What Dulcolax Is For
Dulcolax is what people take for occasional constipation when they want it dealt with overnight, one or two tablets at bedtime and a bowel movement in the morning. Thirty coated tablets to the pack, and each one carries 5 mg of bisacodyl.
Bisacodyl is a stimulant laxative: it prompts the bowel wall to contract rather than softening what is in there, which is why it acts in six to twelve hours. The tablet is coated so that it travels through the stomach shut and opens further down, where the work is done. Two rules follow from that coating, and getting them wrong is the commonest reason a tablet fails to work at all.
Swallow It Whole, and Keep Milk and Antacids Away From It
Swallow the tablet whole with water. Chewing or crushing it breaks the coating, wastes the dose, and tends to give cramping instead of a result.
Then keep it away from anything that reduces stomach acid, because that dissolves the coating too early. Milk, antacids and acid-reducing tablets such as omeprazole all do it, so leave at least an hour either side of your Dulcolax. Almost nobody is told this at a till, and it decides whether the tablet works.
How Much, and For How Long
Adults and children over twelve take one tablet at bedtime, going up to two if one is not enough. Children under twelve should not take it.
Five days is the limit for continuous daily use without finding out why the constipation is happening. That is a firm limit rather than a cautious suggestion. Beyond a short course, daily use of a stimulant laxative can impair how the bowel works on its own, and prolonged heavy use can pull your fluid and salts out of balance and drop your potassium, which matters most for the heart and more with age. So if you are reaching for a laxative every day, come and see our doctor and let us find the reason.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding, Stated Properly
Dulcolax should be taken in pregnancy only where the expected benefit outweighs the risk and only on medical advice, and particularly not in the first three months. The same applies while breastfeeding, although it is worth knowing that bisacodyl itself has not been found to pass into breast milk.
Constipation in pregnancy is extremely common and there is a better first answer. Fybogel is indicated for constipation in pregnancy and works by adding bulk rather than prodding the bowel, and our doctor is at the pharmacy if you would rather have the whole thing looked at. Please come and ask rather than guessing from a box.
If You Have a Prescription, or Need One
If you have a prescription for this item, send it to us and we will dispense against it. Without one, our doctor is at the pharmacy and can see you and issue one, usually the same day.
We dispense a prescription item only against a prescription, or against one our own doctor has issued after seeing you. That rule holds for everyone, every time, and it works in your favour here: constipation lasting more than a few weeks deserves a proper look rather than another box, and a single visit covers both.
The Same Medicine, in a Bigger Pack
Worth knowing before you choose. Our Bisacodyl 5mg tablets are the same medicine at the same strength in a pack of a hundred rather than thirty. Ask our pharmacist to work out the cost for each tablet with you, because with pack sizes that far apart the shelf price tells you very little.
And if what you actually need is something you can keep taking for months rather than days, the shelf has better options: Movicol sachets and Lactulac lactulose liquid both draw water into the stool instead of stimulating the bowel, so neither carries the five-day limit or the dependence risk.
What to Expect, and When to Stop
Take it at bedtime and expect something within six to twelve hours. Cramping, loose stool and some nausea are the usual complaints and they settle once you stop. Starting with one tablet rather than two on the first night is the simplest way to find how much you actually need, and it spares most people the griping.
Stop and come and see us if you get severe cramping pain, if you feel faint or very dry, or if you notice blood. Drink plenty of water through the day while you are taking it, which blunts most of the discomfort. If two nights bring nothing at all, please come and talk to us rather than doubling up.
Is Dulcolax Right for You?
Please talk to our pharmacist or our doctor before you buy if any of these apply to you.
- Abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting, or no bowel movement at all. Please see our doctor today. Bisacodyl is contraindicated with a bowel blockage, a bowel that has stopped moving and appendicitis, and that combination can signal one of them.
- Inflammatory bowel disease in a flare, or severe dehydration. Both are contraindications, and our doctor should decide what you take.
- A child under twelve. Dulcolax is not for them. Ask us for a product made for children, and let our doctor look at the cause.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Only on medical advice, and particularly not in the first three months. Ask us about Fybogel instead.
- Kidney disease, or you are elderly. Fluid and salt losses matter more in both cases, so our doctor should set the plan.
- Blood in your stool, weight you did not mean to lose, or a bowel habit that has changed and stayed changed. See our doctor before any laxative, particularly after fifty or with bowel cancer in the family.
Where to Buy Dulcolax in Kenya
Order online and we deliver countrywide, or collect from our pharmacy at Kahawa Sukari Shopping Center, Nairobi. We send orders to Nairobi and every neighbourhood around it — the CBD, Westlands, Parklands, Gigiri, Muthaiga, Runda, Rosslyn, Kitisuru, Lower Kabete, Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Karen, Langata, South B, South C, Eastleigh, Buruburu, Donholm, Embakasi, Ngong Road, Kasarani, Roysambu, Zimmerman, Githurai, Ruaka, Banana Hill, Two Rivers, Village Market and Pride Lands — and across Kiambu, Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Kikuyu, Limuru and Ngong.
