Drug reference

Docusate sodium

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 87

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Chronic constipation ▶BY MOUTH ▶Child 6–23 months: 12.5 mg 3 times a day, adjusted according to response, use paediatric oral solution ▶Child 2–11 years: 12.5–25 mg 3 times a day, adjusted according to response, use paediatric oral solution ▶Child 12–17 years: Up to 500 mg daily in divided doses, adjusted according to response ▶Adult: Up to 500 mg daily in divided doses, adjusted according to response ▶BY RECTUM ▶Child 12–17 years: 120 mg for 1 dose ▶Adult: 120 mg for 1 dose Adjunct in abdominal radiological procedures ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 400 mg, to be administered with barium meal ▶BY RECTUM ▶Adult: 120 mg for 1 dose

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Pharmacokinetics

▶With oral use or rectal use ▶Oral preparations act within 1–2 days; response to rectal administration usually occurs within 20 minutes. l UNLICENSED USE ▶With oral use in children Adult oral solution and capsules not licensed for use in children under 12 years.

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Contra Indications

Avoid in intestinal obstruction

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Cautions

Do not give with liquid parafﬁn. excessive use of stimulant laxatives can cause diarrhoea and related effects such as hypokalaemia ▶With rectal use rectal preparations not indicated if haemorrhoids or anal ﬁssure

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Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: docusate sodium

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Side Effects

▶Rare or very rare ▶With oral use Abdominal cramps. nausea. rash

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Pregnancy

Not known to be harmful—manufacturer advises caution.

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Breast Feeding

▶With oral use Manufacturer advises caution—present in milk following oral administration. ▶With rectal use Rectal administration not known to be harmful.

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Dose and formulations

Directions For Administration

▶With oral use in children For administration by mouth, solution may be mixed with milk or squash.

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Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Oral solution ▶Docusate sodium (Non-proprietary) Docusate sodium 2.5 mg per 1 ml Docusate 12.5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free sugar-free | 300 ml p £8.96 DT = £8.96 Docusate sodium 10 mg per 1 ml Docusate 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free sugar-free | 300 ml p £9.19 DT = £9.19 ▶Docusol (Typharm Ltd) Docusate sodium 2.5 mg per 1 ml Docusol Paediatric 12.5mg/5ml oral solution sugar-free | 125 ml p £4.46 Enema ▶Norgalax (Essential Pharma Ltd) Docusate sodium 12 mg per 1 gram Norgalax 120mg/10g enema | 6 enema p £28.00 DT = £28.00 Capsule ▶Dioctyl (UCB Pharma Ltd) Docusate sodium 100 mg Dioctyl 100mg capsules | 30 capsule p £2.09 DT = £2.09 | 100 capsule p £6.98 Combinations available: Co-danthrusate, p. 66

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Dose text by age group

Child 6–23 months

12.5 mg 3 times a day, adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Child 2–11 years

12.5–25 mg 3 times a day, adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Child 12–17 years

Up to 500 mg daily in divided doses,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

Up to 500 mg daily in divided doses, adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Child 12–17 years

120 mg for 1 dose

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Adult

120 mg for 1 dose

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Adult

400 mg, to be administered with barium meal

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Adult

120 mg for 1 dose

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Docusate sodium

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 87

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

PDF page 87

Pharmacokinetics

PDF page 87

Contra Indications

Avoid in intestinal obstruction

PDF page 87

Cautions

PDF page 87

Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: docusate sodium

PDF page 87

Side Effects

▶Rare or very rare ▶With oral use Abdominal cramps. nausea. rash

PDF page 87

Pregnancy

Not known to be harmful—manufacturer advises caution.

PDF page 87

Breast Feeding

▶With oral use Manufacturer advises caution—present in milk following oral administration. ▶With rectal use Rectal administration not known to be harmful.

PDF page 87

Dose and formulations

Directions For Administration

▶With oral use in children For administration by mouth, solution may be mixed with milk or squash.

PDF page 87

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 87

Dose text by age group

Child 6–23 months

12.5 mg 3 times a day, adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Child 2–11 years

12.5–25 mg 3 times a day, adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Child 12–17 years

Up to 500 mg daily in divided doses,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Adult

Up to 500 mg daily in divided doses, adjusted

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Child 12–17 years

120 mg for 1 dose

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Adult

120 mg for 1 dose

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Adult

400 mg, to be administered with barium meal

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Adult

120 mg for 1 dose

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 87

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.