Formulary
Docusate sodium: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Docusate sodium clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Docusate sodium: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Docusate sodium clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Chronic constipation**
- **Child** (By Mouth): 12-17 years 100 mg 3 times a day, dose can be increased if necessary up to maximum 500 mg daily in divided doses.
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 100 mg 3 times a day, dose can be increased if necessary up to maximum 500 mg daily in divided doses.
- **Child** (By Rectum): 12-17 years 120 mg for 1 dose.
- **Adult** (By Rectum): 120 mg for 1 dose.
**Adjunct in abdominal radiological procedures**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 400 mg for 1 dose, to be administered with barium meal.
- **Adult** (By Rectum): 120 mg for 1 dose.
**Removal of ear wax**
- **Adult** (To The Ear): (consult product literature).
**Chronic constipation for docusate sodium**
- **Child 6-23 months** (By mouth): 12.5 mg 3 times a day, use paediatric oral solution, dose to be adjusted according to response.
- **Child 2-11 years** (By mouth): 12.5-25 mg 3 times a day, use paediatric oral solution, dose to be adjusted according to response.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 100 mg 3 times a day, dose can be increased if necessary up to maximum 500 mg daily in divided doses.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By rectum): 120 mg for 1 dose.
**Adjunct in abdominal radiological procedures for docusate sodium**
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 400 mg for 1 dose, to be administered with barium meal.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By rectum): 120 mg for 1 dose.
**Removal of ear wax for docusate sodium**
- **Child 1-17 years** (To the ear): (consult product literature).
Cautions
With oral use Do not give with liquid paraffin; excessive use of stimulant laxatives can cause diarrhoea and related effects such as hypokalaemia With rectal use Do not give with liquid paraffin; excessive use of stimulant laxatives can cause diarrhoea and related effects such as hypokalaemia; rectal preparations not indicated if haemorrhoids or anal fissure
Contraindications
With oral use Avoid in intestinal obstruction With rectal use Avoid in intestinal obstruction
Side effects
Rare or very rare With oral use Abdominal cramps; nausea; rash Frequency not known When used by ear Skin reactions
Pregnancy
With oral use or rectal use: Not known to be harmful-manufacturer advises caution.
Breast feeding
With oral use: Manufacturer advises caution-present in milk following oral administration. With rectal use: Rectal administration not known to be harmful.
Medicinal forms
Capsule,Solution,Drops
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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