Last update Sept. 19, 2016

Docusate

Compatible

Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

Anionic surfactant that acts as an emollient laxative. It is also used to treat the retention of ear cerumen.

It is minimally absorbed in the duodenum-jejunum and excreted in the bile.

No problems have been observed in infants whose mothers were treated, except one case of diarrhea that was possibly due to other laxative medication took by the mother (Greenhalf 1973).

The Institute at the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) consideres it to be compatible while breastfeeding (Mahadevan 2006).

Alternatives

  • Lactulose (Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) (Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Senna (Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Other names

Docusate is also known as


Docusate in other languages or writings:

Group

Docusate belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Docusate in its composition:

List of 15 tradenames

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. Baja - Poor %
Molecular weight 444 daltons

References

  1. Gharehbaghi K, Gharehbaghi DR, Wierrani F, Sliutz G. [Treatment of Chronic Functional Constipation during Pregnancy and Lactation]. Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol. 2016 Abstract
  2. Mahadevan U, Kane S. American gastroenterological association institute technical review on the use of gastrointestinal medications in pregnancy. Gastroenterology. 2006 Jul;131(1):283-311. Review. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  3. Nice FJ, Snyder JL, Kotansky BC. Breastfeeding and over-the-counter medications. J Hum Lact. 2000 Nov;16(4):319-31. Review. Erratum in: J Hum Lact 2001 Feb;17(1):90. Abstract
  4. Gattuso JM, Kamm MA. Adverse effects of drugs used in the management of constipation and diarrhoea. Drug Saf. 1994 Abstract
  5. Greenhalf JO, Leonard HS. Laxatives in the treatment of constipation in pregnant and breast-feeding mothers. Practitioner. 1973 Abstract

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e-lactancia is a resource recommended by Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine - 2015 of United States of America

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