Dulcolax Laxative and Nausea: What Users Say

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2021

For Constipation "WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. I took 3, like the box said (10 PM). I took it because I haven't been able to potty for a week. Around 2 AM, I woke to my stomach cramping so bad. I got up and went to the bathroom, and nothing happened. 30 minutes later, I felt even worse, so I went back to the bathroom. At this point, I'm nauseated and very lightheaded, and once I got to my destination, sweat was literally pouring off me like I've been digging holes in the desert with a temperature of 115 outside. With all of this going on, I went into an anxiety attack, which now it's hard to breathe. Thankfully, it FINALLY released itself. The next morning, I felt like I've been run over by an 18-wheeler and exhausted beyond belief and shaky. Definitely not ever taking this again."

• Mae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2021

For Constipation "OMG, I took two, thinking, oh, I will be able to get my bowels to start working. Boy, I wasn’t expecting the horrible stomach cramps, nausea, bloating (to the point I feel I am a few months pregnant), and I am having a hard time just getting water down. I have put a heating pad on my stomach in hopes this will help alleviate my stomach cramps and the bloating. I will NEVER ever take this AGAIN!! I would rather do an enema than take it!!"

• Cat...
• July 19, 2021

For Constipation "I took these pills at 9 a.m., and by 1 p.m. I was overcome with intense stomach cramps, shaking, sweating, and diarrhea. Since 1 p.m. I’ve had multiple bouts of diarrhea, and I’m extremely nauseous. It’s now 6:30 p.m., and I’m literally afraid to leave my bedroom for fear I may not make it to the bathroom. Constipation is better than this. I will be throwing this product in the trash and advise others not to use it."

• Jan...
• February 15, 2021

For Constipation "Took a few of these before bed (8 PM), woke up at 3:45 AM in extreme pain! Cramping, nausea, severe gas pains, etc. I do not recommend this-constipation is more tolerable than this! I feel so, so very bad right now!!!"

• Len...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 16, 2020

For Constipation "Omg, the stories of the others that experienced this dreadful laxative are hilarious, but at the same time, I feel their pain. They changed something with the Dulcolax pink. It never used to cause the nausea and stomach pains that it does now. I have to look into a new laxative as I can’t deal with this when I have to take it often due to constipation. I wish they hadn’t changed the makeup of this because it never used to cause the pain and nausea, dry heaving like it does now. Seriously, I wish someone at Dulcolax would read these reviews."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2020

For Constipation "Took 2 Dulcolax Pink at 10:30 PM due to not having a bowel movement for 3 days. I have IBS, and constipation can be sickening. Woke at 5:30 AM with severe stomach cramps and feeling nauseous. Went to the restroom but no bowel movement. Finally able to go back to sleep and woke at 8:00 and started having loose bowel movements, then it changed to completely water. Have had an entire day of diarrhea and a sick stomach. This medicine is horrendous! Read the reviews before taking! Will not use again!"

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2020

For Constipation "Took 2 Dulcolax Pink at 10:30 PM due to not having a bowel movement for 3 days. I have IBS, and constipation can be sickening. Woke at 5:30 AM with severe stomach cramps and feeling nauseous. Went to the restroom but no bowel movement. Finally able to go back to sleep and woke at 8:00 and started having loose bowel movements, then it changed to completely water. Have had an entire day of diarrhea and a sick stomach. This medicine is horrendous! Read the reviews before taking! Will not use again!"

• Sur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2021

For Constipation "I took 2 tabs yesterday at noon, and I will never do that again. I had such sharp pain, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and it went on all day. DO NOT use this product! The box claims it's gentle... far from it. I have suffered through painful situations, but this was one of the most horrific. I will write a letter to the company."

• Reg...
• October 4, 2018

For Constipation "I get backed up, so I tried these at 2 a.m. with the intent to be cleared out by the next day. After 30 mins in, I was slightly dizzy/nauseous. At 8 a.m., I thought I was giving birth from my navel. I got up, and as soon as I was upright, my gut seized the wrath of Satan. I’ve not had worse stomach pain ever, and I once ate 3 McChickens in a row. I sat on the toilet for 20 mins expecting chaos, and nada. After another painful 10 mins, I passed liquid. It was the temp of the sun. 3 mins like someone turned on the faucet in my bowels. It seemed to help momentarily. As a testament to how momentary that relief was, I’m writing this review from the toilet. I'm thinking I may succumb to the worst case of dysentery known to man. Now to cancel my dinner plans so I can begin writing my last will and testament. TLDR: For God's sake, avoid this like your life depends on it. Because you’ll be making deals with the devil to get off the pot. Trust me. This is sound advice. Do not do it."

