Your Questions About Uses For Senna S

David asks…

Have you used Senna pills?

My Doctor said it's safe to use daily!? Thanks for any info!

admin answers:

It's a stool softener and it is safe to use it daily. If you start having diarrhea, you should tell your doctor and stop taking them.

Laura asks…

long term use?

I have been using Senna (natural veg. laxative) for about 2 years. It was my Dr.'s idea, I have problems with constipation due to having to take iron pills. He says it is fine, but every couple of months I have to up the dosage(i know it is because i build up a tollerance) Now I am up to 5-6 pills a day. I had routine blood work by my PCP last week and he said my potassium was dangerously low and gave me some to take orally. Is that possibly a result of being on the laxatives for so long? What else can happen?
I tried to stop taking them and I didn't go for 9 days, then I started taking them again. I have tried changing my diet, increasing fluids, fiber, nothing else works.

admin answers:

Sennakot and the chronic use of any laxative can cause electrolyte imbalances and potassium is an essential electrolyte. If you find that you're increasing the dosage of the senna, then you have developed a dependency on laxatives. This is a well known, well documented long-term effect.

Speak to your doctor again. Suggest that you switch to a stool softener, docusate, for short-term therapy.

Try to get your iron from foods so that you can cut back on the supplement. Constipation is a well known adverse effect of iron supplements. Increase your water intake to 3 liters a day, increase dietary fiber and increase your exercise/acitvity to stimulate peristalsis naturally. Peristalsis is the rhythmic movement of your small and large intestines that moves contents through and out. You can begin your own bowel retraining program to regain regularity. I can give you more details about this if you wish.

Your situation is reversible but must be managed correctly in order to do so.

George asks…

What is another name for the supplement/drug Senna-S?

I used to get Senna-S at Kroger, now I've moved and am not near a Kroger. I can't find the exact same name of it in any other pharmacies. I think it's under a different name, but I don't know what it is.
docusate sodium and sennosides are in it, I think. Definitely the first one.
It doesn't have any vegetable stuff in it. I take it for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Sorry I can't give you a better explanation than "vegetable stuff" It's the only thing I remember about it not having.

admin answers:

Senokot-S is another name for it. But most pharmacies have a generic for it. You can use docusate and senna separately. Also, Peri-Colace is a combination of senna and docusate. You can check on any pharmacy website (like CVS.com or Walgreens.com).