Senna

What is Senna?

• 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?

• 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?

• 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 ?

Do not use:

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

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• 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:

• mineral oil laxatives

• 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?

• Yes, it was FDA approved.

How should this medicine be used?

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?

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:

• rectal bleeding

What side effects can this medication cause?

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

• abdominal cramps
• electrolyte imbalance
• brown discoloration of urine
• faintness
• stomach discomfort
• nausea
• stomach cramps

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?

• 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?

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

• Overdose related information is also available online at poisonhelp.org/help.
• In the event that the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services. In the United States, call 911.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

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

Can this medicine be used in children?

• Ask a doctor for children under 2 years.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

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?

• Avrio Health L.P.

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

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

Herbal and dietary supplements

• Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Bilberry, Black Cohosh, Butterbur, Cat's Claw, Cascara, Chaparral, Comfrey, Crofelemer, Echinacea, Ephedra, Fenugreek, Flavocoxid, Garcinia cambogia, Germander, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Greater Celandine, Green Tea, Hoodia, Hops, Horse Chestnut, Hyssop, Kava Kava, Kratom, Lavender, Maca, Margosa Oil, Melatonin, Milk Thistle, Noni, Passionflower, Pennyroyal Oil, Red Yeast Rice, Resveratrol, Saw Palmetto, Senna, Skullcap, Spirulina, St. John's Wort, Turmeric, Usnic Acid, Valerian, Yohimbine

Chinese and Other Asian Herbal Medicines

• Ba Jiao Lian, Bol Gol Zhee, Chi R Yun, Jin Bu Huan, Ma Huang, Sho Saiko To and Dai Saiko To, Shou Wu Pian

Multi-Ingredient Nutritional Supplements

• Herbalife, Hydroxycut, Move Free, OxyELITE Pro, SLIMQUICK

See also Nutritional supplements

• Dailymed label info on Senna
• FDA Senna

Senna Resources
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