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What is Docusate?

Category: Over the Counter Drugs

Most popular types: Stool Softener Colace Doc-Q-Lace Show all

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See also: Peri-Colace

Docusate is a stool softener that is used in the treatment of constipation. It is available as capsule, liquid or enema. Docusate preparations may include sodium, calcium, or potassium.

See patients taking Docusate

Reported purpose & perceived effectiveness
Purpose Patients Evaluations Perceived Effectiveness
Constipation 396 100
Bowel problems 130 35
General health 20 0
Bowel irritability 15 5
Hemorrhoids 15 6
Irritable bowel syndrome 14 2

Show all 42 reasons taken

  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
See all 731 patients that have taken Docusate

Side effects

Side effects as an overall problem

Side effects as an overall problem
Severity Evaluations
Severe 2
Moderate 13
Mild 16
None 119

Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Docusate

Side effect Patients
Diarrhea 9
Cramps 4
Abdominal cramps 3
Bowel irregularity 2
Bowel incontinence 1
Excessive gas 1

Show all 11 reported side effects

Dosages

Based on patients currently taking Docusate

Dosage Patients
100 mg daily 22
100 mg twice daily 16
200 mg daily 11
100mg as needed 5
100 mg three times daily 4
200 mg twice daily 4
daily 4
sodium100mg as needed 4
250 mg daily 3
300 mg daily 3

See all 41 dosages

Why patients stopped taking Docusate

Multiple reasons could be selected

Reason Patients
Other 51
Did not seem to work 40
Course of treatment ended 29
Doctor's advice 18
Personal research 7
Side effects too severe 7
Expense 2
Change in health plan coverage 1
See all 140 patients who've stopped taking Docusate

Duration

Currently taking Docusate

Duration Patients
Less than 1 month 1
1 - 6 months 3
6 months - 1 year 5
1 - 2 years 11
2 - 5 years 31
5 - 10 years 28
10 years or more 32

Stopped taking Docusate

Duration Patients
Less than 1 month 22
1 - 6 months 40
6 months - 1 year 22
1 - 2 years 25
2 - 5 years 22
5 - 10 years 8
10 years or more 3
Adherence
Adherence Evaluations
Always 100
Usually 30
Sometimes 15
Never taken as prescribed 5
Burden
Burden Evaluations
Very hard to take 0
Somewhat hard to take 11
A little hard to take 20
Not at all hard to take 119
Cost per month
Cost per month Evaluations
$200+ 0
$100-199 0
$50-99 1
$25-49 4
< $25 80
Not specified 65

What people switch to and from

Patients stopped taking Docusate and switched to:

Treatment Patients
Polyethylene Glycol 3350 (MiraLax) 2
Last updated:

20 patient evaluations for Docusate

Sort by: Most recent

Jul 1, 2015 (Started Sep 21, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for hemorrhoids)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for constipation)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for bowel problems)
  • Side effects
    None
  • Adherence
    Sometimes
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 200 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 1, 2015 (Started Oct 15, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for constipation)
  • Side effects
    None
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: Daily

Aug 13, 2011 (Started Oct 15, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for constipation)
  • Side effects
    None
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: Daily

Nov 17, 2010 (Started Oct 15, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for constipation)
  • Side effects
    None
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: Daily
  • 0 helpful marks

Mar 22, 2014 (Started Jul 01, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for constipation)
  • Side effects
    None
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: I took docusate sodium as prescribed by my pain management physician, at the maximum dose for a month. It didn't do anything to soften my stools. I found fiber seems to work best for that, as well as for helping frequency issues.
  • 0 helpful marks
Last updated:
Showing 3 of 20 patient evaluations for Docusate