Dulcolax and Stomach Pain: What Users Say

• 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."

• App...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I took Dulcolax as directed for the colonoscopy preparation. It was a horrendous experience. I vomited and had blasts of diarrhea. In addition, I suffered from excruciating stomach pain. I will not take Dulcolax again!"

• 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."

• Ade...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2025

"I've been so constipated that I've not been able to poop, with extremely painful stomach cramps after taking Dulcolax, and it started to work in 20-45 minutes. I started pooping for 2 days constantly, even water and everything. I slept in the toilet because my butt hurt from pooping, even writing this, I'm still in the toilet. Best of the best. I want to recommend everyone Dulcolax 10mg, absolutely worth the medicine. You will not be constipated anymore. 10 stars."

• Liv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2014

For Constipation "Oh, this product works alright. I took 2 around 11 a.m., and right now it's 3:45 in the morning, and I am experiencing the worst stomach pain ever. Seriously, if you're going to use this, just take one."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "Do not take Dulcolax if you have IBS. I have been tripled over with stomach cramps post-colonoscopy. I have had many colonoscopies and have never experienced stomach pains like this. No more Dulcolax for me."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2024

For Constipation "Took 2 Dulcolax at 1 PM, started getting mild cramps around 8 PM. Fast forward to 9 PM, and I was having the most severe stomach cramps in my entire life. I was sitting on the toilet, feeling lightheaded, shaking, and nauseous because of the pain. I have a high pain tolerance, but those cramps had me praying to God. After around 30 minutes, I was having explosive diarrhea, literally like a jet stream. After the first bowel movement, the pain eased off and I only had to go again once an hour later. Dulcolax really does work, but be prepared for the worst stomach cramps of your entire life!"

• chr...
• May 1, 2023

For Constipation "I don't understand how these tablets are sold over the counter. Took 2 tablets for severe constipation, and 5 hours later I thought I would need to go to A&E. Severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, but the worst part was nearly passing out and the cold sweat all over. Stay away from these pills. Nothing gentle about them. My stomach is so sore after."

• Per...
• November 3, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I had never taken Dulcolax before. I was prescribed to take 4 pills for bowel prep. Within 5-10 minutes, I was hit with incredible stomach pain and hot flashes all over my body. I was actually shocked at what it made me feel like. Shortly thereafter, I started getting nausea until I could no longer contain it and vomited about 20 minutes from when I first took the pills. I did feel relief after vomiting. Never again will I take this pill due to these side effects."

• Anonymous
• June 21, 2015

For Constipation "I have taken the laxative in the past, usually in the evening. I would wake up and have bad abdominal pain and several bouts of diarrhea until the next morning. This was with only taking one pill. I reluctantly took one last night but felt bound up and uncomfortable. I woke up at 1 a.m. with terrible stomach pain and hot flashes. I had to take off my clothes and lay on the coolest floor I could find. It was horrible. Then I vomited about five times and felt some relief. Shortly after, I had a normal bowel movement then went back to bed with the chills. I slept well after that and woke up feeling fine. I threw the box of Dulcolax in the garbage... never again! Not worth going through that agony."

• Lou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "I tried Dulcolax for the first time. I took it around 7 PM. At 2 AM, I woke up with the worst stomach pains I’ve ever felt. I mean ever. I laid in bed not knowing if I should go to the hospital or wait it out. I waited it out, and a few minutes into the pain, I felt like I was going to vomit everywhere. A few minutes into feeling like I was going to vomit, I also felt like I was going to poop my pants. I went to sit on the toilet and thought I was going to poop everywhere. Instead, I took a tiny dump. I went back to bed and still felt pain. 30 minutes later, I ran to the toilet and took a massive dump. Now I am still in pain and just waiting for more poop to come as I am still feeling like garbage. I’ve had a chocolate laxative before and felt nothing like this. I will not take this product again."

