Dulcolax and Dizziness: What Users Say

• 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."

• Fan...
• October 29, 2019

For Constipation "I had been constipated for several days and decided it was time to try a laxative. I picked Dulcolax because it advertised as 'gentle relief.' This was the beginning of my doom. I took two at bedtime because of the suggested dosage. I woke up a few hours later in a cold sweat with some of the worst stomach cramps ever. I rushed to the toilet and had a massive explosion of diarrhea. I honestly thought my organs were leaving my body, it felt like a never-ending evacuation out of my rear end. I felt horrible the whole time and started to get dizzy. I ended up passing out on the toilet and falling into the bathtub. Upon waking up, I stood up to get myself together and I passed out again. I ended up having to call an ambulance and went to the ER, where I had the pleasant experience of explaining to every medical professional I came in contact with that I had passed out while pooping. It did thoroughly clear out my bowels, but I would not wish this nightmare upon anyone."

• Day...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2020

For Constipation "DO NOT! JUST DON’T! Took at 9:00 PM. Woke up at midnight feeling like I was in labor, the stomach cramps were so severe. Then the spasms and convulsions started. I thought I was dying. I was too sick and embarrassed to wake my husband up, so I just sat on the toilet, nauseous, crying, convulsing, hurting, throwing up, and dizzy. I was fine by 9:00 AM the next morning but very weak and tired from all the labor... I mean suffering."

• Tif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2021

For Constipation "This has got to be the worst stuff I have ever taken. I only go to the bathroom every 2 or 3 weeks. It gets overwhelming and just so bloated. I need relief. Well, Dulcolax was the last thing I should have done. The pains in my stomach are so intense I feel like something is seriously wrong. It feels like someone is wringing out your insides. I have been dizzy, sick to my stomach, an overall ill feeling, and super nauseated. I would rather have a bloated stomach. Idk what to do! I have been up and down, sitting on the bathroom floor and on the toilet. Not knowing whether to throw up or poop. Worst ever and very scary. I feel like I was going to pass out. I tried laying down, and the pain is too great."

• Mom...
• October 12, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "This is the worst med ever! There is absolutely nothing 'gentle' about it. I've tried it 3x and have given up. First, the cramps were unbearable, to the point where the pain was so bad I started sweating real bad, my hands were clammy, I was dizzy, I felt like I was dying. I literally almost passed out! They need to pull this off the market!"

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

For Constipation "I have suffered with chronic constipation my entire life. I have had scope tests, tried all the things I read about and what the doctor says, but after a while everything stops working and I have to take a store-bought laxative. I bought Dulcolax for women because it said GENTLE overnight dependable relief. What a crock. This product almost killed me. At 11 PM I took 2 little pills. By 2 AM the cramps started, by 4 AM the pain was getting severe and I was up every 20 minutes. By 6 AM I was vomiting and the pain was excruciating, by 8 AM I had to call for my husband because I was sweating profusely, my skin felt clammy, my legs were tingling and my head started to spin like I was going to pass out. The pain just kept getting worse. I was a full 36 hours in sheer agony. It did move my bowels, but at this cost, it is not worth it. I actually thought at one point that I was going to die. This product is dangerous and should not be sold to anyone."

• Tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2020

For Constipation "Thank goodness I'm not alone. I took this pill twice, and both times I felt I had a near-death experience. The first time I thought maybe it’s due to introducing a new drug to my body. The second time I passed out once on the bathroom floor and once when I came back to my bed. My whole body was covered in cold sweat. I thought it was going to be the end of me in the bathroom. I was dizzy, and my eyes got blurry. Both times I was a few minutes away from calling 911. With so many bad reviews, I’m surprised how this drug still has the license of production."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "I took one and then several hours later took another. When I woke up, I felt really sick in my stomach, cramps were excruciating. I ran to the bathroom and got incredibly dizzy and felt horribly sick to the point where I was vomiting. I broke out into a horrible sweat and was lying on the floor. I literally felt like I was having an allergic reaction to the pill or something else. It was a horrible experience, and two days later, my stomach still hurts. Great for some people, but I was too sensitive for this. I will never take it again. It says gentle relief, it felt more like the beginning stages of labor, and I've had four kids, so I can say this."

• Dia...
• September 4, 2014

For Constipation "I took Dulcolax about 9 PM, and normally it doesn't affect me whatsoever. It woke me at 6 AM with severe cramps, worse than childbirth, to be honest. I feel a cold sweat coming on, I was dizzy. I couldn't sit in one place, I was in that much pain. I would not recommend this, I'd go for the easy option of pure orange or something along those lines."

