SENNAS

Brand & Generic Names

Black-Draught Lax Senna	Senexon
Fletcher's Castoria	SENNA
Gentlax	SENNOSIDES A & B
Gentle Nature	Senokot
Glysennid	Senokot-S
Nytilax	Senolax
Prodiem	X-Prep Liquid
Prompt

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? No
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Laxative (stimulant)

Uses

Constipation relief.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, chew or crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.
Liquid, granules--Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day, in addition to one taken with each dose.
Suppositories--Remove wrapper and moisten suppository with water. Gently insert larger end into rectum. Push well into rectum with finger.

When to take:
Usually at bedtime with a snack, unless directed otherwise.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember.

What drug does:
Acts on smooth muscles of intestine wall to cause vigorous bowel movement.

Time lapse before drug works:
6 to 10 hours.

Don't take with:
See Interaction Section and consult doctor.
Don't take within 2 hours of taking another medicine. Laxative interferes with medicine absorption.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Vomiting, electrolyte depletion.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

• Rectal irritation.
• Yellow-brown or red-violet urine.

Infrequent:

• Dangerous potassium loss (thirst, weakness, heartbeat irregularity, paralysis, nausea and diarrhea).
• Belching, cramps, nausea.

Rare:

• Irritability, headache, confusion, rash, difficult breathing, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, unusual tiredness or weakness.
• Burning on urination.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You have symptoms of appendicitis, inflamed bowel or intestinal blockage.
• You are allergic to a stimulant laxative*.
• You have missed a bowel movement for only 1 or 2 days.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have a colostomy or ileostomy.
• If you have congestive heart disease.
• If you have diabetes.
• If you have high blood pressure.
• If you have a laxative habit.
• If you have rectal bleeding.
• If you take other laxatives.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Consult doctor for advice about laxative use.

Breast-feeding:
No problems expected. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Use only under medical supervision.

Prolonged use:
Don't take for more than 1 week unless under a doctor's supervision. May cause laxative dependence.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Discontinuing:
May be unnecessary to finish medicine. Follow doctor's instructions.

Others:

• Don't take to "flush out" your system or as a "tonic."
• May cause urine to get discolored. No action necessary.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Antihypertensives*	May cause dangerous low potassium
	level.
Digitalis	Increased digitalis toxicity.
Diuretics, potassium*	May cause dangerous low potassium
sparing	level.
Salicylates	Decreased salicylate effect. Take
	drugs 2 hours apart.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	None expected.
Tobacco:	None expected.