Beyond the capital we deliver to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Machakos, Athi River, Kitengela, Kajiado, Naivasha, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Webuye, Kitale, Nandi Hills, Iten, Kapenguria, Embu, Meru, Chuka, Kerugoya, Murang’a, Othaya, Nyahururu, Nanyuki, Maralal, Isiolo, Marsabit, Moyale, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Lodwar, Kitui, Mwingi, Makueni, Emali, Kibwezi, Voi, Taveta, Wundanyi, Mariakani, Diani, Ukunda, Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi, Lamu and Hola. At one or two tablets at night a pack runs for a known length of time, so tell us the pack size you want and we will work out how many months that covers before you order.
Across Africa, ask us before you order. We have sent orders to Uganda, Tanzania, Somaliland and as far as Malawi, and we will quote for Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and the rest of the continent. Tell us the destination and we will confirm any import paperwork before the parcel leaves us.
Living abroad? Order from wherever you are and we deliver to your family here in Kenya. Kenyans in the UK, the United States, Canada, South Africa and the Gulf order from us regularly for parents and relatives at home. A laxative like this one taken steadily month after month does far more than a single pack, so tell us who it is for and how many months you want covered and we will set up the repeat.
Why Buy Your Dulcolax from HealthAlone Kenya?
HealthAlone is a pharmacist-led health ecosystem licensed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and our stock is original, sealed and correctly stored. Kahawa Sukari is a real counter with real pharmacists behind it.
Our pharmacists will set the dose with you, explain the milk and antacid rule that decides whether a tablet works at all, and work out the cost for each tablet against the hundred-tablet generic pack. Our doctor is here too if you would rather have the whole question looked at properly.
It is one more step in our vision: building Africa’s most trusted health ecosystem, accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Dulcolax 30s: Your Questions Answered
What is in Dulcolax?
Bisacodyl, 5 mg in each coated tablet, thirty tablets to the pack. It is a stimulant laxative, so it prompts the bowel to contract rather than softening the stool.
How long does it take to work?
Six to twelve hours, which is why it is taken at bedtime and expected to work in the morning.
How many tablets should I take?
Adults and children over twelve take one tablet at bedtime, going up to two if one is not enough. Children under twelve should not take it.
Can I chew or crush the tablet?
Please swallow it whole with water. The coating carries the tablet past the stomach, and breaking it wastes the dose and tends to cause cramping.
Why keep milk and antacids away from it?
Because anything that reduces stomach acid dissolves the coating too early. Milk, antacids and acid-reducing tablets such as omeprazole all do it, so leave at least an hour either side. It is the commonest reason a tablet fails to work.
How many days can I take it for?
Five days of continuous daily use is the limit without finding out why the constipation is happening. If you need it longer than that, come and see our doctor.
Is it safe to take while breastfeeding?
Only on medical advice. Bisacodyl itself has not been found to pass into breast milk, but the position on both pregnancy and breastfeeding is that it should be used only where the benefit outweighs the risk and only with advice. Come and talk to us.
Can I take it in pregnancy?
Only on medical advice, and particularly not in the first three months. Ask us about a bulk-forming fibre instead, which is indicated for constipation in pregnancy.
Is it addictive?
Not in the way a drug is, but daily use beyond a short course can leave the bowel working less well on its own and relying on a laxative to open at all. That is why the five-day limit exists.
Do I need a prescription?
If you have one, send it to us and we will dispense against it. Without one, our doctor is at the pharmacy and can see you and issue one, usually the same day. We dispense a prescription item only against a prescription or one our own doctor has issued.
Is there a cheaper pack of the same medicine?
We stock bisacodyl 5 mg tablets in a pack of a hundred, which is the same medicine at the same strength. Ask our pharmacist to work out the cost for each tablet with you before you choose.
What if I miss a dose?
Skip it and take the next one at the usual time. Do not take an extra tablet to make up for it.
When should I see a doctor rather than buy a laxative?
Blood in your stool, weight you did not mean to lose, a bowel habit that has changed and stayed changed, new constipation after fifty, or bowel cancer in the family. Also abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting, which needs seeing today.
Where can I buy Dulcolax 30s in Kenya, and what does it cost?
From HealthAlone, online for delivery countrywide or over the counter at Kahawa Sukari Shopping Center, Nairobi. The current price is shown above. We deliver across Nairobi — the CBD, Westlands, Parklands, Gigiri, Muthaiga, Runda, Kitisuru, Lavington, Kilimani, Karen, Langata, South B, South C, Eastleigh, Kasarani, Roysambu, Githurai, Ruaka and Banana Hill — and to Kiambu, Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Kikuyu, Limuru, Ngong, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Machakos, Kitengela, Naivasha, Narok, Kericho, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Kitale, Embu, Meru, Nanyuki, Nyahururu, Isiolo, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Lodwar, Kitui, Makueni, Voi, Taveta, Mariakani, Diani, Ukunda, Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi and Lamu. Outside Kenya we have delivered to Uganda, Tanzania, Somaliland and Malawi, and we quote for Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and the rest of Africa on request. If a prescription is needed, send it to us and we will dispense against it, or see our doctor here and have one issued the same day.