• ak1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "The 'gentle' method they offered for my colonoscopy was anything but gentle. They prescribed 60 ml of milk of magnesia, which wasn't too bad, but then came the 5 Dulcolax tablets. Let me tell you, no one can understand the pain until they have to take those five little tablets. I was stuck on the toilet for hours, feeling dizzy, weak, and even throwing up. The pain was unbearable. And let's not forget the constant flow of liquid stool that felt like toxic chemicals coming out of me. My poor bottom burns so badly, and every time I thought I was done, more would run out. I had to resort to wearing a diaper, and I couldn't even finish the Miralax prep. It's absolutely disgusting that doctors think it's okay to subject patients, especially those with GI issues, to this kind of treatment. The burning sensation is worse than any normal diarrhea I've ever experienced. I've made up my mind: I'm never getting a colonoscopy again, no matter how dangerous it may be to forgo it."

• Ano...
• July 6, 2017

For Constipation "DON'T DO IT! I admit, after taking 2 separate single pill doses the first day, with no relief, not even gas, the next morning I took 3 because it says to take 1-3! The violent, stabbing, blinding cramps from this stuff are nowhere near worth the relief of the bowel movement. Along with the pain were dry heaving, sweats, and dizziness. It was still horribly difficult to pass BMs, and they were rock solid. No softening effects. This should only be prescribed by an MD when a patient is at risk of death secondary to constipation because nothing else is worth taking these pills. Worst and scariest pain of my life. Can't believe they have the nerve to put 'gentle' on the box to sell it. Shameless. NEVER again."

• DmH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2023

For Constipation "Awful, awful stuff. I suffer from constipation. Seventy-two hours have gone by, and last night I was up with awful gas. Today, in the bathroom, I have shaking, cramps, and feel dizzy. This product needs to be taken off the market."

• Cla...
• April 2, 2016

For Constipation "Never again! Please, no one take Dulcolax. I, like a few others in this forum, have been on an eating plan for weight loss. Without much fiber, I've been suffering from constipation. I finally had enough and took 2 Dulcolax last night at around 11:30 PM, as recommended on the box. At 4:15 AM, I woke up with excruciating stomach cramps as well as indigestion. I went to the bathroom and had a small BM come out. I went back and forth probably 5 times with diarrhea, feeling sweaty, dizzy, and thought I was going to faint. On the last time, I felt like I was going to vomit. I ran to the bathroom and violently vomited everything in my stomach. This was followed by liquid diarrhea (felt like hot water) for the next while. Please beware. Never again."

• fre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "I was going for my first colonoscopy, and my Split Peg Prep Instructions were to drink 8 glasses of water the day before, then take 4 Dulcolax with water, followed by half the prep and the remaining prep the day of the colonoscopy. The prep drink, although a lot of it, and the colonoscopy were a piece of cake compared to the Dulcolax. Within an hour of taking the Dulcolax, I felt out of it and then really dizzy. Then the hot sweats, followed by cold sweats and shaking, and cramps. Lasted around 4 hours. Never again. I do have to say this is the first time I have ever taken any form of laxative."

• Bug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2021

For Constipation "This is my 2nd time taking this pill. The 1st time I was pretty oblivious to taking this laxative and took 3. Worst mistake ever. I was nauseous, painful cramping, dizzy, clammy, and nightmarish diarrhea. I remembered it lasted for a few days and traumatized me. This time I've tried everything to get a bowel motion and nothing was working (plus it was the only laxative I had at the time), so I took 1 pill at about 9:30 AM. I've been chugging water and I had my first movement 3 hours after taking it and then started having slight cramps, clamminess, diarrhea, and dizziness at 6 PM. Still a lot better than last time and I think part of that is the dosage and drinking a lot of water. Hopefully, it doesn't get worse as the night goes on. Still, don't take this unless you're desperate."

• Bac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2016

For Constipation "I had my gallbladder out 3 years ago and have been all messed up since then. I hadn't gone in 3 days, so I got the Dulcolax for sensitive stomachs and took 2 at about 7 PM. At about 10 PM, I was in so much pain I couldn't stand it! I was doubled over for 2 hours and did not have an easy BM. I tried to lay down to sleep at about 12, but was so dizzy and still feeling cramps that there was no way I could sleep. Sensitive stomach, my ass! I will never take this again. It is not worth the pain."

• Oye...
• March 24, 2016

For Constipation "Do not take!! I woke up 2 hours after taking the pills confused, dizzy, sweaty, puking, and I've never had stomach cramps so bad in my life. I went back to bed at 12, and woke up at 7 a.m. with the same problems! I'd rather be constipated than take that again."

• Cha...
• May 17, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "Took one tablet at 10 PM last night, and I woke at 2 AM with the worst cramps I have ever had. Last year, I gave birth without pain relief, and honestly, the cramps were close to the pain I had then. I was shaking, I was hot, and came close to collapsing, I was so weak and dizzy. Yes, I did go to the toilet, but I would rather be constipated than have to go through that again. It's now 8 AM the next day, and after having hardly any sleep, I still feel sick and weak."

