What it is used for
- Short-term relief of occasional constipation
- Constipation that has not improved with more fibre, fluids and activity, for a short time only
How it is used
- Swallow the tablets whole with water, usually at bedtime; follow the leaflet and ask your pharmacist
- Use it for a short time only, and see your doctor if you keep needing it
- Drink enough fluids and eat a diet rich in fibre
Possible side effects
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhoea and loss of fluid and potassium
- From belladonna: dry mouth, blurred vision, difficulty passing urine and a fast heartbeat
- Red-brown urine, which is harmless
Who should not use it
- Blocked bowel, appendicitis or unexplained abdominal pain
- Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Children
- Angle-closure glaucoma, an enlarged prostate or urinary retention, because of the belladonna
Before and while using it
- Long-term use can make the bowel sluggish and lower potassium
- See your doctor if constipation continues, your bowel habit changes or there is blood in the stool
- European authorities have restricted aloe laxative substances in food supplements because of safety concerns
- Ask your doctor first if you have heart disease, because of the belladonna
Medicine interactions
- Water tablets and steroids can increase potassium loss
- Low potassium increases the risk of side effects from digoxin and heart rhythm medicines
- Other anticholinergic medicines add to the effects of belladonna
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- It is not used in pregnancy or breastfeeding; ask your doctor about a suitable laxative
How to store it
- Keep the tablets in a dry place out of the reach of children
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.