What is Metalax?
Metalax (Metalax) is a laxative that stimulates bowel movements.
Metalax is used to treat constipation or to empty the bowels before surgery, colonoscopy, x-rays, or other intestinal medical procedure.
Metalax tablets generally produce a bowel movement in 6 to 12 hours. Metalax suppositories generally produces bowel movements in 15 minutes to 1 hour.
Metalax indications
Metalax is a laxative that stimulates bowel movements.
Metalax is used to treat constipation or to empty the bowels before surgery, colonoscopy, x-rays, or other intestinal medical procedure.
How should I use Metalax?
Use Metalax enema as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Wash your hands before and after using Metalax enema.
- Lie on left side with knee bent and arms resting comfortably. You may also kneel, then lower head and chest forward until left side of face is resting on surface with left arm folded comfortably.
- Remove protective shield from enema tip.
- Gently insert enema tip into rectum using steady pressure with a slight side-to-side movement, with tip pointing toward navel. Do not force the enema tip into rectum because this can cause injury. Insertion may be easier if you bear down as if having a bowel movement because this helps to relax the muscles around the anus.
- Squeeze bottle until nearly all the liquid is gone. It is not necessary to empty the bottle completely because it contains more liquid than needed.
- Remove enema from rectum and maintain position until the urge to evacuate the bowels is strong (5 to 20 minutes if possible).
- Drinking extra fluids while you are taking Metalax enema is recommended. Check with your doctor for instructions.
- If you miss a dose of Metalax enema and are using it regularly, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Metalax enema.
Uses of Metalax in details
Metalax is used to treat constipation. It may also be used to clean out the intestines before a bowel examination/surgery. Metalax is known as a stimulant laxative. It works by increasing the movement of the intestines, helping the stool to come out.
How to use Metalax
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. If you are self-treating, follow all directions on the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Swallow this medication whole. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet or take it within 1 hour of antacids, milk, or milk products. Doing so can destroy the coating on the tablet and may increase the risk of stomach upset and nausea.
Dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than directed. Do not take this medication for more than 7 days unless directed by your doctor. Serious side effects may occur with overuse of this medication.
It may take 6 to 12 hours before this medication causes a bowel movement. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens, or if bleeding from the rectum occurs. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.
Metalax description
Metalax may also contain the following excipients: Tablet: Lactose monohydrate, dried and undried maize starch, glycerol, magnesium stearate, crystallized sugar, talc, acacia, titanium dioxide, methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymer (1:1) and (1:2), PEG 6000, ferric oxide yellow (E172), beeswax white, carnauba wax, dibutyl phthalate, p-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester, p-hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ester. Suppositories: Hard fat Witepsol W45, E76.
Metalax is 4,4'-diacetoxy-diphenyl-(pyridyl-2)-methane.
Metalax dosage
Metalax Dosage
Applies to the following strength(s): 5 mg; 10 mg
The information at Drugs.com is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Usual Adult Dose for:
- Bowel Preparation
- Constipation
Additional dosage information:
- Renal Dose Adjustments
- Liver Dose Adjustments
- Dialysis
- Other Comments
Usual Adult Dose for Bowel Preparation
5 to 15 mg (1 to 3 tablets) orally once a day as needed or
10 mg (1 suppository) rectally once a day as needed or
10 mg rectal liquid once a day as needed.
Usual Adult Dose for Constipation
5 to 15 mg (1 to 3 tablets) orally once a day as needed or
10 mg (1 suppository) rectally once a day as needed or
10 mg rectal liquid once a day as needed.
Renal Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended.
Caution is recommended when using Metalax enemas containing monobasic or dibasic sodium phosphate in patients with impaired renal function or where colostomy exists as hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypernatremia, and acidosis may occur.
Liver Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended
Dialysis
No adjustment recommended
Other Comments
Alleviation of constipation can be expected within 8 to 12 hours if taken at bedtime or within 6 hours if taken during waking hours.
More about Metalax
- Side Effects
- During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
- Dosage Information
- Drug Images
- Drug Interactions
- Support Group
- Pricing & Coupons
- En Espanol
- 526 Reviews - Add your own review/rating
Consumer resources
- Metalax
- Metalax enema
- Metalax suppositories
- Metalax oral and rectal
- Other brands: Metalax, Correctol, Bisac-Evac, Metalax Laxative, More (13) »
Professional resources
- Metalax (AHFS Monograph)
- More (2) »
Related treatment guides
- Constipation
- Bowel Preparation
Metalax interactions
See also:
What other drugs will affect Metalax?
