Can I take bisacodyl while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about bisacodyl.
In short
Pregnancy: Bisacodyl tablets or suppositories are not generally recommended in pregnancy. Ask your doctor whether bisacodyl is right for you.
Breastfeeding: If changes to your diet and lifestyle (such as more fibre, plenty of fluids and exercise) don't work, you can take or use bisacodyl while breastfeeding.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Bisacodyl tablets or suppositories are not generally recommended in pregnancy.
- Ask your doctor whether bisacodyl is right for you.
- Constipation is common during pregnancy, and changes to your diet and lifestyle can sometimes treat it.
- More fibre, plenty of fluids and more exercise can all help.
- If you do need a medicine, lactulose or Fybogel are usually recommended first.
- If they don't work, a doctor can advise you on what to try next.
Breastfeeding
- Always use it for the shortest time you need it.
- Drinking plenty of fluids also matters because it helps your breast milk supply.
- Information about bisacodyl and breastfeeding is limited, but it's not thought to get into breast milk, and it should not cause side effects in your baby.
- As soon as you can, get in touch with your health visitor, midwife, doctor or pharmacist if anything about your baby worries you, including if your baby is feeding less well than normal, has diarrhoea, or seems irritable.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Bisacodyl in pregnancy
The NHS says
Bisacodyl tablets or suppositories are not generally recommended in pregnancy. Ask your doctor whether bisacodyl is right for you.
Constipation is common during pregnancy, and changes to your diet and lifestyle can sometimes treat it. More fibre, plenty of fluids and more exercise can all help.
If you do need a medicine, lactulose or Fybogel are usually recommended first. If they don't work, a doctor can advise you on what to try next.
In our words, from the NHS page Bisacodyl (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
The US Drug Facts label says
If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.
Drug Facts label: Bisacodyl (oral), KROGER COMPANY. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
Bisacodyl while breastfeeding
The NHS says
If changes to your diet and lifestyle (such as more fibre, plenty of fluids and exercise) don't work, you can take or use bisacodyl while breastfeeding. Always use it for the shortest time you need it.
Drinking plenty of fluids also matters because it helps your breast milk supply.
Information about bisacodyl and breastfeeding is limited, but it's not thought to get into breast milk, and it should not cause side effects in your baby.
As soon as you can, get in touch with your health visitor, midwife, doctor or pharmacist if anything about your baby worries you, including if your baby is feeding less well than normal, has diarrhoea, or seems irritable.
In our words, from the NHS page Bisacodyl (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Bisacodyl is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and its active metabolite, which is absorbed, is not detectable in breastmilk. Bisacodyl can be taken during breastfeeding and no special precautions are required.
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Bisacodyl” (LM448), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Bisacodyl while breastfeeding.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Dulcolax.
Sources
- NHS, Bisacodyl (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 2 August 2024. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US drug label: Bisacodyl (oral), KROGER COMPANY, human otc drug, label effective 9 September 2026, set ID a13a8eec-3652-8c57-e053-2995a90aaebf. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Bisacodyl” (LM448), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.