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	Search Quick Order Form» Departments Vitamins Minerals Supplements Herbs Home & Grocery Diet & Fitness Body & Bath More Ways to Shop Brands A-Z Natural Remedies Children & Infants Women's Health Men's Health Seniors Free Catalog MotherNature.com's Catalog Is Here! Click Here to Get Your Free Copy Today. Newsletter Sign Up Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!		Library Home > Safetychecker by Drug Name > Docusate DOCUSATE Introduction Safetychecker summary Vitamin interactions References Visit The Healthy Living Bookshelf: 21 Online Health Books From Rodale Docusate, which is available without a prescription, is used to treat constipation and is in a class of laxatives known as stool softeners. Safetychecker Summary for Docusate (for details about the summarized interactions, read the full article) May be Beneficial: Depletion or interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them. Magnesium* Potassium* Side effect reduction/prevention None known Supportive interaction None known Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability None known Adverse interaction None known Interactions with Dietary Supplements Magnesium A woman and her newborn infant experienced low blood levels of magnesium, which was possibly due to chronic use of docusate throughout and after pregnancy.1 Controlled research is necessary to determine whether people taking docusate for long periods of time need to supplement magnesium. Potassium Taking docusate increases the amount of potassium excreted from the body in the stool.2 Whether people taking docusate for long periods of time need to increase their intake of potassium is unknown. References: 1. Schindler AM. Isolated neonatal hypomagnesaemia associated with maternal overuse of stool softener. Lancet 1984;2:822 [letter]. 2. Moriarty KJ, Kelly MJ, Beetham R, Clark ML. Studies on the mechanism of action of dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate in the human jejunum. Gut 1985;26:1008–13. Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc.  All rights reserved. www.healthnotes.com Please read the disclaimer about the limitations of the information provided here. Do NOT rely solely on the information in this article. Learn more about Healthnotes, the company. Learn more about the authors of Safetychecker. The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2003.

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