Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Laxatives should not be given to young children (up to 6 years of age) unless prescribed by their doctor. Since children usually cannot describe their symptoms very well, they should be checked by a doctor before being given a laxative. The child may have a condition that needs other treatment. If so, laxatives will not help, and may even cause unwanted effects or make the condition worse.

Mineral oil should not be given to young children (up to 6 years of age) because a form of pneumonia may be caused by the inhalation of oil droplets into the lungs.

Also, bisacodyl tablets should not be given to children up to 6 years of age because if chewed they may cause stomach irritation.

Geriatric

Mineral oil should not be taken by bedridden elderly persons because a form of pneumonia may be caused by the inhalation of oil droplets into the lungs. Also, stimulant laxatives (e.g., bisacodyl or casanthranol), if taken too often, may worsen weakness, lack of coordination, or dizziness and light-headedness.

Polyethylene glycol 3350 should be discontinued if diarrhea occurs, especially in elderly persons in nursing homes.

Pregnancy

Although laxatives are often used during pregnancy, some types are better than others. Stool softeners (emollient) laxatives and bulk-forming laxatives are probably used most often. If you are using a laxative during pregnancy, remember that:

  • Some laxatives (in particular, the bulk-formers) contain a large amount of sodium or sugars, which may have possible unwanted effects such as increasing blood pressure or causing water to be held in the body.
  • Saline laxatives containing magnesium, potassium, or phosphates may have to be avoided if your kidney function is not normal.
  • Mineral oil is usually not used during pregnancy because of possible unwanted effects on the mother or infant. Mineral oil may interfere with the absorption of nutrients and vitamins in the mother. Also, if taken for a long time during pregnancy, mineral oil may cause severe bleeding in the newborn infant.
  • Stimulant laxatives may cause unwanted effects in the expectant mother if improperly used. Castor oil in particular should not be used as it may cause contractions of the womb.

Breastfeeding

Laxatives containing cascara and danthron may pass into the breast milk. Although the amount of laxative in the milk is generally thought to be too small to cause problems in the baby, your doctor should be told if you plan to use such laxatives. Some reports claim that diarrhea has been caused in the infant.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Aclidinium
  • Amantadine
  • Amiloride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amoxapine
  • Anisotropine
  • Atropine
  • Belladonna
  • Benztropine
  • Bepridil
  • Biperiden
  • Bornaprine
  • Brompheniramine
  • Burosumab-twza
  • Butylscopolamine
  • Canrenoate
  • Canrenone
  • Carbinoxamine
  • Carisoprodol
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Cimetropium
  • Cisapride
  • Clemastine
  • Clidinium
  • Clomipramine
  • Clozapine
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Cyclopentolate
  • Cyproheptadine
  • Darifenacin
  • Desipramine
  • Dicyclomine
  • Dimenhydrinate
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Doxepin
  • Dronedarone
  • Emepronium
  • Eplerenone
  • Fesoterodine
  • Flavoxate
  • Fluphenazine
  • Glycopyrrolate
  • Glycopyrronium Tosylate
  • Homatropine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Hyoscyamine
  • Imipramine
  • Ipratropium
  • Isopropamide
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Loxapine
  • Mebeverine
  • Meclizine
  • Mepenzolate
  • Mesoridazine
  • Methantheline
  • Methixene
  • Methscopolamine
  • Nortriptyline
  • Olanzapine
  • Orphenadrine
  • Oxitropium Bromide
  • Oxybutynin
  • Paroxetine
  • Perphenazine
  • Pimozide
  • Pinaverium
  • Pipenzolate Bromide
  • Piperaquine
  • Pirenzepine
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Procyclidine
  • Promethazine
  • Propantheline
  • Propiverine
  • Protriptyline
  • Quetiapine
  • Revefenacin
  • Saquinavir
  • Scopolamine
  • Solifenacin
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Spironolactone
  • Stramonium
  • Terfenadine
  • Terodiline
  • Thioridazine
  • Thiothixene
  • Tiotropium
  • Tizanidine
  • Tolterodine
  • Triamterene
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Trihexyphenidyl
  • Trimethobenzamide
  • Trimipramine
  • Tropicamide
  • Trospium
  • Umeclidinium
  • Valethamate
  • Ziprasidone