• Rae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2019

For Constipation "Never again. I was constipated, so I took 2 Dulcolax pills around 7 PM, and nothing happened until 5 AM, when I was woken from deep sleep with excruciating stomach pains. I then became so nauseated that I thought I was getting the stomach virus. I went to the bathroom and had a violent bowel movement and had the garbage can in front of me in case it would come out that end too. I began pouring in sweat. I was so dizzy I didn’t know how I would even get up to get back into bed. I stood up and kept my head against the cool wall. After a few minutes, I didn’t even know where I was or which way to move to head back into my bed. I crawled into my room and just lay on the bedroom floor and fell back asleep. It is morning now, and I feel like I have a bad bug. I have no energy and don’t want to move. I still feel I need to go to the bathroom, but I can’t. Needless to say, this medicine went right into the garbage. It is a virus in a pill!"

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2020

"So my mum, like many old people, said she had taken these as she hadn’t been for a while! She took 2. Hours later, she had severe abdominal pain, floods of water, dizzy, sick, couldn’t get out of bed the next day. That evening, she experienced intense heat in her head, bright red face and ears! Blood in urine, we are now waiting for the doc to call. DON'T TAKE THESE."

• Alw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2015

For Constipation "Dulcolax has put me in the ER more than once due to the pain, vomiting, sweating, and dizziness being so severe that I thought I was going to die. Sometimes it works well with very little side effects, but it's not worth taking the chance. I've been constipated over half my life. The best results I've ever had have come from taking an over-the-counter (generic) stool softener along with senna, or the generic brand of senna along with drinking lots of water. There is also a stool softener plus laxative combination, over-the-counter medicine you can buy. If these things work for me, they should work for just about anyone. As I said, I have had issues with constipation forever. I have to deal with it on a daily basis. Hope this helps someone."

• Txt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2019

For Constipation "Wow, if I could turn back time and not take this, I would. On Saturday afternoon (4:30 p.m.), I took 2 Dulcolax tablets because my schedule has changed so much with it being the beginning of the new school year. My body has been adjusting, and I have not had a bowel movement in about 4-5 days, it was a huge mistake. At 3:00 a.m., I felt the urge to go to the restroom, and I did have the bowel movement, that was okay. Afterwards, I could not get off the toilet. I have been in pain from cramps, cold sweats, dizzy, and just horrible. I have been scared to eat anything, and now (Monday afternoon), I still feel sick. I had to take a half day from work and am experiencing extreme fatigue. I may have to call in tomorrow. I haven’t experienced this before with any medication. Very misleading. I pray that by tomorrow I will feel like myself again."

• Mar...
• January 31, 2020

For Constipation "I took the suppository because I recently got the Paragard IUD, and I have bad PCOS, and I got constipated from inflammation in my abdomen. I tried this, and it was the worst thing ever. I was constipated only for the day, but I felt so horrible my abdomen looked like I was 4 months pregnant. I was desperate and made my husband get this for me. I laid down for 30 minutes in pain, shaking, and was trying to prevent myself from fainting or panicking. I’ve never had a child before, but the pain from my IUD and the constipation felt like I was in labor. Then I went to the toilet and noticed watery BM come out, and I did have to strain a bit to get it all out. Also, during my experience, I had rectal burning. I wanted to cry and was convulsing. It also made me feel like I had a UTI infection. I still feel dizzy after it and am drinking water so I don’t pass out."

• Nik...
• September 12, 2017

For Constipation "This pill is terrible, and after a myomectomy (surgical removal of fibroids from the uterus) procedure I took due to constipation. All I can say is that I took 3 pills around 2 PM. At 4 PM, I had severe cramping, sweats, dizziness, and nausea. I had terrible burning pains that lasted for hours. I eventually went around 6 PM, but it was only liquid. I also vomited and considered 911. After I almost passed out and vomited, I felt better, but it wasn't worth it. The doctor told me to take Colace. My stupidity! I'll stick to peppermint tea and probiotics, even yogurt, rather than take another laxative. I threw the pills away. It was just horrible, even drinking water made my cramps worse. I'm reading the reviews, and everyone's story was similar in symptoms."

• Don...
• September 19, 2016

For Constipation "I suffer from slow transit constipation and can go three weeks without a movement. Dulcolax is the only laxative I have found to work, but it's one hell of a ride. I've had two babies, and the pain caused by Dulcolax at times will rival labor. It's not always that bad, stomach cramps are a given as it's a stimulant laxative, but holy Jesus, the sweats, shakes, palpitations, and dizziness that can happen are an experience. 10/10 for effectiveness... Take a deep breath and remember in a few hours it will all be over."