Docusate

Docusate is the generic name of a surfactant

Surfactant

Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids.- Etymology :The term surfactant is a blend of surface active agent...

 used as a laxative

Laxative

Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas in that...

 and stool softener

Docusate is also any of a group of anionic surfactants widely used as emulsifying, wetting, and dispersing agents.

Docusate is given to make stools softer and easier to pass. It is used to treat constipation

Constipation

Constipation, costiveness, or irregularity is a condition of the digestive system in which a person experiences hard feces that are difficult to expel. This usually happens because the colon absorbs too much water from the food...

 due to hard stools, in painful anorectal conditions such as hemorrhoids, and for people who should avoid straining during bowel movements.

Docusate is the generic name of a surfactant

Surfactant

Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids.- Etymology :The term surfactant is a blend of surface active agent...

 used as a laxative

Laxative

Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas in that...

 and stool softener

Docusate is also any of a group of anionic surfactants widely used as emulsifying, wetting, and dispersing agents.

Clinical use

Docusate is given to make stools softer and easier to pass. It is used to treat constipation

Constipation

Constipation, costiveness, or irregularity is a condition of the digestive system in which a person experiences hard feces that are difficult to expel. This usually happens because the colon absorbs too much water from the food...

 due to hard stools, in painful anorectal conditions such as hemorrhoids, and for people who should avoid straining during bowel movements. Of note is that the effect of docusate may not necessarily be all due to its surfactant properties. Perfusion

Perfusion

In physiology, perfusion is the process of nutritive delivery of arterial blood to a capillary bed in the biological tissue. The word is derived from the French verb "perfuser" meaning to "pour over or through."...

 studies suggest that docusates inhibit fluid absorption or stimulate secretion in the portion of the small intestine known as the jejunum

Jejunum

The jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms middle intestine or mid-gut may be used instead of jejunum.The jejunum lies between the duodenum...

. Patients should take plenty of water to help the movement of feces, therefore speeding up the initial bowel movement.

While the use of docusate is widespread, the data to support its efficacy in treating chronic constipation is actually lacking. Also, although more research is needed, long-term use of docusate seems to decrease levels of magnesium

Magnesium

Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12 and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust by mass, although ninth in the Universe as a whole...

 and potassium

Potassium

Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash...

 in the blood.

Docusate should not be used in addition to mineral oil as the emulsifier will result in mineral oil being absorbed rather than functioning as a lubricant for the bowel walls.

Docusate sodium is also used to facilitate the removal of excess earwax.

Presentations

• Docusate is available in tablet, capsule
  Capsule
  The word capsule, or encapsulation, may refer to:* Capsule , a cover or envelope partly or wholly surrounding a structure.* Capsule , a type of dry fruit like the poppy, iris or foxglove...
  
  , liquid, and rectal enema
  Enema
  An enema is the procedure of introducing liquids into the rectum and colon via the anus. The increasing volume of the liquid causes rapid expansion of the lower intestinal tract resulting in very uncomfortable bloating, cramping, powerful peristalsis, a feeling of extreme urgency and complete...
  
  .
• Docusate calcium [USP] and docusate potassium [USP] are anionic surfactants used as stool softeners and are administered orally.
• Docusate sodium [USP] is an anionic surfactant used as a stool softener and is administered orally or rectally; as a tablet disintegrant or as an emulsifier and dispersant in topical preparations. When sold as Colace, it is docusate sodium, or sodium salt of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS). Some metabolism studies show that DSS is absorbed by the body from the gastrointestinal tract, undergoing extensive metabolism. In humans, the main way DSS metabolites are excreted is via the feces.

Docusate sodium may be used in a daily regimen in persons who are undergoing narcotic pain medication therapy to reduce the effects of chronic constipation or hardened stools which can cause severe straining, impaction, and torn rectal tissues.