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| Trade Name(s): Sorbitol |
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| Type of Drug: Sorbitol is a hyperosmotic laxative used to treat constipation. |
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| How Drug Works: Sorbitol pulls water into the large intestines causing distention. This stimulates the normal forward movement of the intestines (peristalsis), which results in a bowel movement within 24 to 48 hours. |
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| How Drug Is Given: Sorbitol is given as a liquid by mouth or as a rectal suppository. It tastes very sweet. Take with water or juice to decrease the sweetness. If you are using the suppository, open the package and dip the tip of the suppository in water. If you are right–handed, lie down on you left side, bring your knees up near your chest, and insert the suppository in your rectum about an inch. Stay in this position for about 15 minutes, then get up and wash your hands well. The dose depends on the reason you are taking it and how well it has worked. Keep the medicine in a tightly closed container away from heat and moisture and out of the reach of children and pets. |
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| How Should I Take This Drug? Take this drug exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them to you. |
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| Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor. | ||||
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| Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and herbals. | ||||
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| Should I avoid any other medications, foods, alcohol, and/or activities? Your prescription and nonprescription medications may interact with other drugs, causing a harmful effect. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medication, prescription or nonprescription, without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, foods or other medications. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and may affect activities such as driving. |
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| Precautions: Talk to your doctor before taking sorbitol if you have nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or blood in the stool, or if you are impacted. There may be something else wrong besides constipation. Some laxatives can cause diarrhea. It is important to replace the fluid that you lose through diarrhea. Try to drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluid a day. Fluids with electrolytes, such as chicken broth or sports drinks, are helpful in replacing potassium and salt that are lost in diarrhea. To prevent constipation, try to drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluid a day, increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet (5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily), eat bran cereal, and do gentle exercise as tolerated. If you use laxatives all the time, your body may forget the normal process of moving the bowels. You then get dependent on the laxative. If you are taking opioid pain relievers, you will need to take a laxative regularly. This drug should not be used in patients with an intestinal obstruction or unexplained abdominal pain. |
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Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.
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Side Effects: |
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More Common Side Effects:
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Less Common Side Effects:
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Rare Side Efects:
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Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems. |
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| FDA Approval: Yes |
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| Note: This information was adapted from the American Cancer Society's Consumers Guide to Cancer Drugs. Copyright © 2004, Jones and Bartlett Publishers. This information may not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions, is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor who is familiar with your medical needs. For more information, contact your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. | ||||
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