bisacodyl
Brand names: Dulcolax
Bisacodyl is a medicine that helps you have a bowel movement. It is a stimulant laxative.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.31/unit
Generic Available
Yes (0 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Bisacodyl treats constipation, which means you are having trouble passing stool.
Common side effects
Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Nausea
Key warnings
There are no boxed warnings for this medication.
How It Works
Bisacodyl works by stimulating the bowel muscles. This stimulation causes the bowels to contract. The contractions help to push stool out of the body.
How to Take It
Adults and children 12 and older: Use 1 suppository once a day. Children 6 to under 12: Use 1/2 suppository once a day. Children under 6: Do not use this medicine. Remove the wrapper before inserting the suppository into your rectum.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if bisacodyl is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is used as needed, you are not likely to miss a dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature, not above 86°F (30°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 10,629 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 13,500 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2002–2025.
Total Reports
13,500
Death-Related Reports
2,363
Hospitalization Reports
6,915
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CONSTIPATION | 1,509 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 1,358 |
| 3 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,344 |
| 4 | PAIN | 1,115 |
| 5 | OFF LABEL USE | 1,096 |
| 6 | VOMITING | 985 |
| 7 | FALL | 837 |
| 8 | DYSPNOEA | 827 |
| 9 | PNEUMONIA | 783 |
| 10 | FATIGUE | 773 |
| 11 | MACULAR DEGENERATION | 772 |
| 12 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 770 |
| 13 | DEATH | 770 |
| 14 | PYREXIA | 752 |
| 15 | ANAEMIA | 678 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
There are no boxed warnings for this medication.
Common Questions
How quickly does bisacodyl work?
Can I use bisacodyl every day?
What should I do if bisacodyl does not work?
Can I use bisacodyl if I have stomach pain?
Can I use bisacodyl with other medicines?
Is bisacodyl safe for children?
What are the signs of an allergic reaction to bisacodyl?
Can bisacodyl cause dehydration?
Can I drive or operate machinery after using bisacodyl?
Where can I find the expiration date?
What are the common side effects of bisacodyl?
What drug class is bisacodyl?
Is bisacodyl safe during pregnancy?
Has bisacodyl been recalled?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations: product held outside appropriate storage temperature conditions.
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Related Medications in Stimulant Laxative
Other drugs grouped near bisacodyl — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alosetron
Lotronex
Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Compare with bisacodyl →
aprepitant
Emend
Aprepitant (Emend) is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting.
Compare with bisacodyl →
bismuth subsalicylate
Pepto-Bismol
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is a medicine that can treat diarrhea and upset stomach.
Compare with bisacodyl →
cimetidine
Tagamet
Cimetidine (Tagamet) reduces stomach acid.
Compare with bisacodyl →
dexlansoprazole
Dexilant
Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) is a medicine that lowers stomach acid.
Compare with bisacodyl →
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What the FDA Data Shows for bisacodyl
The FDA label for bisacodyl (sold under brand names such as Dulcolax) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Stimulant Laxative class. Bisacodyl treats constipation, which means you are having trouble passing stool. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 10,629 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.31.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 15, 2026
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages