Side Effects

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

For bulk-forming-containing

  1. Difficulty in breathing
  2. intestinal blockage
  3. skin rash or itching
  4. swallowing difficulty (feeling of lump in throat)

For hyperosmotic-containing

  1. Confusion
  2. dizziness or light-headedness
  3. irregular heartbeat
  4. muscle cramps
  5. unusual tiredness or weakness

For stimulant-containing

  1. Confusion
  2. irregular heartbeat
  3. muscle cramps
  4. pink to red, red to violet, or red to brown coloration of alkaline urine (for cascara, danthron, and/or senna only)
  5. skin rash
  6. unusual tiredness or weakness
  7. yellow to brown coloration of acid urine (for cascara, and/or senna only)

For stool softener (emollient)-containing

  1. Skin rash

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For hyperosmotic-containing

  1. Bloating
  2. cramping
  3. diarrhea
  4. nausea
  5. gas
  6. increased thirst

For lubricant-containing

  1. Skin irritation surrounding rectal area

For stimulant-containing

  1. Belching
  2. cramping
  3. diarrhea
  4. nausea

For stool softener (emollient)-containing

  1. Stomach and/or intestinal cramping
  2. throat irritation (liquid forms only)

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.