Dulcolax and Vomiting: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I was having a colonoscopy, and Dulcolax was a part of the prep. I ended up at urgent care for severe stomach cramps, pain, nausea, and vomiting, and passing blood. Had to get an anti-nausea med to settle my system down. Will not take a colon prep again if it involves this laxative."

• Ano...
• August 11, 2017

For Constipation "Let me preface this by saying that I am no stranger to pain, and I consider myself to have a high pain tolerance. I have had PCOS and endometriosis since I was 14, and so I am no stranger to cramping. This, however, was the worst pain I have felt in my life. I was on the floor crying and yelling and considered going to the emergency room several times, but I knew there was no way I could drive myself there. When I was finally able to get some relief, everything that came out of my body was in liquid form. I have never experienced something like that in my life. The pain was so bad at points that I was dry heaving in the sink and sweating uncontrollably. I have never reviewed a drug before, but I feel so strongly against it that it was necessary."

• Lis...
• August 23, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "Had to use this for the final step of the bowel prep for colonoscopy. I tolerated a MiraLAX and Gatorade combination for three hours. I started that at 5 o'clock. Was finished by 7:30. At 9 o'clock, I was instructed to take two tiny Dulcolax pills. I awoke at 11 to severe nausea. I dry heaved for about a half hour and then started vomiting violently. I broke out in a cold sweat and my hands went numb. I thought my husband was going to have to take me to the emergency room. The vomiting lasted for an hour. I finally fell asleep at 1:30 in the morning. I informed my G.I. prior to the colonoscopy about my horrible experience with this drug. I will never take it again."

• Pet...
• July 13, 2013

For Constipation "Dosage for adults says 1-3 pills. I'm 27, 130 lbs, hadn't gone for almost two weeks and was starting to feel full even when I didn't eat and extremely bloated. I only took one pill because I didn't want severe cramping. Seven hours later, after a lot of rumbling and mild cramping, I had to 'go'. Intense cramping during going, my knees were shaking and I vomited three times as well. This certainly works, but I also felt like I had a severe stomach virus for about the 30-minute duration. This was from one pill. I couldn't imagine taking two or three. Everyone's bodies react differently, but I will be going the enema route next time."

• Hai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "Bought Dulcolax and took it last night, preparing for my colonoscopy tomorrow (today I start a liquid diet). I took two before bed because that's the directions my doctor gave me, and the back of the Dulcolax box says to take 1-3 for adults, so I assumed I was taking a pretty average dose. I took them at 11 pm with a full glass of water and went to sleep completely prepared to get up and work the next day but woke up around 6 am sweating with intense stomach cramping and horrible pain. I threw up twice before almost missing the toilet and practically spraying watery diarrhea for 30 minutes, all while shaking and having horrible pain and nausea, even after vomiting and going to the bathroom. Wish I would have read the reviews first on this drug."

• Pol...
• January 16, 2017

For Constipation "I hadn't had a proper BM for about 2 weeks. I picked up Dulcolax Sensitive and took 2 pills at 10 pm. At 2:38 am, the cramps started. It started with the worst cramps I've ever experienced, together with intense nausea and vomiting, cold sweats (to the point my fingers and lips were blue), and terrible shakes. By around 4 am, I had my first BM, which was significant, and I then spent until 1:30 pm continuously on the toilet, simultaneously vomiting and having diarrhea. It's now 4:30 pm, I can't even take a sip of water without vomiting, I'm still having painful cramps, and I feel extremely weak. I would never recommend this medication to anyone, no matter how 'effective' it is."

• 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."

• Ell...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 30, 2023

For Constipation "Horrible. I took it at 8 p.m. Just one tablet. Woke up at 4 a.m. feeling sick to my stomach. Had to get off the loo and lay on the bathroom floor. First, I vomited, then started feeling cold and clammy and felt like I was going to pass out. The stomach cramps were horrendous. Then it just started pouring out of me while I lay there and thought I was dying. After that, I noticed blood in what was coming out. Went to the ER and they gave me an IV for dehydration. I’ll NEVER take this again, EVER."

• 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
• July 25, 2014

For Constipation "I have been constipated for four days, and my GP recommended I try Dulcolax. I took it at noon, and around 6:30 pm, I was in agony with my stomach churning. I vomited several times and was stuck with unproductive straining. I was having cold sweats and was very spaced out. When I could move to my medicine cabinet, I took 10 mg of Buscopan and some paracetamol, which seem to have helped. I am not trying this again."

• Nik...
• March 11, 2017

For Constipation "This tablet deserves a zero! Gentle?! In what world was what I just experienced on the toilet gentle?! Cold sweat, uncontrollable burping, stomach cramps, vomiting, and of course the liquid coming out the back of me... for an hour! It was truly worse than labor, and I wanted to die! Do not buy this! Just don't! Walk away!"

• poo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2019

For Constipation "Horrible experience. Traveling through the states and picked this up, assuming it'll be gentle and easy. It completely floored me, and I have spent the day in my hotel room. I obviously don't mind the pooping part (a lot came out!!), but I have also vomited three times and have had the most unbearable pains. I cried and had to take my clothes off as I was sweating but also cold... it was strange. Not worth the agony - the pain was far too extreme for what it did. I just wanted to poop before dinner! I didn't think I'd have to wince in pain and cry my eyes out for the privilege! I also had to clean up puke from the bathtub (gross!!) because I had to lean over in emergency. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TODAY THAT I JUST FEEL VIOLATED - a humbling experience, to say the least..."

