Dulcolax Onset Times by Product (Guide)

Key Takeaways

• Bisacodyl 10 mg (suppository) is the fastest acting form of Dulcolax with relief often felt anywhere from 15-minutes to 60-minutes after application.

• Docusate Sodium (100 mg) is the slowest acting form of Dulcolax, which is considered to be more of a stool softener. This softening agent can take anywhere from 1 to 3 days to soften stool and make it easier to pass.

Dulcolax Onset Times by Drug Form

Dulcolax comes in many forms, for adults and children, in oral tablets, oral liquids, and suppositories. Based on the product form some of the base drug applications may change. Bisacodyl is the suppository version of Dulcolax, being the most common, and having the fastest onset time of only 15-minutes to 1 hour. While Docusate Sodium, which is considered to be more of a “low-dose” stool softener, can take up to 3-days to fully begin working for the patient.

Here is a chart showing all of the forms of Dulcolax and their onset times:

Dulcolax Products

Dulcolax comes in a variety of products and product forms available to consumers as a mostly over-the-counter option. As an example, “Dulcolax Overnight Constipation Relief” is a bisacodyl in a Adult 5 mg Gastro-resistant Tablet (GSL) form. When the label describes the product as “overnight relief,” this would be considered a very slow acting option. And may take up to 8-full hours in order to start feeling signs of relief.

Here are the various types of relief forms and their general onset times:

Fast relief forms

This would be considered Dulcolax (or bisacodyl) supposeties, which can work within 15 to 60 minutes. Suppositories are a dosage form that needs to be inserted into the rectum (anus) to work. Magnesium Hydroxide is the second-fastest option to experience signs of relief. Most people can expect relief within 30 minutes to 6 hours after taking it. It can be taken as a single dose at bedtime or you can divide up the dose over the course of one day.

Overnight relief forms

Bisacodyl tablets, which are considered to be oral tablets (usually Gastro-resistant tablets) which work in about 6 to 12 hours. If you take bisacodyl tablets at bedtime, you can usually expect a bowel movement the following morning.

Gradual relief forms

Docusate sodium is a very slow-acting form. Docusate sodium will only soften stool. Meaning that it will not help to pass any blocked or restricted bowel movements. However, with the stool softening agent, it will make passing any stool far easier. This form of Dulcolax can take anywhere from 12 to 72 hours to work in order to feel signs of relief.