According to the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, “The plasma elimination half-life of BHPM glucuronide was estimated to be approximately 16.5 hours.” BHPM, or bis-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-pyridyl-2-methane, is an active metabolite of bisacodyl, the main ingredient in Dulcolax. The drug bisacodyl is a type of stimulant laxative that works by increasing intestinal movement to help stool pass.
Key Takeaways
Bisacodyl is the active ingredient in the drug Dulcolax which acts as a stimulant laxative that helps to increase intestinal movement and help stool pass.
The half-life of Dulcolax (or BHPM and Bisacodyl) is 16.5 hours.
How Long Does Dulcolax Stay in Your System
Generally speaking, after taking a full dose of Dulcolax (bisacodyl) it should entirely clear out of your system after around 88 hours or 3 1/2 days.
For Dulcolax to be cleared from your system, it can take around 5.5 times the elimination half-life (which is 16.5 hours). The elimination half-life of Dulcolax is 16.5 hours. This means that the bowel stimulant medication is metabolized in the body and roughly half is gone after 16.5 hours with half the remaining medicine gone after another 16.5 hours.
For that calculation, it would be: 16.5 hours (the bisacodyl half-life) x 5 = 82.5 hours. The half-life of any drug and how well it clears your system can depend on many factors. Including your body's metabolic rate, which can be affected by your height, weight, body fat percentile, and many more factors.
Suppositories and Half-Life Estimates
It’s important to consider coated tables (like Dulcolax), which can take longer to initially dissolve. Meaning the onset period should also be factored into your overall estimate of when Dulcolax will completely leave your system and be metabolized.
According to the same paper by New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, “Following the administration of bisacodyl coated tablets, an average of 51.8% of the dose was recovered in the feces as free BHPM and an average of 10.5% of the dose was recovered in the urine as BHPM glucuronide. Following the administration as a suppository, an average of 3.1% of the dose was recovered as BHPM glucuronide in the urine.”
According to WebMD, Dulcolax onset time can vary by the type of administration of the drug (oral or suppository) and can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours. When calculating the math for your overall half-life, factor in the type of administration of the drug you’re using and the onset period.
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Sources
WebMD. (n.d.). Dulcolax Magnesium Hydroxide Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing. Retrieved June 29, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-179902/dulcolax-magnesium-hydroxide-oral/details
Medsafe. (n.d.). Dulcolax tablets and suppositories: Data Sheet. Retrieved June 29, 2024, from https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/d/dulcolaxtabsupp.pdf
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