Bisacodyl

Uncommon card · No. 198211

Bisacodyl is an organic compound that is used as a stimulant laxative drug. It works directly on the colon to produce a bowel movement. Bisacodyl is typically prescribed for relief of episodic and chronic constipation. Bisacodyl is one of the possible medications used as part of bowel preparation before medical examinations, such as for a colonoscopy. It is sometimes used as an adjunctive medication for the temporary management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD). Bisacodyl is a derivative of triphenylmethane. It was first used as a laxative in 1953 because of its structural similarity to phenolphthalein. It is generally bought as an over-the-counter drug, although it did appear once (as a generic drug) on the list of the 300 most commonly prescribed medications in the United States, from 2014-2024, in the year 2023. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

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