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What is Casanthranol Docusate Sodium
NOTE: This drug is discontinued in the US.
Docusate and casanthranol are used together in an oral preparation to treat or prevent constipation. The combination of casanthranol with docusate usually produces a laxative effect within 6—12 hours, but activity may take as long as 24 hours for some patients.
Docusate is a surfactant that facilitates the admixture of fat and water to soften the stool.
Docusate originally was marketed as dioctyl (salt) sulfosuccinate, but later the generic name was shortened to the current version. The salt forms of docusate, docusate sodium, docusate potassium, or docusate calcium are considered clinically interchangeable in terms of therapeutic effect; each provides minimal amounts of the associated cations.
Casanthranol is a stimulant laxative of the anthraquinone (emodin) class. Casanthranol is derived from the purified anthranol glycosides (e.g., barbaloin, chrysaloin) of cascara sagrada that originate from the dry bark of Rhamnus purshiana.
Indications
- constipation
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- melanosis coli
- physiological dependence
- rash
- throat irritation
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- abdominal pain
- acute abdomen
- appendicitis
- breast-feeding
- children
- colitis
- diarrhea
- diverticulitis
- fecal impaction
- GI obstruction
- GI perforation
- ileus
- infants
- labor
- pregnancy
- toxic megacolon
- ulcerative colitis
- vomiting
Interactions
- Calcium Phosphate, Supersaturated
- Dichlorphenamide
- Loop diuretics
- Mineral Oil
- Polyethylene Glycol
- Polyethylene Glycol; Electrolytes
- Polyethylene Glycol; Electrolytes; Ascorbic Acid
- Polyethylene Glycol; Electrolytes; Bisacodyl
- Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate; Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous
