senna Health Article

Generic name(s):

senna

Brand name(s):

Black Draught, Dosaflex, Dr Caldwell Laxative, Ex-Lax Chocolated, Ex-Lax Gentle Nature, Ex-Lax Maximum Relief Formula, Ex-Lax Regular Strength Pills, Fletchers Castoria, Gentlax, Innerclean, Sennalax, Senokot, Senokot Child, Senokot Extra, Senolax, X Prep

What is the most important information I should know about senna?

Do not use senna for longer than 1 week without consulting your doctor or other health care provider. Prolonged use of senna can be dangerous.

Senna has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of senna may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What is senna?

The use of senna in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Senna is also known as Cassia senna, tinnevelly senna, India senna, Alexandrian senna, and Khartoum senna.

Senna has been used in the treatment of constipation.

Senna has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of senna may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Senna may also have uses other than those listed in this product guide.

Who should not take senna?

Do not take senna without first talking to your doctor if you have

• an inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis,

• other intestinal problems, or

• abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.

You may not be able to take senna or you may require special monitoring while taking senna if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Also, talk to your doctor before taking senna if you have any other medical conditions, allergies, or if you take other medicines or herbal/health supplements. Senna may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take senna without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. Do not take senna without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Some forms of senna are formulated for use by children. Talk to the child's doctor before using this product to treat a child.