• Twi...
• November 3, 2015

For Constipation "I took one Dulcolax on Sunday and then one on Monday for constipation. I was awakened last night at 1 a.m. with horrific stomach pain, cramping, nausea, and diarrhea that was like explosive water. All day yesterday, I was going to the bathroom, each time with a little bit of diarrhea. I must have been in the bathroom 25 times. But the pain and nausea I felt last night for hours almost sent me to the ER. I kept wishing I could go ahead and vomit so that I'd feel better, but I never could. But the nausea and the pain nearly drove me over the edge. I was in the fetal position for hours (when I wasn't running to the bathroom). I never, ever expected to feel this horrible. Never again. I still have sharp pains and watery diarrhea today."

• Anonymous
• September 25, 2016

For Constipation "This is a terrible drug! Yeah, it works, but are you kidding me? I felt like I was going to die. I took this when I woke up around 7:30 AM, and then 9:35 AM hits, and my stomach starts hurting so bad. Then, 20 minutes later, it really starts hurting... so bad I start thinking to myself, 'Am I giving birth? Is this really happening to me?' I wanted to die, I really wanted to die. I ran to and from the bathroom from 9:30 AM to around 12 PM. I finally went, and it was a lot. The whole time I went through the terrible stomach pains, I was praying and having other people pray for me. I urge you to not take this medication, there is something seriously wrong with it. It's not worth it. I am serious, please try to take something else. This medication is not good!!"

• Ith...
• August 10, 2015

For Constipation "I took this medicine at 6 PM for constipation. I started to get nauseous, rumbling stomach, and stomach pain exactly at midnight. Here I am, 2:45 AM in pain, it hurts so bad. I did go, which was great, but the damn pain feels like I am experiencing contractions. Oh no. I'm tired and have to get up for work soon. Do yourself a favor and take something easy on yourself. I didn't read the reviews until after taking the one pill. Thank God I didn't take 2 or as suggested."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2017

For Constipation "I took 3 around 4:40 PM when I got off of work, I drank 2, 16.9 oz water bottles, started walking around for 20 minutes, and I had the worst stomach pain, and then they stopped. Around 8:15 PM, I started experiencing the urge to go, and I had to rush to a bathroom. Around 4:30 AM the next morning, I woke up with the worst stomach pains, and I thought I was going to vomit. I drank a small amount of water, walked around my room for a while, did a few stomach exercises, and soon the pains became BMs, and after 3 movements, I just hope it's over. Dulcolax stomach cramps, menstrual stomach cramps, both wake you up in the middle of the night, and you can't go back to sleep."

• Not...
• April 19, 2017

For Constipation "Horrible product. I took it at night about 7 PM, woke up with stomach hurting by 4 AM, went to use the bathroom, but all that happened was major cramps and stomach in so much pain. It was seriously as bad as labor contractions. I was in so much pain I ended up throwing up three times because this pain came and went non-stop for about 4 1/2 hours. Worst pain ever. I did have a couple of bowel motions, but seriously not worth the horrible stomach pain and cramping, throwing up, and sweating because of it. Better off trying magnesium. My stomach region is now, a day later, still sore."

• MPr...
• October 31, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "I was instructed by the office of my colonoscopy/endoscopy doctor to take 2 at noon and then another 2 at 2 PM on the day before the procedure. Since the manufacturer only recommended 3 as the daily maximum dosage, I just took one at 2 PM. About an hour or so later, I started having severe stomach cramps. The pain was so intense I was soaking in cold sweat, and I blacked out! I will never take Dulcolax ever again!"

• drt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2017

For Constipation "First-time user. Bought Dulcolax and then came on to read reviews and was terrified. I was basically unable to sleep because of other users' accounts of stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and had resigned myself to the worst night of my life. I am happy to say that I had a positive experience with this medicine. Took 2 tablets around 6:45 p.m. with a 16 oz. bottle of water and drank 2 more 16 oz. bottles subsequently. Around 10 p.m. started to get gurgles in my stomach, but no pain or nausea. Around 3 a.m. I did experience some cramps, but they were manageable and not too intense. Lasted around 15 minutes and then I felt the urge to go. Passed stool easily within the next 15 minutes."