Antacids: May diminish the therapeutic effect of Metalax. Antacids may cause the delayed-release Metalax tablets to release drug prior to reaching the large intestine. Gastric irritation and/or cramps may occur. Management: Antacids should not be used within 1 hour before Metalax administration. Consider therapy modification
Dichlorphenamide: Laxatives may enhance the hypokalemic effect of Dichlorphenamide. Monitor therapy
Polyethylene Glycol-Electrolyte Solution: Metalax may enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Polyethylene Glycol-Electrolyte Solution. Monitor therapy
Metalax side effects
See also:
What are the possible side effects of Metalax?
Applies to Metalax: oral tablets delayed-release, rectal suppositories, rectal suspension
Side effects include:
Some degree of abdominal discomfort, nausea, cramps, griping, and/or faintness with therapeutic doses.
Diarrhea, GI irritation, and fluid and electrolyte depletion.
Gastric irritation and the possibility of vomiting if enteric coating of tablets is disrupted.
Rectal administration of Metalax (the active ingredient contained in Metalax Uniserts) suspensions or suppositories may cause irritation and a sensation of burning of the rectal mucosa and mild proctitis.
Hepatotoxicity if sufficient tannic acid is absorbed from Metalax tannex.
Metalax contraindications
See also:
What is the most important information I should know about Metalax?
Hypersensitivity to any component.
- Colopathies organic inflammatory (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease...).
- Subocclusif occlusive syndrome.
- Abdominal pain syndromes of unknown cause.
- States of severe dehydration with electrolyte depletion.
RECOMMENDED:
- Pregnancy: there is no reliable data on teratogenesis in animals. Clinically, there is currently no adequate data to evaluate a possible effect of malformation or Metalax fetotoxic when administered during pregnancy. Consequently, the use of Metalax is not recommended during pregnancy. This item does not recommend a systematic argument for abortion, but leads to an attitude of caution and a prenatal care oriented.
- Breast-feeding: Because it passes through breast milk, the use of Metalax is discouraged.
- Concomitant use not recommended: medication torsade de pointes (amiodarone, astemizole, bepridil, bretylium, disopyramide, erythromycin IV, halofantrine, pentamidine, quinidine, sparfloxacin, sotalol, sultopride, terfenadine, vincamine).
Active ingredient matches for Metalax:
Bisacodyl in Finland.
List of Metalax substitutes (brand and generic names) | Sort by popularity |
| Unit description / dosage (Manufacturer) | Price, USD |
| Medobisa (Vietnam) | |
| Medobisa 5 mg x 10 Blister x 10 Tablet | |
| Modane | |
| Tablet, Film-Coated; Oral; Sennoside B / Senna Dry Extract 11.7 mg; Vitamin B5 / Calcium Pantothenate 12.5 mg (Savage) | |
| Suspension; Oral; Dantron 37.5 mg; Vitamin B5 / Calcium Pantothenate 12.5 mg / 5 ml (Savage) | |
| Tablet, Film-Coated; Oral; Dantron 75 mg; Vitamin B5 / Calcium Pantothenate 25 mg (Savage) | |
| Modaton (Argentina) | |
| Suspension; Oral; Dantron 37.5 mg; Vitamin B5 / Calcium D-Pantothenate 12.5 mg / 5 ml (Montpellier) | |
| Tablet; Oral; Dantron 75 mg; Vitamin B5 / Calcium D-Pantothenate 25 mg (Montpellier) | |
| Modaton Tablets | |
| Tablet; Oral; Bisacodyl | |
| Moderlax (Portugal) | |
| Monolax (Thailand) | |
| Monolax 5 mg x 500's (Charoen Bhaesaj Lab) | |
| Monolax enteric-coated tab 5 mg 500's (Charoen Bhaesaj Lab) | |
| Mucinum (Belgium) | |
| Tablet; Oral; Cascara Sagrada 160 mg; Sennosides 2.1 mg (Confar) | |
| Mucinum 20 Tablet (Confar) | |
| Multilax (Germany) | |
| NEDAC SORBO Bisacodyl (Netherlands) | |
| Nedalax (Germany) | |
| Neolax 10 | |
| Newlax 0.75 % | |
| Normalax (Egypt, Portugal) | |
| NORMALAX 10 MG TABLET 1 strip / 10 tablets each (Herbaline) | $ 0.63 |
| Normalax 10mg Tablet (Herbaline) | $ 0.06 |
| Normalene (Italy) | |
| Nosik-lax (Belgium) | |
| Nourilax (Netherlands) | |
| Novolax (Bosnia & Herzegowina, Georgia, Israel) | |
| Syrup; Oral; Lactitol Monohydrate 66.7% (MDC) | |
| NOVOLAX oral susp 5 g x 5 mL x 100ml (MDC) | $ 0.60 |
| Orcolax | |
