Constipation is treated temporarily with senna. Additionally, it is utilised to relieve intestinal obstructions before to surgery and other medical treatments. Senna belongs to the group of drugs known as stimulant laxatives. It induces a bowel movement by causing the intestines to work harder.

Senna is available as a liquid, powder, granule, chewable piece, and oral tablet. You can take it once or twice a day. Senna can be taken at night to induce a bowel movement the following day because it typically induces a bowel movement within 6 to 12 hours. Senna should not be taken for longer than a week without consulting a physician. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your box or prescription label that you do not understand, and make sure you carefully follow all other instructions. Senna should be taken as prescribed. Senna use on a regular basis or for an extended period of time may result in dependence on laxatives and loss of normal bowel function. Senna should not be used again if you do not experience a regular bowel movement after taking it. Instead, consult your doctor.

You should consume the pills whole with a glass of water if you’re taking certain senna products (Ex-Lax® normal or maximum strength tablets or Perdiem Overnight Relief); do not split, chew, or crush them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking senna,

• If you have an allergy to senna, any other drugs, or any of the substances in these senna products, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Include: laxatives made from mineral oil. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Ex-Lax® and Perdiem Overnight Relief are examples of senna products that should be taken at least two hours before or after other oral medications. Some senna products may impact how other prescriptions function.
• If you experience stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or a sudden change in bowel habits that lasts longer than two weeks, let your doctor know.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking senna.
• If you are 65 years of age or older, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of taking senna with your doctor. Senna products are often not advised for usage by older persons over an extended length of time since they are less safe than other treatments for the same ailment.

A regular diet and exercise program is important for regular bowel function. Eat a high-fiber diet and drink plenty of liquids (eight glasses) each day as recommended by your doctor.

Typically, this drug is given as needed. Take the missing dose of senna as soon as you remember it if your doctor has prescribed it for you on a regular basis. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Senna might have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Brown urine colour
• Faintness
• Digestive discomfort
• Nausea
• Stomach pain

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away and stop taking Senna if you have this symptom:

• Abdominal bleeding

Senna may have further negative consequences. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

If you have any inquiries about senna, ask your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.