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Acalabrutinib
  • Aceclofenac
  • Acemetacin
  • Acenocoumarol
  • Adagrasib
  • Alacepril
  • Alfuzosin
  • Aliskiren
  • Amiloride
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amoxapine
  • Amphetamine
  • Amtolmetin Guacil
  • Amygdalin
  • Anagrelide
  • Ancrod
  • Anisindione
  • Antithrombin III Human
  • Apomorphine
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Asenapine
  • Aspirin
  • Astemizole
  • Atazanavir
  • Azathioprine
  • Azilsartan
  • Azilsartan Medoxomil
  • Azithromycin
  • Baloxavir Marboxil
  • Bedaquiline
  • Benazepril
  • Benzphetamine
  • Bictegravir
  • Bisacodyl
  • Bivalirudin
  • Bromfenac
  • Bufexamac
  • Bupivacaine
  • Buprenorphine
  • Buserelin
  • Cabotegravir
  • Candesartan
  • Canrenoate
  • Captopril
  • Cefuroxime Axetil
  • Celecoxib
  • Ceritinib
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Chlortetracycline
  • Choline Salicylate
  • Cilazapril
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Citalopram
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clofazimine
  • Clomipramine
  • Clonixin
  • Clothiapine
  • Clozapine
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dabrafenib
  • Danaparoid
  • Dasatinib
  • Deferoxamine
  • Defibrotide
  • Degarelix
  • Delafloxacin
  • Delamanid
  • Delapril
  • Demeclocycline
  • Dermatan Sulfate
  • Desipramine
  • Desirudin
  • Deslorelin
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexibuprofen
  • Dexketoprofen
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Diclofenac
  • Dicumarol
  • Diflunisal
  • Digoxin
  • Dimercaprol
  • Dipyrone
  • Disopyramide
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Dolutegravir
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Doxycycline
  • Droperidol
  • Droxicam
  • Efavirenz
  • Eltrombopag
  • Elvitegravir
  • Enalapril
  • Enalaprilat
  • Encorafenib
  • Enoxacin
  • Entrectinib
  • Eprosartan
  • Eravacycline
  • Erdafitinib
  • Erythromycin
  • Escitalopram
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Etodolac
  • Etofenamate
  • Etoricoxib
  • Etrasimod
  • Felbinac
  • Fenoprofen
  • Fepradinol
  • Feprazone
  • Fexinidazole
  • Fingolimod
  • Flecainide
  • Floctafenine
  • Fluconazole
  • Flufenamic Acid
  • Fluoxetine
  • Flurbiprofen
  • Fondaparinux
  • Formoterol
  • Foscarnet
  • Fosinopril
  • Fostemsavir
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Gefitinib
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gepirone
  • Glasdegib
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Granisetron
  • Grepafloxacin
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Heparin
  • Histrelin
  • Hyaluronidase
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Ibuprofen
  • Ibutilide
  • Iloperidone
  • Imidapril
  • Imipramine
  • Indomethacin
  • Infigratinib
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Irbesartan
  • Iron
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ketoconazole
  • Ketoprofen
  • Ketorolac
  • Lamivudine
  • Lapatinib
  • Ledipasvir
  • Lefamulin
  • Lenvatinib
  • Leuprolide
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levomethadyl
  • Licorice
  • Lisdexamfetamine
  • Lisinopril
  • Lofexidine
  • Lomefloxacin
  • Lopinavir
  • Lornoxicam
  • Losartan
  • Loxoprofen
  • Lumefantrine
  • Lumiracoxib
  • Lymecycline
  • Macimorelin
  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Meclocycline
  • Meclofenamate
  • Mefenamic Acid
  • Mefloquine
  • Meloxicam
  • Memantine
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Methacycline
  • Methadone
  • Methamphetamine
  • Metronidazole
  • Mifepristone
  • Minocycline
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mobocertinib
  • Moexipril
  • Morniflumate
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Mycophenolate Mofetil
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Nabumetone
  • Nafarelin
  • Naproxen
  • Nepafenac
  • Neratinib
  • Niflumic Acid
  • Nilotinib
  • Nimesulide
  • Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
  • Norfloxacin
  • Nortriptyline
  • Octreotide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Olanzapine
  • Olmesartan
  • Omadacycline
  • Ondansetron
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Oxaprozin
  • Oxyphenbutazone
  • Oxytetracycline
  • Ozanimod
  • Pacritinib
  • Paliperidone
  • Panobinostat
  • Parecoxib
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Penicillamine
  • Pentopril
  • Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium
  • Perindopril
  • Phenindione
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenprocoumon
  • Phenylbutazone
  • Phenytoin
  • Piketoprofen
  • Pimavanserin
  • Piperaquine
  • Piroxicam
  • Pitolisant
  • Polyethylene Glycol 3350
  • Ponesimod
  • Posaconazole
  • Pranoprofen
  • Primidone
  • Procainamide
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Proglumetacin
  • Promethazine
  • Propafenone
  • Propyphenazone
  • Proquazone
  • Protriptyline
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinapril
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Quizartinib
  • Raltegravir
  • Ramipril
  • Ranolazine
  • Relugolix
  • Ribociclib
  • Rilpivirine
  • Rofecoxib
  • Rolitetracycline
  • Rosuvastatin
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Salsalate
  • Sarecycline
  • Selpercatinib
  • Senna
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Siponimod
  • Sodium Picosulfate
  • Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
  • Sodium Salicylate
  • Solifenacin
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotalol
  • Sotorasib
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Sparsentan
  • Spirapril
  • Spironolactone
  • St John's Wort
  • Sulindac
  • Sulpiride
  • Sunitinib
  • Tacrolimus
  • Telavancin
  • Telithromycin
  • Telmisartan
  • Temocapril
  • Tenoxicam
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Tetracycline
  • Tiaprofenic Acid
  • Tigecycline
  • Tolfenamic Acid
  • Tolmetin
  • Toremifene
  • Trandolapril
  • Trazodone
  • Triamterene
  • Triclabendazole
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Trimipramine
  • Triptorelin
  • Trovafloxacin
  • Valdecoxib
  • Valsartan
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Vilanterol
  • Vinflunine
  • Vismodegib
  • Voclosporin
  • Voriconazole
  • Warfarin
  • Zofenopril
  • Zuclopenthixol

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class, change some of the other medicines you take, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Appendicitis (or signs of) or
  • Rectal bleeding of unknown cause—These conditions need immediate attention by a doctor.
  • Colostomy or
  • Intestinal blockage or
  • Ileostomy—The use of laxatives may create other problems if these conditions are present.
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus—Diabetic patients should be careful since some laxatives contain large amounts of sugars, such as dextrose, galactose, and/or sucrose.
  • Heart disease or
  • High blood pressure—Some laxatives contain large amounts of sodium, which may make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney disease—Magnesium and potassium (contained in some laxatives) may build up in the body if kidney disease is present; a serious condition may develop.
  • Swallowing difficulty—Mineral oil should not be used since it may get into the lungs by accident and cause pneumonia; also, bulk-forming laxatives may get lodged in the esophagus of patients who have difficulty in swallowing.

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Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

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