There are occasions when due to inadequate foods or medicinal drug you may be constipated or have difficulty getting a bowel movement. Laxatives or mild cathartics such as Dulcolax can be a dependable means to infrequently help the condition, but with overuse can induce problems, for example diarrhea or looseness of the bowels, which successively can cause your oral contraceptive pill to go wrong.

Mechanism of Action

Laxatives are medications that work either by absorbing or retaining moisture, or triggering contractions in your intestines to help you have a bowel movement. The Mayo Clinic's page on laxatives states that a "normal" frequency of bowel movements is anywhere from three a day to three a week.

Drug Identification

Dulcolaxusa.com references several different products: a stool softener, suppositories, tablets and a dissolving powder. The active ingredient in suppositories and tablets is Bisacodyl, a stimulant. The stool softener contains docusate sodium, and the powder polyethylene glycol.

Laxatives may interfere with the absorption of some medications; however with normal use, birth control pills are not one of them, according to DrugDigest.org Interactions database.

Drug Effects

The Mayo Clinic warns not to overuse this medication by taking it more often than the instructions recommend; you can develop problems including becoming dependent on them, not being able to naturally have a bowel movement, and diarrhea.

Expert View

According to the National Institutes of Health, diarrhea can be defined as having loose, watery stools more than three times in one day. You may also have cramps, bloating, nausea and an urgent need to have a bowel movement.

Drug Warnings

Because your pill has to be absorbed in your stomach, if you are quickly emptying its entire contents, the hormones may not be absorbed and you may not be protected.

A backup method of birth control such as condoms or spermicide is critical if your birth control is not completely protecting you. Call your doctor to find out how long to use a back up method if you have diarrhea.

Before the Treatment

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Bisacodyl, or if you have:

Serious stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting;
A penetrated bowel;
An obstruction in your intestines;
Fruit sugar or galactose intolerance;
An allergy to yellow food dye;
Severe constipation or dehydration;
Inflammatory bowel disease, toxic megacolon; or
A sudden change in bowel habits lasting 2 weeks or longer.

People with eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia) should not use this medication without the advice of a doctor.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use Bisacodyl:

Renal disorder;
Difficulty swallowing;
A history of bowel impediment, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, or other intestinal disorder; or
If you are taking a diuretic ("water pill").

Do not use Bisacodyl without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Do not use Bisacodyl without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to a child without the advice of a doctor.
When used to treat constipation, Bisacodyl is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet and exercise. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

Synonym

Venezuela: Dulcolan Modane Gentlax Fleet Laxative Fleet Bisacodyl Feen-A-Mint Evac-Q-Tabs Evac-Q-Kwik Suppository* Dulcolax Dulcagen* Doxidan Correctol Clysodrast* Bisco-Lax* Bisac-Evac* Bisa-Lax
United States: Alophen Entrolax Dulcolax
United Kingdom: Biolax
United Arab Emirates: Laxocodyl Vacolax Laxitab Laxcodyl Kadolax Gencolax Emulax Dulcolax
Thailand: Conlax Tavolax nouvelle formule Prontolax Muxol Laxbene* Ercolax* Dulcolax Demolaxin
Switzerland: Bekunis Dragees Toilax
Sweden: Dulcolax Medesup*
Spain: Dulco Laxo
Singapore: Dulcolax Perilax Megalax Dulcolax
South Africa: Capolax*
Russia: Dulcolax (Дульколакс) Moderlax
Portugal: Dulcolax Fleet Laxative
New Zealand: Dulcolax Toilax
Norway: Dulcolax Zwitsalax/N* Toilax Nourilax
Netherlands: Dulcolax
Mexico: Dulcolan Dulcolax
Malaysia: Beacolux Verecolene CM Stixenil Normalene Dulcolax Confetto CM
Italy: Alaxa Laxadin
Israel: Contalax Toilax
Ireland: Dulcolax JuLax JuLax-M Dulcolax
India: Bo-Lax
Hungary: Stadalax Marcholax Dulcolax
Hong Kong: Correctol*
Greece: Dulcolax Vinco-Abfuhr-Perlen Vinco Forte* Tirgon Tempolax Stadalax Rhabarex B* Pyrilax Nedalax* Multilax* Mediolax Marienbader Pillen N Mandrolax* Logomed Abfuhr-Dragees* Laxysat Burger Laxoberal Bisa Laxbene Laxans-ratiopharm Laxanin N* Laxagetten Florisan N Dulcolax Drix Bisacodyl Darmol Bisacodyl* Bisco-Zitron Bekunis Bisacodyl
Germany: Agaroletten Dulcolax
France: Contalax Toilax
Finland: Metalax Toilax Perilax
Denmark: Dulcolax Stadalax Pyrilax
Czech Republic: Fenolax
Chile: Alsylax Soflax EX Laxcodyl Feen-A-Mint Dulcolax Correctol Carters Little Pills Bisacolax
Canada: Alophen Isilax Fideine Dulcolax
Brazil: Dislax Purgo-Pil Mucinum* Horton* Dulcolax
Belgium: Carters* Laxbene
Austria: Dulcolax Fleet Laxative* Durolax
Australia: Bisalax Modaton Laxamin
Argentina: Dulcolax