Dulcolax and Cramps: What Users Say

• Dru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2021

For Constipation "I feel like my experience would be different to someone who only suffers from occasional constipation. I unfortunately get constipated to the point I can’t remember the last time I had a bowel movement. Dulcolax works for me but it is the most intense painful experience EVERY single time. And yes, I have used it more than once because clearly I have a death wish. Within 2 hours, the cramps start. The type of cramps where you can’t lay down, but also you can’t sit up straight because they are ripping apart your insides. By morning, I am awake at 7 am unable to sleep because of cramps. It usually takes 2 hours of excruciating pain to be able to actually go to the bathroom, and after that, you’re running to the toilet once an hour quite a few times. Fun fact: 24 hours after I took this stuff, I trusted a fart and crapped my pants :) so taking this is not a fun time, but everyone’s experience is different. Just ... don’t trust your farts for a while."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2021

For Constipation "Whoever created Dulcolax - well I don't know what they were thinking. I took three pills at around 3:30 pm. By 7 pm, I started to feel ill. I had a stomachache and felt like I was going to throw up. Fast forward 3 1/2 more hours, and my lower back felt like it was on fire, my heart was palpitating, my legs were shaking, I had horrible cramps, and felt so feeble that I could barely move. Half an hour later is when all hell broke loose. It was a five-hour ordeal. I was butt naked on my toilet, seeing stars, unsure if I was going to throw up or poop at any given time. During these five hours, I alternated between writhing around on my bathroom floor and sitting on the toilet. I would have called an ambulance, but I couldn’t walk to get my phone from my room. I thought life was going to be over."

• ANB...
• July 8, 2021

For Constipation "Never using this stuff again! This stuff is awful! I wish I read the reviews before taking this. So here’s my story: I can never poop, I’m lucky if I go twice a month, and I had enough and wanted relief. I tried Miralax and Benefiber, and neither worked, so I decided to try Dulcolax. I took 2 of these teeny tiny bombs at 9 pm, woke up at about 4 am having the worst cramps ever, felt like I was in labor. It lasted all up until 7 am, and I got up to try to poop, I couldn’t even push because I was hurting so bad. Then finally it all fell out: complete diarrhea. At the same time, I got super nauseous and threw up. I got super hot and clammy, got super dizzy, and saw stars. I actually passed out on the bathroom floor mid crapping. I couldn’t get up, I was so weak and everything was spinning. For the entire day, I had diarrhea every hour or so, it wouldn’t stop. I had to call into work, I was so sick. I could barely eat anything. I then got a raging migraine from it all."

• P-m...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2020

For Constipation "So after reading all the reviews on here, I figured I’d share my story. I’ve taken this drug a few times. First two times I had mild constipation and shared the same experience as most of you on here have had. Horrible cramping, sweats, explosive bowel movements, laying on the floor, and overall just wanting life to be over! The next two times I had taken it, I honestly swore I’d never take this drug again, but this time my blockage had lasted over a week. That feeling alone is scary thinking that your intestines will explode. So I took it each time right before bed. Woke up early in the morning with cramping but immediately released in the toilet. Diarrhea for the next few hours but tolerable. So to conclude, this is a great product for severe constipation. I’m not talking about 3-4 days without a bowel movement, I’m talking about a week or longer. Try other outlets like Colace or Metamucil. Dulcolax should be a last resort after a long period without. Hope that helps someone :)"

• Zim...
• September 14, 2020

For Constipation "Took two tablets at about 8 am, expecting some gentle movement in a few hours. Next joke? Before 9, I was totally incapacitated with extreme cramps and nausea. This was closely followed by sweat pouring from my whole body, then the explosive diarrhea described by many others. I genuinely thought I was going to have to call an ambulance, I felt like I was dying slowly and very painfully. This product should not be sold over the counter."

