Dulcolax and Nausea: What Users Say

• 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."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2021

For Constipation "After suffering from 2 weeks of constipation, I bit the bullet and took 2 pills around 3:30 pm. By 7 pm, I had a solid bowel movement and thought 'Great, problem solved.' How wrong I was! Fast forward to 4 am, I woke up soaked in sweat and feeling like my stomach was being ripped out. Barely conscious, I managed to crawl to the toilet just in time. Then all hell broke loose! The world fell out of my butt in the form of what can only be described as molten lava for the next hour and a half. This was followed by bouts of nausea, heart palpitations, and feeling like I was going to black out. The next day was spent feeling like I'd been hit by a train. These pills are unbelievable, and only a masochist would take these more than once. How are they legal?"

• 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."

• Pho...
• February 7, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "My bowel prep instructions for my procedure said to take 4 Dulcolax pills. Within an hour, I started vomiting, sweating, and muscles in arms and legs were twitching. Then, about 30 minutes into this nightmare, I started shooting yellow liquid out my butt nonstop. This was before I even started drinking the 64 oz of the other concoction I was prescribed. I had to crawl on the floor. My dog was traumatized and howling because he was so worried. It took 3 hours for the nausea, vomiting, and volcano to slow enough for me to start drinking the liquid prep solution. I’ve been up all night, shooting liquid. When I get to the colonoscopy center this morning, I’m telling the doctor she prescribed way too much. I’m a small person with no history of bowel problems. Last night was worse than food poisoning or any illness I’ve ever had. Never again!"

• 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."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "This stuff Dulcolax is awful. Was taking it for colonoscopy prep. I told them I had taken Dulcolax once before and it made me very sick, so they gave me Zofran. Zofran didn't work, all it did was give me a migraine. Took Dulcolax at around 7 pm and at 1 am was woken up by severe stomach pains and nausea. Rushed to the bathroom to puke, however, while I was barfing my guts out into the toilet, I pooped my pants. It just rushed out, I didn't even know it was coming. Left me bleaching half the bathroom and plainly throwing out my bottoms, and showering at 1:30 am. I know this is too much info, but this is to paint the pretty picture of how awful this medication is. WILL NOT TAKE AGAIN, NO MATTER WHAT. Would give 0 stars if I could."

• Lou...
• July 6, 2021

For Constipation "Worst experience of my life. I've been taking cocodemol, this has caused 10 days of constipation. Bought Dulcolax from Tesco and read instructions which were 1 to 2 tablets when needed. So I took one to be on the safe side. I took it at 8 pm and by 1 am I was screaming in agony with severe stomach cramps that felt like contractions but 10 times worse. Tried to go to the toilet, nothing happened. Cramps continued constantly and the pain was unbearable. This went on for hours. I cried, rocked, and screamed with the pain I couldn't even stand up straight. Finally started going to the toilet at 4 am, sweating, shivering, nausea, I actually saw stars. I was sitting on the bathroom floor sobbing and considering ringing 999. It is now 9 am. I'm still getting stomach cramps and been on and off the loo for hours so I can't leave my house. I'm freezing cold and still feel sick. I was supposed to be at work tonight but had to phone in sick because I have no clue how long these horrible side effects will last. Believe me, I would much rather have stayed constipated."

• Rel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2020

For Constipation "I have taken Dulcolax for severe constipation twice. I suffer from constipation frequently and have done so my whole life. I take Movicol, but recently the periods between 'going' have been getting longer. The first time I took Dulcolax, I took 1, and it had very little effect. Yesterday, it had been almost 2 weeks since I last moved my bowels, so I took 2 this morning. 10 hours later, I suddenly began to feel very, very ill. Dizzy, extremely nauseated, headache, terrible stomach cramps, cold sweat, the lot. I tried unsuccessfully to move my bowels 3 times, then on the 4th attempt, an unholy amount of poo left my body. I now feel much better. It did exactly what I took it for. Although the journey was unpleasant, it was short-lived."

• 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."

