senna
Brand names: Senokot
Senna (Senokot) is a stimulant laxative. It helps relieve constipation and usually causes a bowel movement in 6 to 12 hours.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$0.24/unit
Generic Price
$0.02/unit
Generic Savings
90%
Generic Available
Yes (0 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Senna treats occasional constipation, which means you have trouble having bowel movements.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Abdominal pain
Key warnings
There are no boxed warnings in the provided data.
How It Works
Senna is a stimulant laxative. It works by stimulating the muscles in your intestines. This helps to move stool through your body.
How to Take It
Take senna preferably at bedtime, or as your doctor tells you. Adults and children 12 years and older should start with 2 tablets once a day. Do not take more than 4 tablets twice a day. Children 6 to under 12 years should start with 1 tablet once a day. Do not take more than 2 tablets twice a day.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is always best to talk to your doctor before taking any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding. They can help you weigh the risks and benefits.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, do not double your dose.
Storage
Store senna at room temperature, around 77ºF (25ºC).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 10,782 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 20,197 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
20,197
Death-Related Reports
3,098
Hospitalization Reports
10,339
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAUSEA | 1,390 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 1,358 |
| 3 | CONSTIPATION | 1,157 |
| 4 | DYSPNOEA | 1,093 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 1,064 |
| 6 | DEATH | 1,052 |
| 7 | VOMITING | 984 |
| 8 | PNEUMONIA | 945 |
| 9 | FALL | 885 |
| 10 | PYREXIA | 852 |
| 11 | HEADACHE | 832 |
| 12 | PAIN | 831 |
| 13 | ASTHENIA | 767 |
| 14 | OFF LABEL USE | 734 |
| 15 | DIZZINESS | 708 |
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 in the provided data.
Common Questions
How long does senna take to work?
Can I take senna every day?
Can children take senna?
What should I do if senna doesn't work?
Can I take senna with other medications?
Does senna have a lot of sodium?
How much calcium is in each tablet?
What is the best time to take senna?
What do I do if the safety seal is broken?
How should I store senna?
What are the common side effects of senna?
What drug class is senna?
Is there a generic version of senna?
Is senna safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Stimulant Laxative
Other drugs grouped near senna — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alosetron
Lotronex
Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
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aprepitant
Emend
Aprepitant (Emend) is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting.
Compare with senna →
bisacodyl
Dulcolax
Bisacodyl is a medicine that helps you have a bowel movement.
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bismuth subsalicylate
Pepto-Bismol
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is a medicine that can treat diarrhea and upset stomach.
Compare with senna →
cimetidine
Tagamet
Cimetidine (Tagamet) reduces stomach acid.
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What the FDA Data Shows for senna
The FDA label for senna (sold under brand names such as Senokot) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Stimulant Laxative class. Senna treats occasional constipation, which means you have trouble having bowel movements. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Abdominal pain.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 10,782 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.02 versus $0.24 for the brand — a 90% generic savings.
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, 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: October 21, 2023
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