Dosage information
In accordance with clinical usage, the correct dose is the "lowest dose required to produce the desired effects (soft-formed and comfortable stool)". This is either 1-2g of the powdered extract or fruit usually standardized to 10-30mg active sennosides.
Higher doses are used only if the aforementioned lower dose is not effective (it should be noted that senna alexandria is a delayed laxative unlike the immediate effects of caffeine and it may take a few hours to assess whether a dose is effective or not).
Senna alexandria tends to be taken prior to bed in order to time its laxative effect with a morning bowel movement.
Research Breakdown
Examine Database References
- Constipation Signs and Symptoms - Agra Y, Sacristán A, González M, Ferrari M, Portugués A, Calvo MJEfficacy of senna versus lactulose in terminal cancer patients treated with opioidsJ Pain Symptom Manage.(1998 Jan)
- Intestinal Motility - Shelton MGStandardized senna in the management of constipation in the puerperium: A clinical trialS Afr Med J.(1980 Jan 19)
- Intestinal Motility - Patel M, Schimpf MO, O'Sullivan DM, LaSala CAThe use of senna with docusate for postoperative constipation after pelvic reconstructive surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialAm J Obstet Gynecol.(2010 May)
- Intestinal Motility - Sykes NPA volunteer model for the comparison of laxatives in opioid-related constipationJ Pain Symptom Manage.(1996 Jun)
- Intestinal Motility - Rogers HJ, House FR, Morrison PJ, Bradbrook IDComparison of the effect of drugs upon some commonly used measures of bowel transit timeBr J Clin Pharmacol.(1978 Dec)
- Intestinal Motility - Savit Kositchaiwat, Weerapat Suwanthanmma, Ronnarat Suvikapakornkul, Vaewvadee Tiewthanom, Prisna Rerkpatanakit, Chaowalitr TinkornrusmeeComparative study of two bowel preparation regimens for colonoscopy: senna tablets vs sodium phosphate solutionWorld J Gastroenterol.(2006 Sep 14)
- Intestinal Motility - Amato A, Radaelli F, Paggi S, Terruzzi VHalf doses of PEG-ES and senna vs. high-dose senna for bowel cleansing before colonoscopy: a randomized, investigator-blinded trialAm J Gastroenterol.(2010 Mar)
- Intestinal Motility - De Salvo L, Borgonovo G, Ansaldo GL, Varaldo E, Floris F, Assalino M, Gianiorio FThe bowel cleansing for colonoscopy. A randomized trial comparing three methodsAnn Ital Chir.(2006 Mar-Apr)
- Intestinal Motility - Valverde A, Hay JM, Fingerhut A, Boudet MJ, Petroni R, Pouliquen X, Msika S, Flamant YSenna vs polyethylene glycol for mechanical preparation the evening before elective colonic or rectal resection: a multicenter controlled trial. French Association for Surgical ResearchArch Surg.(1999 May)
- Constipation Signs and Symptoms - Kinnunen O, Winblad I, Koistinen P, Salokannel JSafety and efficacy of a bulk laxative containing senna versus lactulose in the treatment of chronic constipation in geriatric patientsPharmacology.(1993 Oct)
