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Bisacodyl Brand Names
Alophen | Bisac-Evac | Biscolax | Corrective Laxative for Women | Correctol | Dacodyl | Doxidan | Dulcolax | Ex-Lax Ultra | Feen-A-Mint | Fematrol | Femilax | Fleet | Laxative | Reliable Gentle Laxative | Veracolate
What is Bisacodyl
Bisacodyl, a derivative of diphenylmethane, is a stimulant laxative used to treat constipation.
Bisacodyl often is used to prepare patients for radiological examinations of the colon, sigmoidoscopy, and proctologic examinations.
Bisacodyl was approved by the FDA in October 1957. In 1998, the FDA proposed to amend the final monograph for OTC laxative products to reclassify certain stimulant laxative ingredients, including aloe, bisacodyl, casanthranol, cascara sagrada, and senna, from Category I (generally recognized as safe and effective) to Category III (further testing is required), until more data regarding safety and efficacy were available.
The final OTC laxative monograph rule, effective November 5, 2002, stated that data were submitted to the FDA regarding bisacodyl’s safety and efficacy as an OTC laxative, and that future publications would address the drug’s role as an acceptable OTC laxative.
In 1999, bisacodyl tannex formulations were withdrawn from the US market.
Indications
- constipation
For treatment of occasional constipation
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- hypokalemia
- nausea
- physiological dependence
- proctitis
- vomiting
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- abdominal pain
- acute abdomen
- appendicitis
- breast-feeding
- children
- colitis
- diarrhea
- diverticulitis
- dysphagia
- electrolyte imbalance
- fecal impaction
- geriatric
- GI bleeding
- GI obstruction
- GI perforation
- hypokalemia
- ileus
- infants
- labor
- neonates
- pregnancy
- toxic megacolon
- ulcerative colitis
- vomiting
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Carbonate
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide; Simethicone
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Trisilicate
- Antacids
- Aspirin, ASA; Citric Acid; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Atropine; Difenoxin
- Atropine; Diphenoxylate
- Brompheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone
- Brompheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Bumetanide
- Calcium Carbonate
- Calcium Carbonate; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Calcium Carbonate; Risedronate
- Calcium Carbonate; Simethicone
- Calcium Phosphate, Supersaturated
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Cimetidine
- Dichlorphenamide
- Diphenhydramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Ethacrynic Acid
- Famotidine
- Famotidine; Ibuprofen
- food
- Furosemide
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- H2-blockers
- Homatropine; Hydrocodone
- Hydrocodone
- Hydrocodone; Ibuprofen
- Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate; Pseudoephedrine
- Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Lactulose
- Loop diuretics
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Nizatidine
- Omeprazole; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Polyethylene Glycol
- Polyethylene Glycol; Electrolytes
- Polyethylene Glycol; Electrolytes; Ascorbic Acid
- Polyethylene Glycol; Electrolytes; Bisacodyl
- Proton pump inhibitors
- Ranitidine
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate; Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous
- Torsemide
