If you’re having constipation issues, you may be wondering if Dulcolax is keto friendly? Constipation is not that uncommon on the keto diet.
In this post we’ll determine if you can have Dulcolax on the keto diet, and see if there are any alternatives to help with your keto digestive issues.
Table of Contents
What is Dulcolax?
Dulcolax is a stimulant based laxative brand that is very popular. The generic name for this medication is bisacodyl. It is often used to treat constipation and to improve bowel movements.
Dulcolax stimulates the muscles of the bowel to contract and help remove waste from the body. This motions helps to push stool out of the body. The medication is available in various forms including pills, tablets, suppositories, and liquids.
Typically, Dulcolax is recommended for short-term usages, since longer use can lead to a dependence on laxatives.
Is Dulcolax Keto Friendly?
First, you need to understand that there are several products sold under the Dulcolax brand. Each of these products may contain different ingredients, so we need to evaluate each of them on their own.
Dulcolax Laxative Tablets
The laxative tables are the most common form of Dulcolax. It’s a very popular over-the-counter medication for treating constipation. The tablet form of Dulcolax is keto friendly, because it doesn’t contain sweeteners and the amount of inactive ingredients is not a major factor.
You can take Dulcolax on the keto diet.
- Includes: One (1) 100-count box of Dulcolax Stimulant Laxative comfort coated tablets
- Gentle overnight relief: Dulcolax Tablets gently stimulate the intestines to encourage a morning bowel movement
- Relief in 6-12 hours: This overnight laxative provides dependable relief of hard, dry stools caused by occasional constipation and irregularity
- Active ingredient bisacodyl: Dulcolax Stimulant Laxative is made with bisacodyl, which helps increase movement in the intestines
- #1 doctor recommended: Dulcolax is the No. 1 doctor-recommended laxative bra
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Dulcolax Suppositories
Dulcolax Suppositories are another option for treating constipation. These typically take 15-60 minutes to work after being inserted into the rectum. They provide more rapid relief than the tablet form of the medication.
Since you do not consume Dulcolax Suppositories orally, they are perfectly fine for the keto diet.
- INCLUDES: One (1) 28-count box of Dulcolax Medicated Laxative Suppositories
- FAST RELIEF: These suppositories provide reliable and fast relief in 15-60 minutes
- FOR RECTAL USE ONLY: Dulcolax comfort-shaped suppositories are for rectal use only; do not swallow
- ACTIVE INGREDIENT BISACODYL: Dulcolax Medicated Suppositories are made with active ingredient bisacodyl, which helps increase movement in the intestines
- # 1 DOCTOR RECOMMENDED: Dulcolax is the No. 1 doctor-recommended laxative br
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Dulcolax Liquid
The liquid form of Dulcolax is an easy to take option for clearing up keto constipation. Dulcolax Liquid is sweetened using sorbitol, which is less sweet than sugar and contains fewer calories.
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol. Typically sugar alcohols are not considered to be sugar when counting carbohydrates. Even if the sugar alcohols would have an impact on your keto diet, the amount contained in Dulcolax Liquid is probably not enough to cause a concern.
- INCLUDES: One (1) 12-oz. bottle of Dulcolax Stimulant Free Liquid Laxative, Cherry Flavor
- STIMULANT-FREE LAXATIVE: Works naturally with your body to help comfortably pass hard, dry stools
- FAST*, EFFECTIVE RELIEF: Dulcolax Liquid gives you gentle constipation relief in as little as 30 minutes
- ACTIVE INGREDIENT MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE: This liquid laxative contains magnesium hydroxide to help draw water into the colon
- CHERRY FLAVOR: This liquid laxative comes in a cherry fla
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Dulcolax Soft Chews
The soft chews are another over-the-counter option to treat constipation. These chews are easier for people that have a hard time taking pills.
The Dulcolax Soft Chews do contain about 2g of carbs per serving. The inactive ingredients list corn syrup as the first ingredient. This means that the carbs in these chews come from a sugar source.
The dosage suggest that adults take 2-4 chews in a 24 hour period. That could mean you would be eating 8g of carbs. For that reason we do not recommend the Dulcolax Soft Chews if you are on the keto diet.
- Includes: One (1) 60-count pack of individually wrapped Dulcolax Soft Chews Mixed Berry
- Fast relief: Dulcolax Soft Chews provide relief from constipation in as little as 30 minutes
- Stimulant free: This laxative soft chew works naturally with your body for gentle constipation relief
- Convenient soft chew: These great-tasting soft chews are individually wrapped for on-the-go relief
- Puts you in control: Dulcolax Soft Chews put you comfortably in control of your constipat
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Dulcolax Stool Softener
The Dulcolax Stool Softener softener is a slower and more gentle type of stool softener. It contains docusate sodium, which works by drawing water into the stool to soften it versus stimulating the muscles of the bowel.
