Soaked bisacodyl tablet storage time information/ bisacodyl tablets for enemas

I have been experimenting with bisacodyl tablets for enemas for a while. Bisacodyl enemas are on my bowel menu as a stronger option, and while Magic Bullets work well they are expensive compared to tablets (60 cents for a 10mg dose vs about 8 cents for 10mg of tablets).

I came up with what others have termed the "Moliere method" of soaking bisacodyl tablets in a squirt of Dr. Bronner's, usually somewhere between a quarter and half teaspoon. I use peppermint, but don't know if that makes a difference. I soak them for a couple of days, after which the pills are very soft (or a suspension if I use closer to the 1/2 tsp range of Bronners). I find that this works much better than the other methods - the soaking seems to liberate the bisacodyl better than crushing, and the room temperature soak doesn't inactivate the bisacodyl the way the hot water methods can.

I was wondering how long the soaked pills could be stored, as it's nice to have a few ready to go as I don't always know when I'll need them a few days in advance. I did a basic test to see - today I took an enema with 20mg of bisacodyl that had been soaking for 3 months. The bisacodyl was still potent and did a good job, so I'm now a little more confident that I can have some bottles ready to go without worrying about degradation.

This method works better than all the other ones involving crushing, etc. i think the reason is the tabs are completely broken down to very fine particles - and because bisacodyl works by contacting the colon surface- this results in a high surface area, thus increasing effectiveness. my only modification to "moliere's method" is to add 1/8 tsp baking soda and 2-3 oz. water along with the soap. also, amazon sells generic bisacodyl 1,000 tabs for about $10.00, very cheap source of bisacodyl.

my only modification to "moliere's method" is to add 1/8 tsp baking soda and 2-3 oz. water along with the soap.

The only reason I do not do this is because I haven't been able to find out what things they use as carriers in pills. I want to make sure it isn't something that will have pathogens grow on it in a moist environment.

Does anyone know what they use? Is it inert?

I dont know specifically what they use for bisacodyl, but practically every other type of pill uses some type of inert starch compound because if they didnt, most pills would be about the of a grain of salt.

@ moliere, this is what is in a tab on bisacodyl, i do not have the amounts: acacia, anhydrous calcium sulfate, anhydrous lactose, carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, D & C yellow#10alumium lake, FD&C yellow#6 lake, gelatin, iron oxide, iron oxide yellow, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol )peg) 400, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, povidone, shellac, sodium starch glycolate, stearic acid, sugar, talc, titanium dioxide, and then 5mg. of bisacodyl.

That is a lot of "stuff" for such a small potent pill.

Dan

That is a lot of "stuff" for such a small potent pill.

Dan

Bisacodyl is pretty potent and 5mg without fillers would be really small.

What is wrong with using just a mortar and pestle to crush the tablets. These tablets crushed just mix well in warm water.

I've tried both, and when you cold soak them in the soap for 1+ day the bisacodyl is much more available to the bowel and it is much more effective.

Mixing with water that is too hot can also reduce effectiveness.

Try the cold soak method, you'll be surprised how much more kick you get for a given amount of bisacodyl. Granted, the fact that you're adding soap as well doesn't hurt 😉 .

One of our members, Mattheww50, spent his life as a biochemist in the laxative sections of pharmaceutical industry. He knows more about all kind of laxative products than anyone I've ever known. He posted one time about a product called Clysodrast, which was a liquid solution of bisacodyl and tannic acid. This was used in radiology depts. for those arriving for BaE's not well prepped. They would take the patient to a treatment room and give about 1000 to 1500cc's of this with warm water. Just one bagful would clean them out enough for the BaE. Clysodrast was withdrawn from the market several years ago, because the tannic acid was sited as a carcinogen. My point is that when they made liquid bisacodyl for injections rectally, it was an extremely potent product.

