Like all medicines, bisacodyl may cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.
Common side effects of bisacodyl
These common side effects of bisacodyl happen in more than 1 in 100 people.
There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Feeling sick (nausea)
Try taking bisacodyl with some food. It may also help if you avoid rich or spicy food.
Diarrhoea
Stop taking bisacodyl and drink plenty of fluids, such as water or squash. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration, such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or the progestogen-only pill and you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Stomach pain or cramps
Reduce your dose of bisacodyl or stop taking it until these side effects go away.
Try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or a covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
Serious side effects
Tell your doctor or call 111 straight away if these rare side effects happen to you:
- feeling dizzy
- blood in your poo
- being sick (vomiting)
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to bisacodyl.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of bisacodyl. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.