The Dulcolax Stool Softener comes in a liquid gel form, but rest assured that the tablets are sugar free. That makes them a good option for the keto diet.
- INCLUDES: One (1) 100-count box of Dulcolax Gentle Relief Stool Softener Laxative, Gel Caps
- GENTLE RELIEF: Dulcolax Stool Softener gently relieves constipation and irregularity
- STOOL SOFTENER: Dulcolax Gentle Relief Stool Softener wont make you go, but it will make it easier for you to go
- ACTIVE INGREDIENT DOCUSATE SODIUM: Dulcolax Gentle Relief Stool Softener is made with active ingredient docusate sodium
- # 1 DOCTOR RECOMMENDED INGREDIENT: Dulcolax Stool Softener Laxative contains Docusate Sodium, the No. 1 doctor recommended stool softener ingredi
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Other Options for Keto Constipation
Constipation can be a common problem on the keto diet. This is because eliminating sources of carbohydrates, often leads us to eliminate sources of fiber. Fiber is essential for healthy digestion.
Eat More Fiber
This is why we recommend eat keto friendly vegetables that are high in fiber. This additional dietary fiber is very important for digestion and you can get the fiber without having a huge impact on your net carb count.
Some foods that are higher in fiber bow low in carbs include: leafy greens, nuts and seeds, avocado, and low-carb vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini.
Drink More Water
Another common cause of digestive issues on the keto diet is a lack of hydration. The easy answer here is to just drink more water. It’s recommended that you try to get at least 8-10 glasses of water per day on keto. You can increase that even more if you are highly active or live in a hot climate.
Exercise More Often
Regular exercise is another method that can help with constipation, believe it or not. Exercises has move the muscles of the digestive tract, which can have a natural effect on stimulating bowel movement.
Take Fiber Supplements
If you have a hard time getting enough fiber into your diet when you are on keto, you can look into taking a fiber supplement. Keep in mind that fiber is not digested by the body, so it doesn’t impact your carb count. However, you want to avoid any fiber drink that is sweetened with a carb heavy sweetener.
The best supplement is plain psyllium husk powder. You can mix this with any low carb drink of your choice.
- ✔️ Mixes Well, Perfect For Baking Keto Bread & More – Add a teaspoon of organic psyllium husk powder to your favorite beverage or use psyllium powder for baking your gluten-free keto bread, pizza dough, or cookie recipes. It’s super-simple to enjoy the healthy benefits of this good-for-you source of organic psyllium powder for baking. It makes the perfect keto fiber supplement powder for vegan, gluten-free, paleo, low-carb, and keto lifestyles.
- ✔️ Daily Organic Fiber Powder Supplement To Help Cleanse Your Digestive System* – Easy to mix in water or liquid, psyllium dietary fiber thickens into a gel, which helps to get things moving.* Each teaspoon of psyllium husk powder organic provides 4g of dietary fiber, representing 14% of your recommended daily fiber supplement intake!
- ✔️ Organic Psyllium Husk Powder Supports Digestive Health* – Our organic psyllium husk powder provides a high fiber supplement. A soluble fiber that helps to clear out waste, it helps support colon health and regularity.* A single serving of easy-to-mix psyllium husk powder is an easy way to get a daily dose of dietary fiber. After all – a healthy tummy is a happy tummy!
- ✔️ The Fiber Supplement Your Heart Health Will Love* – Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 7 grams of soluble fiber per day from psyllium husks, as in organic psyllium husk fiber, may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. One serving of our psyllium husk powder has 4 grams of this soluble fiber (common misspellings include: psilliam husk powder, physillium husk powder, pysillum husk powder).
- ✔️ Certified Organic, Non-Gmo & Third-party Tested – As a natural fiber supplement, our psyllium husk powder is USDA-certified organic, Non-GMO, and packaged in an American production facility. Each batch is filtered and sifted to ensure the purest and softest psyllium powder, each batch third-party tested for quality and purity. If you’re not 100% satisfied with our psyllium husk powder supplement, we’ll refund your purchase, no questions ask
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Conclusion
Most forms of Dulcolax are actually keto friendly. The tables, suppositories, liquid, and stool softener don’t contain enough carbohydrates to have an impact on the keto diet.
The one product that you want to steer away from is the Dulcolax Soft Chews. These contain corn syrups and are too high in carbs to be taken on the keto diet.
We’ve also touched on some other ways to help prevent keto poop issues such as consuming more fiber and drinking more water. In general, it’s much easier to prevent constipation than it is to have to treat it rapidly.