Senna (Black Draught, Fletcher’s Castoria, Gentlax)

Category:

  • Gastrointestinal

Description:

  • Stimulant laxative

Indications:

  • Constipation

  • Bowel evacuation or preparation for surgery or examination

Contraindications:

  • GI bleeding, obstruction, fecal impaction, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting

  • Symptoms of appendicitis, acute surgical abdomen

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category C; not excreted into breast milk; compatible with breast feeding

  • Fluid and electrolyte imbalance can occur with abuse

  • Abuse, dependency

  • Children

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • GI: anorexia, cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting

  • METAB: alkalosis, enteropathy, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, tetany

Dosage:

Administered orally (tablet, granules, syrup), rectally

  • Adult:   

    • PO up to 1600mg daily; tablets (187-600mg), 1-8 tablets daily; granules (163-1600mg per ½ teaspoonful), ¼ to ½ teaspoonful daily; syrup (218 mg/5ml), 5-20ml daily; 

    • PR up to 1600mg daily; suppository (650mg) 1-2 daily

  • Child >6years; >27 kg: Do not use Black Draught (granules) for children; 

    • PO up to 800mg daily; tablets (187-600mg), 1-4 tablets daily; syrup (218 mg/5ml), 10-30ml daily;

  • Child 2-5 years: 

    • PO up to 300-400mg daily

  • Child 1 month to 1 year: 

    • PO up to 300-400mg daily; syrup 1.25-5ml daily

 

Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300  

Gynecology and Obstetrics CD-ROM
Volumes 1-6
2004 Edition
 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Copyright 2004
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