Senna

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What is Senna?[edit | edit source]

  • Senna (Sennosides) is a stimulant laxative, that increases the frequency of bowel movements and relieves constipation. It is widely used in over-the-counter laxatives.
  • Senna is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.


Sennae folium 081263
Senna alexandrina Mill.-Cassia angustifolia L. (Senna Plant)



What are the uses of this medicine?[edit | edit source]

  • Senna (Sennosides) is used in many over-the-counter laxatives in combination with other agents under trade names such as Ex-lax, Fletcher’s Castoria and Senokot.
  • Senna relieves occasional constipation (irregularity).
  • Senna generally produces a bowel movement in 6-12 hours.


How does this medicine work?[edit | edit source]

  • Senna belongs to a large genus of flowering plants found throughout the tropics, commonly used species being Cassia acutifolio (Alexandrian senna) and C. angustifolio (Indian or Tinnevelly senna).
  • Extracts of the leaves, flowers and fruit of senna have been used for centuries in folk medicine as a laxative and stimulant.
  • Senna is also included in several herbal teas, used for purging and in weight loss.
  • The active components in senna extracts are anthraquinone derivatives and their glucosides, referred to as senna glycosides or sennosides.
  • They appear to act as a local irritant on the colon, which promotes peristalsis and evacuation.
  • Senna may also enhance intestinal fluid accumulation and increase the moisture content of stool by inhibiting electrolyte and water reabsorption from the colon. Senna is minimally absorbed.


Who Should Not Use this medicine ?[edit | edit source]

Do not use:

  • laxative products for longer than 1 week unless directed by a doctor


What drug interactions can this medicine cause?[edit | edit source]

  • Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Be sure to mention any of the following:

  • Take certain senna products (Ex-Lax®, Perdiem Overnight Relief) at least 2 or more hours before or after taking other medications by mouth; some senna products may affect how other medications work.


Is this medicine FDA approved?[edit | edit source]

  • Yes, it was FDA approved.


How should this medicine be used?[edit | edit source]

Recommended dosage:

  • The typical dose is 15 to 30 mg of sennosides twice a day, but is recommended for short term use only (less than one week).

Adults and children 12 years and over:

  • 2 tablets ( 8.6mg) once a day.
  • Maximum upto 4 tablets twice a day.

Children 6 to under 12 years:

  • 1 tablet once a day.
  • Maximum upto 2 tablets twice a day.

Children 2 to under 6 years:

  • ½ tablet once a day
  • Maximum upto 1 tablet twice a day.


Administration:

  • Senna comes as a liquid, powder, granules, chewable pieces, and tablets to take by mouth.
  • It is may be taken once or twice daily.
  • Senna normally causes a bowel movement within 6 to 12 hours, so it may be taken at bedtime to produce a bowel movement the next day.
  • Do not take senna for more than 1 week without talking to your doctor.
  • Take senna exactly as directed.
  • Frequent or continued use of senna may make you dependent on laxatives and cause your bowels to lose their normal activity.
  • If you do not have a regular bowel movement after taking senna, do not take any more medication and talk to your doctor.
  • If you are taking certain senna products (Ex-Lax® regular ormaximum strength tablets or Perdiem Overnight Relief), swallow the pills whole with a glass of water; do not split, chew, or crush them.


What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?[edit | edit source]

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

  • As a liquid, powder, granules, chewable pieces, and tablets

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

  • Black Draught
  • Ex-Lax
  • Fletcher's Castoria
  • Nature's Remedy
  • Perdiem Overnight Relief
  • Senexon
  • Senna X-Prep
  • Senokot

Senna may cause serious side effects which may include:


What side effects can this medication cause?[edit | edit source]

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

Long term use or abuse can lead to “cathartic” colon with diarrhea, cramps, weight loss and darkened pigmentation of the colonic mucosa.



What special precautions should I follow?[edit | edit source]

  • Do not use laxative products for longer than 1 week unless directed by a doctor.
  • Stop use and ask a doctor if you have rectal bleeding or fail to have a bowel movement after the use of a laxative. These may indicate a serious condition.
  • Tell your doctor if you have stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or a sudden change in bowel movements lasting more than 2 weeks.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking senna, call your doctor.
  • Older adults should not usually take senna products over a long period of time because they are not as safe as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.
  • Eat a high-fiber diet and drink plenty of liquids each day as recommended by your doctor.
  • Senna is generally safe and well tolerated, but can cause adverse events including clinically apparent liver injury when used in high doses for longer than recommended periods.


What to do in case of emergency/overdose?[edit | edit source]

  • In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.


Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?[edit | edit source]

  • If pregnant or breast feeding, ask a health professional before use.


Can this medicine be used in children?[edit | edit source]

  • Ask a doctor for children under 2 years.


What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?[edit | edit source]

Active ingredient:

  • SENNOSIDES A AND B

Inactive ingredients:

  • croscarmellose sodium, dicalcium phosphate, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, mineral oil, talc and triacetin


Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?[edit | edit source]


What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?[edit | edit source]

  • store at room temperature between 150-300C (590-860F).


Herbal and dietary supplements

Chinese and Other Asian Herbal Medicines

Multi-Ingredient Nutritional Supplements

See also Nutritional supplements

Senna Resources
Wikipedia

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