Senna

Recently Answered

• QWhat other drugs affect senna supplements?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Senna should not be taken with other laxatives, including prescription laxatives, over-the-counter laxatives and herbal laxatives like aloe, rhamnus and yellow dock.
  
  If you are taking digoxin or any blood thinners or diuretics, do not take senna without talking to your doctor. The combination of these drugs and senna can cause your potassium level to become dangerously low or may increase the risk of bleeding.
  
  
• QWhat is the most important information I should know about senna?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Do not take senna or any other laxative for more than seven to 10 days. Extended use of senna and other laxatives may result in lazy bowel syndrome, in which your body requires laxatives to produce a bowel movement.
  
  Young children may get serious rashes from taking senna. Use extreme caution when giving senna to children.
  
  If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking senna. If you are breastfeeding and your baby develops diarrhea, stop taking senna, as senna can be transferred to a baby through breast milk.
  
  Some serious side effects have been attributed to senna. People taking senna for an extended period of time have reported developing clubbed fingers and toes, liver damage and weakened muscles and bones. Senna may worsen a pre-existing inflammation of the bowels or hemorrhoids.
  
  Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking senna before beginning treatment.
  
  
• QWho should take senna?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Mrs. Marjorie Nolan Cohn , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  Senna is one of many herbal laxatives; it is often an ingredient in ‘diet teas.’ It stimulates the colon, and stimulates extreme diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration. Weight loss is a direct result of water loss, not fat loss. Drinking tea with senna is considered to be habit forming, as habit forming as using laxatives, making it impossible to have a bowl movement without it.

  Senna is not recommended for anyone on a regular basis, for a one time use it can be used for a laxative when constipated.

• QHow fast does senna work?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Mrs. Marjorie Nolan Cohn , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  Senna is one of many herbal laxatives; it is often an ingredient in ‘diet teas.’ It stimulates the colon, and stimulates extreme diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration. Weight loss is a direct result of water loss, not fat loss. Drinking tea with senna is considered to be habit forming, as habit forming as using laxatives, making it impossible to have a bowl movement without it.

  Senna tea starts to work within 1-3 hours of ingesting. It isn't recommended for anyone on a regular basis, for a one time use it can be used for a laxative when constipated.

   

• QAre senna supplements safe for pregnant or nursing women?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, MD , General Practice, answered

  

  Senna supplements are used as stimulating laxatives for constipation, but it's considered safe for short term, occasional use in pregnant or nursing women. In this video, integrative medicine specialist Tieraona Low Dog, MD, explains the guidelines.
• QWhat are senna supplements?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Mrs. Marjorie Nolan Cohn , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  Senna is one of many herbal laxatives; it is often an ingredient in ‘diet teas.’ It stimulates the colon, and stimulates extreme diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration. Weight loss is a direct result of water loss, not fat loss. Drinking tea with senna is considered to be habit forming, as habit forming as using laxatives, making it impossible to have a bowl movement without it.

• QWho should not take senna?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Mrs. Marjorie Nolan Cohn , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  Senna is not recommended for anyone on a regular basis, for a one time use it can be used for a laxative when constipated.

  Senna is one of many herbal laxatives; it is often an ingredient in ‘diet teas.’ It stimulates the colon, and stimulates extreme diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration. Weight loss is a direct result of water loss, not fat loss. Drinking tea with senna is considered to be habit forming, as habit forming as using laxatives, making it impossible to have a bowl movement without it.

• QDo I need a prescription for senna?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Mrs. Marjorie Nolan Cohn , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  Senna is one of many herbal laxatives; it is often an ingredient in ‘diet teas.’ It stimulates the colon, causing extreme diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration. Weight loss is a direct result of water loss, not fat loss. Drinking tea with senna is considered to be habit forming, as habit forming as using laxatives, making it impossible to have a bowl movement without it.

  Senna is not recommended for anyone on a regular basis, for a one time use it can be used for a laxative when constipated. It is an over-the-counter herb.

• QWhat are the warnings for senna supplements?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Mrs. Marjorie Nolan Cohn , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  Senna is one of many herbal laxatives; it is often an ingredient in ‘diet teas.’ It stimulates the colon, causing extreme diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration. Weight loss is a direct result of water loss, not fat loss. Drinking tea with senna is considered to be habit forming, as habit forming as using laxatives, making it impossible to have a bowl movement without it.

  Senna is not recommended for anyone on a regular basis, for a one time use it can be used for a laxative when constipated.

   

• QWhat are the possible risks of senna?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Long-term use of senna puts you at risk for dangerous side effects. Do not take senna or any other laxative for more than seven to 10 days. Extended use of senna and other laxatives may result in lazy bowel syndrome, in which your body requires laxatives to have any bowel movement.
  
  Young children may get serious rashes from taking senna. Use extreme caution when giving senna to children.
  
  If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking senna. If you are breastfeeding and your baby develops diarrhea, stop taking senna, as senna can be transferred to a baby through breast milk.
  
  Some serious side effects have been attributed to senna. People taking senna for an extended period of time have reported developing clubbed fingers and toes, liver damage, and weakened muscles and bones. Senna may worsen a preexisting inflammation of the bowels or hemorrhoids.
  
  Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking senna before beginning treatment.