Docusate sodium oral
- Drugs List
- Therapeutic Indications
- Dosage
- Administration
- Contraindications
- Precautions and Warnings
- Pregnancy and Lactation
- Side Effects
- Monograph
Presentation
Oral formulations containing docusate sodium.
Drugs List
Therapeutic Indications
Uses
Aid passage of barium meal to facilitate diagnostic procedures
Constipation
Dosage
Adults
Prevention and treatment of chronic constipation
Up to 500mg daily in divided doses.
Initiate treatment with a large dose and decrease as condition improves.
As an adjunct in abdominal radiological procedures for administration with barium meal
400mg to be taken with the meal.
Children
Prevention and treatment of chronic constipation
Children aged 12 to 18 years
Up to 500mg daily in divided doses.
Initiate treatment with a large dose and decrease as condition improves.
The paediatric oral solution 12.5mg/5ml should be used in children under 12 years, capsules are not recommended.
Children aged 2 to 12 years
12.5mg to 25mg three times a day, adjusted according to response.
Children aged over 6 months to 2 years
12.5mg three times a day, adjusted according to response.
As an adjunct in abdominal radiological procedures for administration with barium meal
Docusate sodium oral solution sugar-free 100mg/5ml
Children aged 12 to 18 years: 400mg to be taken with the meal.
Paediatric oral solution 12.5mg/5ml
75mg to be taken with a meal.
Additional Dosage Information
Oral preparations of docusate sodium are usually effective in one or two days.
Administration
For oral administration.
Docusate sodium oral solution sugar-free 50mg/5ml and Docusate sodium oral solution sugar-free 100mg/5ml
Dose should be followed by plenty of water or flavoured drink. e.g. milk or orange juice.
Docusate sodium paediatric oral solution sugar-free 12.5mg/5ml
Dilute the dose in a glass of flavoured drink, e.g. milk or orange juice. Administer within 30 minutes of preparation.
Contraindications
Abdominal pain of unknown cause
Children under 6 months
Nausea
Vomiting
Gastrointestinal obstruction
Hereditary fructose intolerance
Precautions and Warnings
Breastfeeding
Phenylketonuria
Pregnancy
Some formulations contain aspartame - caution in phenylketonuria
Not all available brands are licensed for all indications
Not all available brands are licensed for use in children under 12 years
Presentations with sorbitol unsuitable in hereditary fructose intolerance
Some brands contain Sunset Yellow (E110) - can trigger allergic reactions
Some formulations contain hydroxybenzoate
Some formulations contain propylene glycol
Ensure patient has adequate fluid intake
If daily use is required, investigate the cause of constipation
Prolonged use may cause fluid/electrolyte imbalance and hypokalaemia
Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy
Use docusate sodium with caution during pregnancy.
The manufacturers state that sodium docusate should only be used if the benefits outweigh the potential risks. There is insufficient data from the use of docusate sodium during pregnancy. However, this product has been widely used during pregnancy and no adverse effects have been reported. Animal studies are insufficient regarding effects on pregnancy and embryo-foetal development. The use of a bulk forming laxative or an osmotic laxative as the initial treatment of constipation during pregnancy is recommended.
Lactation
Use docusate sodium with caution during breastfeeding.
The manufacturers state that docusate sodium is excreted in breast milk and should therefore be used with caution in breastfeeding mothers. Docusate is minimally absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and therefore the drug is unlikely to be found in the maternal serum or breast milk (Toxnet).
Counselling
Advise patient to increase intake of fluids and dietary fibre.
Advise patient not to take liquid paraffin while they are taking docusate sodium preparations.
Side Effects
Abdominal cramps
Burning sensation of the mouth
Burning sensation of the throat
Diarrhoea
Hypokalaemia
Nausea
Non functioning atonic colon
Rash
Overdosage
It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.
The following number will direct the caller to the relevant local centre (0844) 892 0111
Information may be obtained if you have access to ToxBase the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service. This is available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).
Further Information
Last Full Review Date: August 2014
Reference Sources
Summary of Product Characteristics: Dioctyl 100mg Capsules. UCB Pharma Ltd. Revised July 2016.
Summary of Product Characteristics: Docusol Paediatric Solution. Typharm Ltd. Revised April 2014.
Summary of Product Characteristics: Docusate sodium 100mg/5ml oral solution. Lucis Pharma Ltd. Revised December 2021.
Summary of Product Characteristics: Docusate Sodium Adult 50mg/5ml Oral Solution. Typharm Ltd. Revised May 2016.
Summary of Product Characteristics: Docusate Sodium Paediatric 12.5mg/5ml oral solution. Typharm Ltd. Revised December 2015.
Summary of Product Characteristics: DulcoEase 100mg Capsules. Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd. Revised October 2013.
NICE Evidence Services Available at: www.nice.org.uk Last accessed: 14 April 2022.
US National Library of Medicine. Toxicology Data Network. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed).
Available at: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT
Docusate Last revised: 7 September 2013
Last accessed: 8 November 2016.
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