• Wor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 12, 2020

For Constipation "TIPS: Start with 1 the first time, and never take more than 2. Drink lots of water - if you are not hydrated they will make you feel nauseous. Only take for moderate to severe constipation, if it’s mild you will experience severe cramps. These DO work very well, but follow the above first."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "Ok, I have extreme anxiety and was terrified of the colonoscopy prep. I’m not really sure why I was so scared except after reading everyone’s reviews, I think that was the fuel. I had an EXCELLENT experience! Took two Dulcolax at 12:00 pm. Around 1:30, I felt some slight cramping, no big deal, and I used a heating pad. Started going pretty rapidly but no pain, nausea, or sweating/feeling faint. I also drank Miralax in between. Took two more Dulcolax at 4 and then more Miralax at 5. I’m proud of myself for completing the prep, it was really no big deal! Drink LOTS of fluids. Also, I didn’t eat too much the day before, which makes the prep easier. Don’t worry."

• Jas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "DO NOT TAKE DULCOLAX!!! This pill does the job, but be prepared for excruciating pain. A week ago, I took two pills because I was backed up for 5 days, and it was the worst experience of my life! I took this at night, and around 7 am, I woke up to terribly bad cramps. This went on for like 30 minutes, and I decided to go to the bathroom. Thank god I did because it came out like a water hose, and I almost threw up. This lasted the entire day! When I finally thought it was over, I ate literally just a piece/crumb of bread, and I had to run to the bathroom again. I went on my phone to see reviews about this product, and I was so disappointed in myself for not reading the comments before I took this. I cannot imagine this pill being given to a child. Please do not give this pill to your child!"

• Kri...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 2, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I have Crohn’s Disease and have had 23 colonoscopies over my adult life. I have used Dulcolax as a bowel prep for the last 12 procedures. It is not fun during the bowel prep, you will probably experience painful cramping just like you would any other time you have diarrhea, but that is the point of a bowel prep. You have to be thoroughly cleaned out. You will need to be home and near a bathroom during your entire prep, this is not a time to leave your house! If you are afraid of taking this many pills, ask your doctor for a different prep. I will never go back to one of the gross liquid drink preps, this has worked 100% for me."

• Fat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

For Constipation "I don't know why this drug is getting bad ratings for effectiveness. It's extremely effective at its intended purpose. I wouldn't recommend using this unless the constipation has progressed beyond the scope of using a stool softener. Because Dulcolax is NOT a stool softener. It's a STIMULANT LAXATIVE. That means your gastrointestinal muscles squeeze really hard to get rid of anything inside. Please understand, this is not for tummy discomfort, it's for clearing a blockage, and it will ABSOLUTELY clear your constipation. As with any type of medication, one should assess one's tolerance the first time taking this. The directions say 1-3 tablets, so start with ONE. Don't start with 2 or 3!! Also, expect some cramping and other side effects. If you take the right dosage, it will likely be unpleasant, but tolerable. Don't be surprised if you find yourself running to the bathroom a few times, because this is going to CLEAR YOU OUT. Trust me. Maybe take a personal day lol."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I had to take Dulcolax twice (2 pills x 2 doses 24 hrs apart) for scope prep and spent most of the week leading up to that terrified after reading these reviews. Totally understand that some folks had adverse reactions, but if you read the drug info that’s about 1-10% of people. Most won’t come online and report a good experience. I took 2 pills at 12 pm and awoke at 3:30 am with moderate cramps and diarrhea. Then I was back asleep by 4:30 and fine the next day. Next dose didn’t do anything, I was pretty cleaned out and on a liquid diet. So it CAN be an easy experience. I drank LOTS of water and didn’t eat anything too heavy the day before as recommended by some - that was helpful, so thanks! Don’t fear the Dulcolax - you will likely be in the 90% that are just fine when they take it!"

• Use...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I left a previous review. Things are going well with ONE Dulcolax per day. Tomorrow is C-day (colonoscopy day)! I wanted to update regarding cramps. If you're very constipated and use this, those cramps are your body's peristalsis (muscle contractions) trying to move the poop so it can be eliminated. To make it easier for the medication to work, you need to drink more fluids. This will help minimize the cramps as the poop will move more easily. Please only take ONE every 24 hours."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2021

"I will never take this Dulcolax ever again in my entire life. You're better off taking a liquid or e-lax pills unless you're desperate. Here's my experience. After 3 days without making a movement and having eaten a meal that had a lot of dairy, it explained why making a movement was a bit tough, almost impossible. I grabbed 2 Dulcolax pills and am thankful I didn't take 3. This isn't gentle. I was twisting and turning about to cry from the pain, thinking I should just call 911. The cramps came and went for 1-2 hours. Just don't take it, I'm glad it works, but it hurts. For real, DON'T TAKE THIS STUFF! I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO WENT THROUGH THIS."

• Ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2020

For Constipation "After many trips to the doctor, urgent care, and more, I finally discovered the wonders of Dulcolax. Every other laxative would give me excruciating cramping. Well, Dulcolax will give you great results. Prepare yourself for a poopy situation, literally. It’s like having your own private fireworks show in the privacy of your bathroom. Niagara Falls is small compared to this explosion of internal compost. Definitely a 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️ show."

• Pet...
• July 21, 2021

For Constipation "I really do not recommend this medicine. I had a pretty major surgery, so I had to take pain medicine. Because of this, I became constipated. I went for a few days without any bowel movements. I think I took Dulcolax once a day for two to three days before anything happened. I woke up and suddenly felt like I had to go to the bathroom. Then the cramps started. The cramps were horrendous. I was shaking from chills and sweating, and I was doubled over clutching my stomach. I felt nauseous, and I felt like I couldn’t sit still. Not much was coming out, so I ended up taking a suppository, which finally did the trick. The cramps and constant running back and forth to the bathroom lasted for HOURS. I would rather have my surgery 10 times over than take this medicine again."

• RWW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2020

For Constipation "Took two of these Dulcolax at 4:30 PM as I had been suffering from constipation for a few days. Had a normal bowel movement at 6 PM, and I thought they'd done their job. That is until I woke up at 12:30 AM with the worst cramps imaginable. This was followed by numerous further explosions at 2:30 AM and 4:30 AM, to the point where I had to lie on the bathroom floor to stop myself from passing out. Pretty sure my bathroom is going to need an exorcism after this. It's now 11:30 AM the next day, and my stomach cramps are still very much there. These work, but at a high cost!!"

• CLY...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2020

For Constipation "This laxative is positively wretched. I took 2 pills around 8 AM this morning due to feeling icky after only a few small BMs over the last 10-ish days. Three bottles of water/2.5 hours later and I already have an excruciating headache, nausea, chills, cramps, and increasing lower back pain. I decided to check online when my hands and face started to tingle. This is truly a gnarly experience. I have taken laxatives a handful of times in my adult life. I wouldn’t describe any of those times as “pleasant,” but never have I felt so awful that I sat on my bathroom floor shivering and reading poop reviews to make sure I’m not going to die. The Dulcolax will be going straight to the outside garage bin as soon as I am able to walk. I’d honestly rather be constipated."

• JJa...
• May 17, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I had to take 4 Dulcolax for colonoscopy prep. 2 hours after taking, I had severe cramps and vomiting. No bowel movements. I have had colonoscopies before, never using Dulcolax, and had no problems. Will NEVER use Dulcolax again!"

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2021

For Constipation "I took 2 tablets with my meal (6:30 PM) and then before bed read all the scary reviews. I saw that some said they didn’t have a horrible experience when drinking a ton of water, so I quickly downed 50 ounces of water before bed. I woke up at 2:00 AM with a slight crampy sensation and loose stools. It happened again at 2:15 AM and again at 3:00 AM. It is now 8:30 AM, and the diarrhea is the same, but I have no cramping, no nausea, no shaking, and no lightheaded feelings. My stomach is still rumbling to clear itself out, but it wasn’t horrible as I thought. I think the key is to drink a glass of water when taking it, take it with food, and drink a ton of water after. I didn’t have a scary experience. I will probably never do another laxative again though unless absolutely necessary."

• Hur...
• December 21, 2014

For Constipation "I tried it and took 2 pills with lots of water and ended up staying up all night, crying from severe abdominal pains. Then throwing up with the pain becoming worse. Finally, 12 hours later, while still in pain, I had the most painful bowel movement. I'm still on bed rest from the cramps, and it hurts to stand upright. If you choose to take this, please be careful. It's effective but at a painful cost."

• Unc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2014

For Constipation "I hadn't gone for 4 days and decided to try Dulcolax. I am 5'1" and 120 lbs. The bottle says anywhere from 1-3 pills, and my constipation was pretty bad, so I decided to take 2. Worst mistake of my life. I took the pills at 2:00 PM, and by 6 PM I had the most terrible cramps I have ever felt in my entire life. I was shaking, cold sweating, and felt like I was going to throw up several times. Hours later, and I'm still having terrible diarrhea. It works, but the side effects are too much for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 1, 2019

For Constipation "Took 2 ... I knew what to expect from previous experience. I love the whole 'easy, predictable relief the next morning' sales patter. But nothing, NOTHING! Prepares you for what happens 6-8 hours after taking them. The cramp. That burn. That stagger to the bathroom. That inability to ever trust a fart again. Then it happens. Like a Cape Canaveral launch. You are reintroduced to the Xmas dinner from 1992. You need to buy new clothes because nothing in your wardrobe fits your shriveled Gollum-like carcass anymore. Take when needed. Sleep in the bathroom. And pray to God you have drunk enough fluid to protect your kidneys before the bisacodyl sucks it all into your bowels."

• Dol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2020

For Constipation "This past Friday night, the 21st of Feb, I took one Dulcolax for constipation as per directions on the box, which said 1-3 may be taken. It was about 9:00 pm when I took it. By about 10, the pain and nausea started and grew steadily worse. By 11, I was in agony, sweating profusely, so much so my hubby had to peel my pajamas off me, they were soaked. Finally, yesterday a BM, but still cramping today. It's Sunday, and it's still painful, the nausea and acid bubbling in my throat, sweating, and those cramps that I can feel in front up to the bottom of my ribs, so it's probably intestines, and even my back feels like I was hit with a bat across the ribs, same location, under the ribs. Please take care using this product, drink plenty of water. Most of us on these reviews have given you the basic info we felt we needed to call 911. As women, we are strong, but this brought me to my knees. I took it only once, and it was the lowest amount, just a horrible experience."

• lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I am 18 years old, 4’10, 86 lbs (probably a little less from all the pooping I’ve done in the past 24 hrs). I was literally terrified to take 4 Dulcolax 5 mg after reading these reviews. Being so small, I thought I was surely done for. I took my pills at noon (followed by a huge amount of Colyte later in the evening), but I had some cramping, kind of like period pain, but it was tolerable. I drank like 4 or 5 bottles of water before noon, and I ate spaghetti and salad the day before. I’ve had watery bowel motions since like 3 PM yesterday, but nothing that made me feel like I was dying."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2020

For Constipation "A month ago I had gone three days with no BM, and so I took 2 Dulcolax pills at bedtime and awoke with a horrific stomach ache in the middle of the night and barely a bowel movement the next day. It has been a month since that experience, and I took a chance the first side effects from Dulcolax were a fluke since I have now gone 5 days with no BM. I took 3 pills before bed since 2 weren't effective last month, and I just woke up. I can barely breathe, so nauseated with horrific stomach pain and cramping. Too sick to take my dogs outside to potty from the nausea and pain. No BM yet, just nauseated with stomach pain radiating into my back and spine and a little gas. I'm done. This product is awful and NOT gentle. I have been laying here too sick to sleep for a couple of hours waiting for the stomach pain to alleviate, and so I Googled Dulcolax stomach pain. I am surprised how many people suffered like I am. This is my first medicine review, but I felt I needed to say something."