Matthew was the one who told me about dissolving 3 or 4 5mg bisacodyl tabs in a cup of warm water with a half teaspoon of baking soda in it. I've done that many times. Apparently that solution would penetrate the shell of the tablet and allow the bisacodyl to be released into the liquid. I've even crushed the tabs after they have soaked in that solution and gotten extreme results when injected with a bulb syringe, followed at once by 2 qts. of warm water to push the active bisacodyl up high into the transverse/ascending colon. I had to hold the bisacodyl about 5-8 minutes before an intense expulsion happened.

Too bad they don't make bisacodyl in a liquid form anymore. Magic Bullets will dissolve in water, but are expensive for some of us.

. . . . Too bad they don't make bisacodyl in a liquid form anymore. Magic Bullets will dissolve in water, but are expensive for some of us.

Fifty bucks for 100 Magic bullets is hardly expensive.

That 50 cents a piece.

Dissolve 3-6 in a quart or two of water, hold it for several minutes and you'll have quite an expulsion, or several over the next hour.

Fifty bucks for 100 Magic bullets is hardly expensive.

That 50 cents a piece.

When you add in shipping it can easily be a big chunk of your "butt fun" money for the year depending on disposable income and what your spouse thinks is worth spending your disposable income on. $65 or so (that's what I've seen for Magic Bullets in lots of 100, what's your $50 supplier) is 100 Magic Bullets or a midrange Silicone Nozzles nozzle plus two bottles of pills.

So much easier to buy a Fleet Biscodyl mini enema, an simply inject that 10-15 minutes before insertion of the nozzle

@LisaK

Yes, Fleet Bisacodyl enemas are the easy way to go, but they are no longer widely available. Nor are they cheap.

A Fleet Bisacodyl enema costs roughly $2.50 plus shipping on-line and each had 10 mg of Bisacodyl in it.

A Magic Bullet costs about $0.50 to $0.75 including shipping and each also has 10 mg of Bisacodyl in it.

Magic Bullets completely dissolve in warm water within 5 minutes.

As far as I can tell, a Magic Bullet and a Fleet Bisacodyl enema have about equal poo power.

Also, if the Magic Bullet is given dissolved in a bit water, both have just about the same speed of action.

My preference is for the Magic Bullet. I dissolve one (occasionally two) in about 2 Oz (60ml) of warm water and take it with a piston syringe and Fr 18 catheter, well lubed and inserted high into the colon... at least 8", preferably 12"... whilke in left lying or knee-chest position. The injection of the laxative solution up high is more effective than down low, is easier to retain, and causes a very complete poo if held long enough. I try to hold the enema for at least 20 minutes, by which time the cramping is very strong and widespread.... and I'm on the brink of an accident. Within seconds of sitting on the toilet, this treatment produces complete emptying of everything, top to bottom. You have no choice.

I've always dissolved the tablets in warm water but using some soda makes good sense as I'll have some in the solution anyway.

Why not just buy a bisacodyl mini-enema and use that.

I like to use it about 10 minutes before starting the high volume enema

I have long known that using baking soda in the solution. Bisacodyl tablets are coated with a substance that will not dissolve in acid, to keep them from dissolving in the stomach or upper reaches of the small intestine. The colon has a basic pH, and that allows the pill coating to dissolve, releasing the bisacodyl. So, by adding the pills to a baking soda solution, makes that coating dissolve, releasing the bisacodyl. If you want a more thorough release, after the pill coating is dissolved, dry the tablets for a few days, and crush them in a mortar and pestle. Adding 10 of these to a 2 qt enema will give spectacular results in 15 minutes, and the enema is the Energizer Bunny of all enemas: you'll keep going, and going, and going! It has been my experience that you should take this enema in the morning on a day when you can stay near a bathroom all day. I have never tried using Dr. B's peppermint with this, but I plan to try it! I've also found that a couple of salt and soda rinses will shorten the number of repeat trips to the potty, but you'll still get two or three.