• Bg0...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2021

For Constipation "I took 2 of these little red rockets and then settled back to read the comments! Oh brother, I almost induced vomiting because of all the horror stories. Thankfully, I had 10 minutes of light to medium gut squeezing sessions, and then I had 3-4 very large, very healthy, very smelly b.m.’s. I think I’m gonna take one tonight and hopefully I won’t have problems. I do remember about two years ago I took two and never experienced any of the life-threatening cramps all these unlucky folks have had. I truly sympathize with them all because I have kidney stones and I can definitely relate to laying on the bathroom floor wrenching with pain and wrestling demons that are inside of you ripping your insides apart. Try taking just one, and if that doesn’t work, then a couple of days later try two. I’m not brave enough to try an enema, even though it seems like that would be the most productive method without writhing pain. Good luck, and don’t take more than two!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2017

For Constipation "I absolutely hate this medication. I had cold sweats, extreme cramping, horrible nausea, vomiting, and nearly blacked out. ALL FROM ONE PILL. I'm a 23-year-old woman. An over-the-counter constipation medication shouldn't do this. I would never recommend this medication to anyone. I honestly don't believe it should be on the market, or at least offered over the counter and readily available to the unsuspecting consumer."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• September 24, 2019

For Constipation "Took one pill at 7 pm. I had only had some small bowel movements for the past 5 days, but I could tell I was backed up and bloated. At 5 am, I woke up to a burning in my stomach, and a feeling of doom washed over me. I went and sat on the toilet, but instead of coming out the back end, I vomited into the trash can while my stomach violently cramped. So many things crossed my mind. Maybe this is what happens to those women who didn’t know they were pregnant until they started going into labor (the cramps were that bad). With the amount I was sweating, I then considered that I was having a heart attack. Or maybe my gallbladder was flaring up? I have a history of debilitating menstrual cramps, so I know what pain feels like. This was a whole other level. I had almost forgotten that I took Dulcolax until I saw it on my nightstand, which is when I got on the internet and found these reviews. Thank goodness I stumbled upon this website or else I’d be racking up ER bills thinking I was dying."

• Pin...
• October 7, 2019

For Constipation "Do not take more than two pills, trust me, two will be bad enough. Do not take sleeping pills or you will poop the bed. Do not drink milk or consume dairy products while taking the pills. Milk will stop the drug from working, and dairy products will make you vomit. Drink plenty of water, stay close to a toilet for the next 3-14 hours. Yes, this gives you HORRIBLE cramps. Yes, if taken on an empty/full stomach, it will make you want to vomit. You will not have a solid bowel movement for 24 hours, but it’s not “I must run to the toilet every five minutes” for the full 24 hours. In my experience, that part lasts from the first bowel empty to the third time. After that, you’re mostly in the clear, just don’t try to fart - you’ve been warned. I’ve taken Dulcolax pink for three years now every 7-14 days. This is not the laxative for occasional constipation. Take the blue lax pills. This is the drug for severe & chronic constipation."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2015

For Constipation "This stuff hurts. I took three, like an idiot, at around 9:30 last night. It's sometime before seven in the morning, and I'm going, that's for sure, but my stomach is in my throat!! The cramps are horrid, and I want to vomit."

• Dot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I took 4 Dulcolax as directed for colonoscopy prep. In 40 minutes, broke out in cold sweat, became shaky and very sick to my stomach. So sick that I gagged three times. Severe cramping. I am still sick in my stomach and two hours late starting to drink Miralax. Horrible stuff."

• Zip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2016

For Constipation "I took one Dulcolax tablet last night at 19:00. Woke at 01:45 with the most horrendous stomach cramps, sweating profusely, nausea followed by 5 bouts of vomiting. My whole inside felt as though it was on fire, even childbirth was not as painful. At one point, I thought my husband was going to have to call for an ambulance. I have lost count of the number of BMs I have had during the day/night, just running out non-stop. I will never take another Dulcolax, I have thrown the packet out and would not wish this experience on anyone. I have wasted a day in my life in bed that I will never get back!"

• Rel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 25, 2020

For Constipation "Have suffered from impactions for several months. The trick is definitely to drink several pints of water (at least) when taking these tablets. I've had the nausea, vomiting, sweats, etc., when stool was not cleared or hadn't drank much water at the time of taking these tablets. Do not take them during the day and make sure you keep the day after taking these tablets clear of travel/appointments."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2016

For Constipation "Wow. I took two pills around 6:00 PM before dinner. Around midnight, I woke up with a burning feeling in my intestines. I figured the medicine was working and sat on the toilet. I haven't pooped this much in a long time. After relieving myself of days' worth of poop, I immediately felt sick to my stomach. I returned to the bathroom, where I began to throw up and have diarrhea. I went back to bed and woke up around 6:00 AM with more diarrhea. I'm really starting to consider using other medication that doesn't make me so sick."