• Jel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2017

For Constipation "I suffer from IBS and haven't gone to the toilet properly in 9 days. I have taken Dulcolax before, so I know the pains can be intense, but somehow when time passes and you haven't taken them in a while, you think I'll give them another go, but NEVER again! I took 2 tablets around 6 PM. It is now 10:40 PM, and I'm in agony. I mean severe stomach cramps and not even any BM. What a waste of time, and the pain is just so bad! Please be very careful when taking these and would advise if you suffer from severe constipation to take something else and drink plenty of water. I can't even go to bed as the pain is too intense. Please avoid!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2022

For Constipation "Holy crap. Literally. This was the absolute worst drug I have ever taken. Haven’t been able to poop in almost a week. This is the stuff my sister takes, and my mom gave me it. I have taken Dulcolax before, but I am used to it not doing anything at all. Well, this time was much, much different. Woke up around 3 a.m. with the worst stomach pain/cramps of my life, I truly thought I was dying. Covered in my own sweat and crying, throwing up, I blacked out on the toilet and had to stay there for a very long time. Took about 2 hours for me to have a movement, and when I did, it was excruciating and literally like a water hose. Now it’s 5 a.m., and I’m writing this because 1.) still in a lot of pain and can’t sleep, and 2.) I don’t recommend this product at all unless you have the balls and/or need to prep for a colonoscopy or something. I don’t wish this pain on my worst enemy. Proceed with caution."

• Lol...
• December 12, 2018

For Constipation "I have been taking Dulcolax for years with no issues. However, the last two times I used the product, I had a horrible experience. I took 2 pills shortly before bed around 10:30 PM. I woke up around 3 AM with horrible stomach pain. I had cramps, vomiting, shaking, and a headache. I was both hot and cold all while sitting on the toilet. The second time was basically the same. I will not be using the product again. Makes me wonder if the product ingredients have recently been changed."

• LA2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2015

For Constipation "A friend told me to take 3 pink pills of Dulcolax, so I did. At 7 PM, I woke up at 5 AM with my stomach hurting bad, in tears. I was throwing up a lot too. I didn't go until 8 AM, then went all day with diarrhea. Now it had been 7 days until last night. I took 1 of the pills, it did nothing. I ended up having to do an enema. I did one and it did nothing, I had to do 2 and then finally went 20 minutes later. I guess I'll have to use 2 pink pills next time. Oh, and I did not drink water, so next time I will make sure of it! Thanks, hope this helps."

• DON...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2019

For Constipation "So I've been plugged up (constipated) for 3 to 4 days. I decided to go to 7-Eleven real quick to see if they had any meds that could help me clear it. This was all they had, so whatever. Got home, took 2 pills. 5 hours later, stomach started hurting a little bit. 5 1/2 hours later, went to the bathroom, managed to have a poo, and it hurt pretty damn bad. 6 hours in, I had the worst aches in my life!!! I exploded in the toilet and honestly thought I had to go to the doctor, it was so bad. I have never experienced anything this bad in my life. DON'T TAKE IT!!!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2020

For Constipation "I took one Dulcolax before bed, woke at 4 AM. Honestly, never felt so much tummy pain in my life. I then quickly after passing runny poop from the tablet, I fainted from all the intense pain. Will never take again."

• Msm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2019

For Constipation "Horrible, awful pain from 5 days of constipation and 2 unsuccessful enemas later. I decided to go to our local DG as I had a coupon for this. Truly the absolute worst stomach pains I could ever imagine came on 6.5 hours after taking 2 pills. I've had to prepare for a colonoscopy before, and that was a cakewalk compared to using Dulcolax! I honestly cannot believe this product is actually okay for children ages 6-12! I will never use this again. Thank God I see my doctor next week."