• Vic...
• September 23, 2017

For Constipation "Literally, as I type, I feel like I'm dying. Long story short, yesterday I was pretty constipated and in pain because I couldn't seem to have a BM. If I did, it was your typical push and drop a pebble, and that's it. So it's 11 a.m., I take 2 Dulcolax and go to work. I left at 3:30 p.m. because I knew I'd be in the bathroom a lot. 5:30 p.m. rolls around, and I am hit with a violent, and I mean VIOLENT BM. I could have sworn I pooped out a boulder. It's now 11:47 p.m., and I'm STILL having BMs, along with nausea (I can barely get water down without wanting to vomit), EXTREME stomach pain, cramps I can feel ALL OVER my abdomen, dizziness, and I'm very weak and shaky. I've had to talk myself out of the ER all night, but at this point, I'm ready to seriously cry."

• Bae...
• June 10, 2019

For Constipation "I am 24 years old and a stage 4 cancer survivor, and this medicine was hands down one of my top 5 most painful moments I have ever experienced. I was constipated due to pain medication. The instructions on the box said to take 1-3, so I took 3 not knowing what I had just got myself into. Also, on the box, it said 6-12 hours before you feel symptoms, but it also said it could work in as quick as 30 minutes. I was just desperate for the constipation tightness to go away (not knowing in a few hours I'd be on the verge of death). After about 2 hours, I woke up out of a dead sleep to the most painful tightness in my abdomen and nausea that was worse than my chemo/radiation treatments. I spent the next 6 hours or more on the toilet with the most vile mess coming out of both ends. Since then, I have taken other medications that work with my body safely. I refuse to ever feel that sick and that much pain voluntarily ever again."

• Riv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2019

For Constipation "I took two 5 mg and then read the reviews. Was so stressed by the negative reviews, but I drank as much water as humanly possible. The pills caused bearable cramping and only had mild nausea the first time I went to the toilet. The poop was medium soft then a waterfall, but when you're constipated, you kind of want that stuff put anyway, so that part didn’t bother me too much. Overall, it took about 10 hours to kick in. I've been to the toilet 3 times, once every two hours after the first time, so only use this medicine when you have nowhere else to go and no other duties. I'm sure there’s a more high-quality way to manage constipation, but this works and it's not the best, but in no way is it worse than constipation. It's not perfect, but definitely not the worst thing ever."

• Art...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 7, 2020

For Constipation "Took Dulcolax Thursday night for constipation. Woke up with the worst stomach pain I have ever experienced. Vomiting began the next morning and has continued off and on for four days now. The stomach pain is slightly dulled with a heating pad. Cannot eat anything without my stomach hurting or a nauseous feeling. I do not recommend this product to anyone."

• Nes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2016

For Constipation "I give it a 2 because I was no longer constipated within a few hours after taking it, but the stomach pains, as many have posted, are excruciating when the box says relief is 'gentle,' and I specifically bought the pink one for sensitive stomachs. I have not yet had a child, but it is what I imagine giving birth feels like. I have been doubled up since yesterday because of the pain in my stomach and severe nausea that makes me feel like I am going to throw up at any minute. I am not getting relief from the pain after bowel movements and have been sobbing because of the pain to the point that my boyfriend wanted to take me to the ER. I am trying to stay hydrated with lots of water like others have suggested, but it is difficult with my stomach."

• Los...
• April 19, 2019

For Constipation "I am currently on a medication that makes me experience constipation, so I decided today to take 2 Dulcolax to try and empty out. I took it maybe 35-40 minutes ago, and I already have a horrible pain in my stomach. I’ve been sitting on the bowl now for an hour, feeling like I’m going to throw up or poop. It’s horrible. I have cold sweats, and my abdomen has so much pain. I’m afraid to push because I feel like I might vomit if I do. I do not recommend this to anyone."

• Ash...
• July 20, 2014

For Constipation "Noticing that I hadn't had a bowel movement in almost 6 days, I purchased this product and took 2 around 3 a.m. I woke up around 8:30 a.m. with the most pain I've ever felt in my life. I gave childbirth naturally with no medicines, but this, by far, felt almost the same. I felt nauseous and had a frequent flow of bowel movements. I got sweaty hot, then so cold I would shiver in a matter of seconds apart. I even felt faint, and my vision got blurry. After drinking 2 bottles of water, I felt somewhat of a relief in pain, but not 100%. If you need a bowel movement, this is your product, but it HURTS! Try a stool softener instead."

• owa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 26, 2019

For Constipation "I've got gastroparesis-like symptoms. Basically, I'm always constipated. However, I'd prefer my current condition of a distended stomach for weeks rather than the agonizing 24-48 hours this hellish medication provides. I took 1/2 a tablet (where the dosage is 1-3), and 6 hours later, cramps. Then, an hour after that, I'm vomiting, passing out, and awakening with a killer headache and the most pathetic result. 10 hours after, if you're lucky, you might pass something resembling stool, but good God, I wouldn't recommend it. The nausea isn't worth it, you'll be seeing spots for days, and the cramps are absolutely ridiculous. I am yet to find a laxative that doesn't make me throw up, but this is by far the worst. The bad news is that I got a pack of 100."

