Docusate and senna

• In Aotearoa New Zealand docusate and senna is available as tablets. 
• The usual dose of docusate and senna is 1 or 2 tablets at night.
• Some people may be prescribed higher doses.
• Swallow your tablets with a full glass of water.
• You can take docusate and senna with or without food. 
• It usually takes 6 to 12 hours before docusate and senna works and causes a bowel movement (poo). In can be taken for different reasons: 
  • to treat constipation take docusate and senna for a few days only
  • to prevent constipation take docusate and senna every day.
• Always take your docusate and senna exactly as your healthcare provider has told you.
• The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much docusate and senna to take, how often to take it and any special instructions.

• Do you have other stomach or bowel problems?
• Are you pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding?
• Have you noticed a change in your poo that has lasted longer than 2 weeks?

If so, it’s important that you tell your healthcare provider before taking docusate and senna. Sometimes a medicine isn’t suitable for a person with certain conditions, or it can only be used with extra care.

Here are some things to know when you're taking docusate and senna. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.

• Other medicines: Docusate and senna interacts with some medicines, herbal supplements and rongoā Māori, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting docusate and senna and before starting any new products.
• Don't use it for longer than 1 week unless told to by your healthcare provider.
• Drink plenty of fluids while you're taking docusate and senna.

The common side effects of laxatives are stomach pain or cramps, bloating, gas in your tummy and flatulence (farting).

Other side effects include the following:

• Constipation – ongoing use of laxatives can cause constipation because your bowel loses muscle and nerve response, and can no longer move your poo out. This leads to a dependency on the laxative and higher doses are needed to poo.
• Diarrhoea and dehydration – taking too much of some laxatives can lead to diarrhoea (runny poo) and losing too much salt from your body.

Docusate and senna may make your pee and poo an orange-red colour. This is harmless.