can using colace mess up your bowel habits?

jt80 - Colace might not be for you. Are you taking the plain Colace or Peri-Colace?

Here's the info I found online:

Colace contains docusate sodium. It's available in capsule form (50 or 100 mg), syrup, liquid or suppositories. I'm guessing you were taking the capsule form? It's the most commonly used form. I find that 100 mg is too strong for me and 50 mg is milder. I have to order the 50 mg from the pharmacy, it's still an OTC product but not always stocked because 50 mg is a mild, pediatric dose.

Peri-colace contains docusate sodium but also senna concentrate. Senna can be an irritant to the lining of the colon walls.

I should add that even though I struggle with IBS/D my GYN doctor was the one that recommended a simple stool softener. Since I have multiple bm's all day long (as long as I keep eating), he said my stool should be as easily passed as possible. I have some scar tissue near an ovary, where my temporary ostomy was placed. My GYN doc said not to risk a colon blockage. I've never even come close to a blockage in 10 years. At first I was leary to try a "laxative" but I found that Colace makes things more consistent for me and works well. But again, it isn't for everyone.

jt80 - when I tried 100 mg, I would try to take it about 36 hours apart. Every other day was too little, every day was too much so I tried for example to remember to take it on Monday morning and then Tuesday evening. But of course I'd forget and then either space them out 12 hours (not good) or longer. At some point a doctor said try the 50 mg strength. It seems to work for me. But not stocked at my local pharmacies (any of them). When I order it, it takes about a day to come in. Less than $20. Be careful if you see a generic 50 mg form of Colace. I took generic for about a year but learned that sennasides was in it, which as I posted above is an irritant to the colon lining. I had noticed my GI tract was more active (noisy, rumbling, etc.). The senna was irritating my tract when all I need was the simple, low strength stool softener. Now I'm back on the brand name, Colace, 50 mg. It's worth paying more money IMO and when I cut it close, ordering it and waiting for it to come in.

If you find that the 50 mg is too much, you could take it every other day possibly. Perhaps that would be a good schedule for you.

I know you have anxiety about your IBS. It's so easy to say but hard to implement, but try your best to put these worries out of your mind. People I work with even forget I have GI trouble. Family members sometimes forget too. I've found that most people do not even notice when we're having trouble. Unless we've clogged up a toilet and it's overflowing! Most people are nowadays so self absorbed in their own lives. They usually don't notice when someone's using a bathroom a lot or not feeling well. That's not to say they don't care about us, I have just found that my early into IBS days and worries I had, were for naught. Try to strive for that - realizing that the majority of people you'll encounter do not even notice our IBS symptoms.