• Hit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2016

For Constipation "I have never experienced any hope of medication to assist in health before and after researching. I thought the product looked okay to try, but I was so wrong. It did work after 14 hours, but throughout the night, I was woken up by cramps and hot sweats. The cramps are worse than a menstrual cycle, and this may be too much information, but I almost passed out right before my BM and during, felt I was going to vomit all over the place, and my body feels extremely weak. For getting the medication for sensitive stomachs, it sure doesn't feel like it was meant for me, very disappointed and threw the entire package away."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 7, 2018

For Constipation "Well, I’ve had really bad, painful constipation for days now. I was able to go a little, but I hate to admit I mostly pushed (which I know you're not supposed to do, but I was desperate!). Anyway, I got my fiancé to go get the Dulcolax pink. Took it in the afternoon, and nothing happened. Figured it wouldn’t work. I read all the reviews and was horrified, thought I was going to die with these terrible cramps that people said would come my way. Woke up a couple of times through the night with light cramps, but nothing. Got up at 8:30 a.m. because holy moly, I gotta poop. Cramps were there and wow! Helped me out so much like you wouldn’t believe. Yes, my stomach is sore and I’m nauseous, but the cramps really aren’t bad at all. This drug is different for everyone, but I do recommend it. Drink lots and lots of water after taking it! I saw a review saying you won’t get the bad cramps if you drink like 10 glasses of water, so I did, and I’m fine!"

• Sti...
• May 7, 2015

For Constipation "I have been having a little tummy trouble the past few days and hadn't had a BM, and it was starting to become unbearably uncomfortable. I took these last night about 10 PM and woke up this morning around 3-4 in excruciating pain. I was sick as a dog. I did finally have a BM after sitting for about 20 minutes, almost in tears from the cramps. Once I went, the cramps subsided, but only temporarily. I have been getting on-and-off cramps that feel like I am being repeatedly stabbed in my lower abdomen, and to the point I feel like I may vomit. Will not use this product again."

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

For Constipation "Please don't take these!!!!! I take these mostly daily for personal reasons, so that might have something to do with my experience, but reading these, it's not just me!!! I took 2 about 4:00 PM, and at 11 PM, I feel as if my stomach is being shredded apart, unbelievable pain, and you don’t know when the magic will actually happen. Just laying in pain, nausea, and lightheaded with intense stomach pulsing. It sucks!! Please consider taking these very carefully, it’s not something you want to go through!!"

• Run...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2016

For Constipation "My husband asked for something to help with pooping (he never needs help as he is very regular). I gave him what I take: Dulcolax little 5 mg gold pills, 2 pills at 11:30 PM. His first after the first poop this AM and after breakfast, he got nauseous, it has continued all day with finally taking Pepto-Bismol to help cramps (which will turn your stool watery or not very dark to black). We thought he had food poisoning, as I have taken Dulcolax for years with no problem. Then I searched, and to my surprise, this doctor-recommended laxative has made his Memorial Day weekend suck. 2 colonoscopy, no problem. He had the shivers, shakes, projectile vomiting after drinking water, and terrible stomach cramps, first time I have seen this. Big man spent most of the day in bed."

• Jem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2018

For Constipation "I took Dulcolax because the box said it was a gentle laxative. It is by far the most painful thing I have ever endured... next to childbirth, and I have two kids. I took 1 pill at 5:30 PM and went to the bathroom by 6:30 PM. This pill dried out my eyes, caused severe prolonged stomach cramps, nausea, dry heaves, and had me passing out in the bathroom and in bed. The next morning, I felt a bit stronger, but very bloated and still sick with stomach pains. I cannot wait for the 1 pill I did take to wear off. I will be throwing these away! Please do not take!"

• Blo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2022

For Constipation "Awful and not worth it. Intense stomach cramps and nausea. More came out of my mouth than my behind. Worst night of my life. Similar to all the other reviews. Do not use this product, it should be taken off the market."

• Mer...
• April 6, 2017

For Constipation "I would not recommend this laxative. However, it is very effective at relieving constipation, the side effects are not worth it. I took 3 pills per the recommendations on the box and was severely constipated. Within 7 hours, I could feel it working, my intestines were bubbling and cramping, then I was able to have a bowel movement. Most laxatives soften your stool, this one liquifies it! It's horrible! But I have to say the worst part is that it makes you feel so nauseous! So, not only was I having explosive diarrhea, I was also having to vomit. This lasted for about 7 hours! If you take this, be prepared to be sick all day long! Choose another one, like magnesium citrate, that's much gentler, yet effective! Throwing away immediately!"