treat occasional constipation. Some medications and conditions can make constipation more likely.

What Are Dosages of Docusate?

Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Do not take your medication more often than directed. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Throat irritation has occurred in some patients after taking liquid formulations of docusate orally. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often or for longer than directed. Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 2 years old without medical advice.

Docusate Sodium – Uses, Side Effects, and More

Docusate’s onset of action is 6-72 hours orally and 2-15 minutes rectally 7,8. The effects of docusate are thought to be exerted locally in the jejunum1. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. In a colonoscopy, a lighted tube with a camera on the end is inserted through the rectum and up through the colon.

It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. If your condition lasts or gets worse, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, get medical help right away. Store at room temperature away from moisture, light, and heat. You should not use docusate for longer than 1 week, unless your doctor tells you to.

It may happen from time to time, or it may be a frequent occurrence. Selected from data included with permission and copyright by First DataBank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. Please speak with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions about this medicine.

You should not use DOK if you have a blockage in your intestines. Do not use docusate while you are sick with nausea, vomiting, or severe stomach pain. This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects. Docusate is generally considered to be safe during breastfeeding. Docusate is not known to be carcinogenic or cause reproductive toxicity.

If your constipation returns, check with your care team. In Australia, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate is sold as Coloxyl and Coloxyl with senna. Do not flush medications down the toilet an in-depth look at kratoms long-term side effects & how to avoid them or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

The best way to deal with constipation is to address the source. However, multiple sources could exist, and it might also be difficult for some people to pinpoint the exact cause of constipation. Some treatment options can be tried to relieve constipation. This can sometimes make diagnosis and treatment difficult, especially if there is more than one reason for hard stools.

1. Many potential causes of constipation exist, including medications, pregnancy, lack of physical activity, or a disease or condition.
2. The non-pharmacological management of chronic constipation begins with patient education and adjusting dietary and lifestyle habits.
3. It is thought to work by lowering the surface tension of hard, dry, bowel motions, allowing water and fats to penetrate, which makes the bowel motion softer and easier to pass.
4. Docusate is often used when straining to have a bowel movement should be avoided (such as after a heart attack or surgery).Docusate is a stool softener.
5. Nurses play a crucial role in the interprofessional team, providing direct patient care, education, and counseling in both outpatient and hospital settings.
6. Consequently, fecal matter is softened which helps natural defecation or bowel movement.

This article explores the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of constipation. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine (docusate capsules and tablets). Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all your medicines. Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal medicines. Despite these data, the use of saline is still considered to be first-line McCarter 2007.

This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug. Recent studies suggest that docusate’s mechanism of action is due largely to it’s surfactant how to identify meth effect in the intestines, which allow fat and water into the feces to soften the stool4. Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. This is not a complete list of possible side effects.

Additional trials may be necessary to further define the role of intra-aural docusate in the treatment of this condition. It’s safe to crush docusate and senna tablets, but they can be hard to crush, and they won’t taste good that way. Take this medication by mouth with a full glass of water. DOK is used to treat or prevent occasional constipation. Do not use for more than one week without advice from your care team.