• ADt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I wanted to weigh in on the bowel prep experience. I read a lot of these comments and was terrified about what might happen. I stayed well-hydrated all day and took 4 Dulcolax at 3 PM. Then, at 5 PM, I started the process of drinking a whole bottle of Miralax. By 3:45, I had a standard BM. From then on, I had slight bubble guts and an occasional gas pain. By 7:20, I had completed my Miralax prep for the evening. I had two small watery BMs around 6 and 6:45 PM. The serious action started around 7:45 with large, urgent, watery BMs about every 5-10 minutes until about 8:30. One more at 9:30, and a smaller one at 11:30. During that first active window, I felt pretty rough. I felt nauseated but never threw up. I was exhausted and couldn’t really focus. I stayed as hydrated as I could. So, bottom line is that it’s no picnic, as I was certainly emptying my bowels fast... but neither was I writhing on the floor in pain. Whew!"

• Cri...
• July 20, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I've taken Dulcolax before, but the most at one time was 2 tablets. I'm having a colonoscopy in a couple of days, and I absolutely cannot believe the instructions. Two days before the procedure, I am supposed to take 5 tablets at 4 PM, 5 tablets at 6 PM, and 5 tablets at 8 PM. The same the next day, followed by two enemas on the day of the procedure. If people are having terrible pain taking 4 tablets, how on earth am I supposed to take 15 within 4 hours? I was given a prescription of Zofran for the nausea, but I'm afraid I will end up in the ER if I take 30 pills in two days. I'm thinking about cutting back on the Dulcolax dosage and adding Miralax or Magnesium Concentrate. Has anyone ever been given instructions to take such a high amount like this, and did they survive?"

• 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."

• 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."

• Dru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2020

For Constipation "I'm an alcoholic, so I am prone to constipation from dehydration. On the Bristol Stool Chart (that is a chart the doctors use to classify your poo), I’ll often have type 1 stools, which are like passing rocks out of your butt and take an eternity while tearing your rectum apart. So I took 4 Dulcolax pills, and over the course of the day, things improved, but I did feel some nausea, and I had 4 BMs. So it will definitely make you poop. I normally drink coffee in the morning and then just go every morning once. On Dulcolax, as I wrote, I went 4 times in 1 day, but it did change the stool shape positively. On the Bristol chart, I probably ended up at type 3 (normal) by the evening, so I generally think it’s a good product if you suffer from pooping rocks like I do. That is the worst feeling in the world, and this will fix it, but you will go multiple times in the day. Regarding the other reviews, I think you need to be type 1 constipated for this product to be useful. Otherwise, it'll likely cause massive diarrhea."

• 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."

• 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."

• Tam...
• December 12, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I've had constipation for years. I started two nights before the colonoscopy. Monday night I took 2 Dulcolax, and about 7:30 Tuesday morning I could feel it was time. It started easy and went to more liquid. 4 or 5 trips. Then, about 3:00 on Tuesday, I started the Miralax drink. It started to work in about an hour. By nighttime, I was just about finished. Directions had me drink more, but I had one more glass and had to get back to the bathroom about 4:00 am. I was still passing just a little water when I got to the hospital. This was the easiest prep I have ever had. Usually, drinking all that stuff makes me nauseous and vomit. I think you have to find what works for you and stick with it. Don't let the doctor have you try all this other stuff. This works for me, and usually, I'm pretty sensitive. I would never take more than 2. I had no cramps at any time."

• 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."

• 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."

• Ean...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2019

For Constipation "These comments are the only thing getting me through. The descriptions are gloriously accurate. The cramps are comparable to labor contractions, including the nausea and sweats that go with it. I can’t believe they’re allowed to put the word gentle on this box."

• 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."

• 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."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "Took 4 Dulcolax at 4 PM after being on clear liquid all day and already having loose stool. Started MiraLAX at 5:30. Finished the first bottle of Gatorade/MiraLAX mix by 6:30. Drank extra water. Had horrible stomach cramps, nausea, rest of the evening. Could not drink anymore till 6 AM Gatorade/MiraLAX. Colonoscopy went well. 2 small polyps. 4 days later, still having stomach cramps, nausea, anorexia. I think 4 Dulcolax was overdoing it for me. I'll consider it an adverse reaction to Dulcolax tablets."

• Lov...
• December 28, 2014

For Constipation "So I was having cramps for 2 days, decided to try this by recommendation. Took 3 tablets at 9:00 PM, woke up at midnight with chills, the worst cramps since childbirth, and ran to the restroom! 2 hours later, I woke up to the worst sweats and nausea, wasn't sure which end to put on above the toilet! Then woke up 2 hours later with the cramping again! So yes, this stuff works! But seriously, start with 1 tablet, and yes, I stayed in bed the following day due to my lower back and stomach being so sore from the cramping."