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| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Ex-Lax, Senokot, others[1] |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| MedlinePlus | a601112 |
| License data | |
| Pregnancy category | |
| Routes of administration | By mouth,rectal |
| ATC code | |
| Legal status | |
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Onset of action | Minutes (by rectum), 6 to 12 hours (by mouth)[3] |
| Identifiers | |
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| CAS Number | |
| PubChemCID | |
| DrugBank |
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| ChemSpider |
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| KEGG | |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C42H38O20[4] |
| Molar mass | 862.746 g·mol−1 |
 N Y (what is this?) (verify) | |
Senna glycoside, also known assennoside orsenna, is amedication used to treatconstipation and empty thelarge intestine before surgery.[1][5] The medication is takenby mouth or via therectum.[1][6] It typically begins working in around 30 minutes when given by rectum and within twelve hours when given by mouth.[3] It is a weaker laxative thanbisacodyl andcastor oil.[1]
Common side effects of senna glycoside include abdominal cramps.[3] It is not recommended for long-term use, as it may result in poor bowel function orelectrolyte problems.[1] While no harm has been found to result from use while breastfeeding, such use is not typically recommended.[1] It is not typically recommended in children.[1] Senna may change urine to a somewhat reddish color.[1] Senna derivatives are a type ofstimulant laxative and are of theanthraquinone type.[1] While its mechanism of action is not entirely clear, senna is thought to act by increasing fluid secretion within and contraction of the large intestine.[1]
Sennosides come from the group of plantsSenna.[3] In plant form, it has been used at least since the 700s AD.[7] It is on theWorld Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[8] It is available as ageneric medication.[1][6] In 2022, it was the 280th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 600,000 prescriptions.[9][10] In 2022, the combination withdocusate was the 261st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.[9][11] It is sold under a number of brand names includingEx-Lax andSenokot.[1]
Senna is used for episodic and chronicconstipation though there is a lack of high-quality evidence to support its use for these purposes.[5] It may also be used to aid in the evacuation of the bowel prior to surgery or invasive rectal or colonic examinations.[12][13]
Oral senna products typically produce a bowel movement in 6 to 12 hours. Rectal suppositories can act within minutes or take up to two hours.[14]
According toCommission E, senna is contraindicated in cases ofintestinal obstruction, acute intestinal inflammation (e.g.,Crohn's disease),ulcerative colitis,appendicitis, andabdominal pain of unknown origin.[12]
Senna is considered contraindicated in people with a documented allergy toanthraquinones. Such allergies are rare and typically limited to dermatological reactions of redness and itching.[12]
Adverse effects are typically limited to gastrointestinal reactions and include abdominal pain or cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.[12]
Regular use of senna products can lead to a characteristic brown pigmentation of the internal colonic wall seen oncolonoscopy. This abnormal pigmentation is known asmelanosis coli.[14]
Senna glycosides can increasedigoxin toxicity in patients taking digoxin byreducing serum potassium levels, thereby enhancing the effects of digoxin.[15]
The breakdown products of senna act directly as irritants on the colonic wall to induce fluid secretion and colonic motility.[16]
They areanthraquinones derivatives anddimericglycosides.[17]
Senna is anover-the-counter drug available in multiple formulations, including oral formations (liquid, tablet, granular) and rectal suppositories. Senna products are manufactured by multiple generic drug makers and sold under various brand names.[13]
Ex-Lax, Geri-kot, Perdiem Overnight Relief, Senexon, Pursennid, Senna Smooth, Senna-Gen, Senna-GRX, Senna-Lax, Senna-Tabs, Senna-Time, SennaCon, Senno, Senokot.[12]
