Senna

Trade Names: Black-Draught, Senekot, Senexon

Type of Drug: Senna is an irritant/stimulant laxative used to treat constipation.

How Drug Works: Senna stimulates/irritates the smooth muscle of the intestines. Water collects in the intestines. This stimulates the normal forward movement of the intestines (peristalsis), which results in a bowel movement within 6 to 10 hours.

How Drug Is Given: Senna is given as a pill or rectal suppository. If you are using the suppository, open the package and dip the tip of the suppository in water. If you are right-handed, lie down on your left side, bring your knees up near your chest, and insert the suppository in your rectum about an inch. Stay in this position for about 15 minutes, then get up and wash your hands well. The dose depends on the reason you are taking it and how well it works for you. Keep the medicine in a tightly closed container away from heat and moisture and out of the reach of children and pets.

How Should I Take This Drug? Take this drug exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them to you.

Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor.

Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and herbals.

Should I avoid any other medicines, foods, alcohol, and/or activities? Your prescription and nonprescription medicines may interact with other drugs, causing harm. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medicine"prescription or nonprescription"without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, food, or other medicines. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and affect activities such as driving.

Precautions: Talk to your doctor before taking senna if you have nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or blood in the stool, or if you are impacted. There may be something else wrong besides constipation.

To prevent constipation, try to drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluid a day, increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet (5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily), eat bran cereal, and do gentle exercise as tolerated.

If you use laxatives all the time, your body may forget the normal process of moving the bowels. You then get dependent on the laxative. If you are taking opioid pain relievers, you will need to take a laxative regularly.

Some laxatives can cause diarrhea, which results in loss of fluids, nutrients, and electrolytes. It is important to replace the fluid that you lose through diarrhea. Try to drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluid a day. Fluids with electrolytes, such as chicken broth or sports drinks, are helpful in replacing potassium and salt that are lost in diarrhea. Take this medicine as instructed by your doctor.

Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.

Most of the following side effects probably will not occur. Your doctor or nurse will want to discuss specific care instructions with you. They can help you understand these side effects and help you deal with them.

Side Effects:

More Common Side Effects Loss of normal reflexes to move bowels when laxatives are used on a long-term basis Nausea Rectal burning as suppository is absorbed

Less Common Side Effects Vomiting Abdominal pain Diarrhea Dehydration related to diarrhea Loss of electrolytes

Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems.

FDA Approval: Yes