| Orcolax 5 mg Tablet (Ortin Laboratories Ltd) | $ 0.01 |
| Panlax (Serbia) | |
| Petrus Bisacodyl (Australia) | |
| Pharex Bisacodyl (Philippines) | |
| Picosulu (Taiwan) | |
| Picosulu 3 mg | |
| Plesonax (Brazil) | |
| PMS-Bisacodyl (Canada) | |
| Suppositories; Rectal; Bisacodyl 10 mg | |
| Tablet; Oral; Bisacodyl 5 mg | |
| PMS-bisacodyl tablet 5 mg (Pharmascience Inc (Canada)) | |
| PMS-bisacodyl suppository 10 mg (Pharmascience Inc (Canada)) | |
| Prepacol (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg) | |
| Tablet, Film-Coated; Oral; Bisacodyl 5 mg / Solution; Oral; Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous 9.54 g; Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Anhydrous 41.74 g / 100 ml (Codali) | |
| Prépacol (France) | |
| Tablet, Film-Coated; Oral; Bisacodyl 5 mg / Solution; Oral; Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous 9.54 g; Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Anhydrous 41.74 g / 100 ml | |
| Tablet, Film-Coated; Oral; Bisacodyl 5 mg / Solution; Oral; Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous 9.54 g; Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Anhydrous 41.74 g / 100 ml | |
| Prolaxan (Indonesia) | |
| Prontolax (Switzerland) | |
| Dragee; Oral; Bisacodyl 5 mg (Generis) | |
| Suppositories; Rectal; Bisacodyl 10 mg (Generis) | |
| Prontolax 10mg (Switzerland) | |
| Prontolax 5mg (Switzerland) | |
See 701 substitutes for Metalax | |
References
- DailyMed. "BISACODYL: DailyMed provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the United States. DailyMed is the official provider of FDA label information (package inserts).". https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailyme... (accessed September 17, 2018).
- PubChem. "bisacodyl". https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/com... (accessed September 17, 2018).
- DrugBank. "Bisacodyl". http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB09020 (accessed September 17, 2018).
Reviews
The results of a survey conducted on ndrugs.com for Metalax are given in detail below. The results of the survey conducted are based on the impressions and views of the website users and consumers taking Metalax. We implore you to kindly base your medical condition or therapeutic choices on the result or test conducted by a physician or licensed medical practitioners.User reports
Consumer reported useful
No survey data has been collected yet1 consumer reported price estimates
Was the price you paid to purchase the drug reasonable? Did you feel it was expensive?The below mentioned numbers have been reported by ndrugs.com website users about whether the Metalax drug is expensive or inexpensive. There is a mixed opinion among users. The rating about the cost of the drug depends on factors like which brand drug the patient purchased, how effective it was for the price paid, the country or place the drug is marketed, and the economic condition of the patient. The users who feel the drug is expensive can look for an alternative brand drug or a generic drug to save the cost.
| Users | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Expensive | 1 | 100.0% | |
2 consumers reported time for results
To what extent do I have to use Metalax before I begin to see changes in my health conditions?As part of the reports released by ndrugs.com website users, it takes 1 week and a few days before you notice an improvement in your health conditions.
Please note, it doesn't mean you will start to notice such health improvement in the same time frame as other users. There are many factors to consider, and we implore you to visit your doctor to know how long before you can see improvements in your health while taking Metalax. To get the time effectiveness of using Metalax drug by other patients, please click here.
| Users | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week | 1 | 50.0% | |
| 3 days | 1 | 50.0% | |
9 consumers reported age
| Users | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-29 | 3 | 33.3% | |
| 30-45 | 3 | 33.3% | |
| > 60 | 3 | 33.3% | |
Consumer reviews
There are no reviews yet. Be the first to write one! |
Information checked by Dr. Sachin Kumar, MD Pharmacology
