Senade for weight loss: what you need to know about dosages and possible consequences

Laxatives have been used by people losing weight for centuries. Those who dream of a slim figure hope that the fats and carbohydrates they eat, without being digested, will be immediately eliminated from the body, without being stored in reserve. In reality, everything turns out to be not so simple. The kilograms do not go away, but problems with the stomach and stool begin.

To prevent this from happening, you need to know what exactly to use in such cases, and also be careful with dosages and course duration. For example, it is often suggested to take Senade for weight loss, noting its mild effect on the intestines and minimal side effects. Should you listen to such advice?

Short description

Trade name: Senade. In Latin: Senade.

ATC code: A06AB06 - laxatives based on senna glycosides, which have an effect on the gastrointestinal tract and metabolism.

Main active ingredient: sennosides A and B.

Chemical formula: C42H28O20.

Structural formula:

Release form: brown or dark brown tablets with chaotic dark inclusions, round, flat, with beveled edges. On one side is the word “CIPLA” imprinted. On the other - risk. One tablet contains 13.5 mg of the main active ingredient.

Packing:

cardboard pack with 2 blisters of 20 tablets (total 40 pcs.);
cardboard pack with 3 blisters of 20 tablets (60 pcs.);
cardboard packaging with 25 blisters of 20 tablets (500 pcs.)

Manufacturer: Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla ltd (Cipla Ltd).

Main purpose: laxative.

Method of administration: orally.

Absorbed through the intestinal mucosa in small quantities (only 5%). Once in the colon, sennosides are hydrolyzed into free anthraquinones under the influence of gastric enzymes. Most of it is excreted in feces, the smaller part is excreted in urine through the kidneys.

How long does it take to act: depending on the individual characteristics of the body, after about 8 hours. Maximum - after 10.

Analogues and synonyms

“Senade” has a fairly extensive list of analogues and synonyms.

Analogues:

tablets - “Bisacodyl”, “Dulcolax”, “Izafenin”, “Phenolphthalein”;
granules – “Agiolax”, “Mukofalk”;
drops - “Guttalax”, “Guttasil”, “Laxigal”, “Regulax”, “Slabicap”, “Slabilen”;
powders for suspension – “Naturolax”, “Fiberlex”;
rectal suppositories – “Bisacodyl”, “Dulcolax”;
Castor oil.

Synonyms:

tablets - “Antrasennin”, “Gerbion”, “Glacsenna”, “Pursennid”, “Senna”, “Senadexin”, “Sennalax”, “Senalex”, “Tisasen”, sena extract;
dragees - “Bekunis”, “Regulax”, “Ex-Lax”.

You should know that analogues are drugs that have a different composition, but have a similar effect on peristalsis with a laxative effect. Synonyms, respectively, are drugs containing the same sennosides and thereby providing a similar effect.

Compound

The main active ingredient is calcium salts of sennosides A and B, which are obtained from the extract of Alexandrian senna leaves (African cassia, Cassia acufolia, Egyptian senna). Quantitative content - 13.5 mg.

The composition also includes excipients:

starch - 43.56 mg;
MCC - 15 mg;
lactose - 23.07 mg;
methyl parahydroxybenzonate (preservative E218) - 0.04 mg;
magnesium stearate (Magnesium Stearate) as a binding and structure-forming substance - 0.93 mg;
carboxymethylcellulose (thickener E468) - 2 mg;
talc - 11.13 mg;
sodium lauryl sulfate (surfactant) - 0.93 mg.

Auxiliary ingredients do not have a significant effect on the digestive tract and other organs, as they are contained in minimal quantities.

Action

The laxative effect of Senade is explained simply (diagram):

Sennosides enter the large intestine → They begin to strongly influence sensitive mechanoreceptors in the mucous membrane → They increase peristalsis (the strength, amplitude and duration of movements of the intestinal walls) → Fecal masses begin to move → The intestine tends to push them out faster due to increasing contractions of the muscle structure → A person develops irresistible desire to defecate → Defecation

The consistency of stool does not change. They come out as a normally designed, ordinary chair. The digestion process is not affected. The absorption of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract and their absorption into the blood occurs unhindered, that is, they are not excreted from the body. Therefore, the drug is considered gentle.

Increased peristalsis pushes out not only feces, but also everything that accumulates on the intestinal walls. So the drug also has a cleansing effect.

Knowing how Senade works, its laxative properties can be used for weight loss.

Let's debunk myths. There is no need to delude yourself that Senade also has diuretic properties. Exclusively laxatives - and nothing more. There is no effect on the level of water-salt balance, excess fluid is not removed from the tissues, swelling will not go away after taking it.

What kind of pills are there for constipation?

All medications for constipation are divided according to the nature of their effect on the intestines. Senade is an irritating laxative that stimulates intestinal motility. It is believed that the irritant anti-constipation remedy is one of the most effective among similar medications. In addition, such drugs are safe for the body if not taken on an ongoing basis, as this can lead to “lazy gut” syndrome. The strong laxative effect of these drugs occurs due to chemical irritation of the receptors of the large intestine, resulting in emptying (8-10 hours after taking the drug). Irritant laxatives stimulate natural intestinal motility, as if restarting its normal activity.

Also among the classes of laxatives are osmotics, prebiotics and fillers:

Osmotic agents retain fluid in the intestinal lumen, which helps to increase the volume of stool and soften it. Also, these drugs attract water from blood plasma and adipose tissue, resulting in the formation of osmotic pressure and the intestines emptying. Such drugs do not cause addiction and weaken muscle tone, so they can be taken for a long time, but they do not treat constipation, but have a symptomatic effect.
Prebiotics are slow-acting laxatives. These drugs are complex carbohydrates and natural dietary fibers that cannot be digested in the upper gastrointestinal tract and enter the intestines unchanged. Such tablets for constipation have several actions at once - they provoke the growth of beneficial microflora, have a mild stimulating effect on the intestinal muscles due to weak osmotic and mild irritant effects.
Intestinal bulking agents reach the colon undigested, where they swell to absorb water, thereby increasing the volume of stool. The intestinal walls stretch, and defecation occurs due to reflex muscle contraction. Therefore, with a sluggish intestine, they are completely ineffective.

Indications

When deciding to lose weight in such an unusual way, you should know what it helps with and in what situations the drug is prescribed.

Official indications for use of Senade, prescribed in the instructions:

stool disorders, in particular constipation;
weak peristalsis and hypotension of the colon;
heaviness in the stomach;
haemorrhoids;
proctitis (inflammation of the rectum or sigmoid colon), paraproctitis (chronic form);
anal fissures of various origins;
preparation for ultrasound, x-ray or endoscopic examination of the abdominal organs, which require gastric emptying.

The drug is not effective for all constipation. It is prescribed only in cases where difficulties with stool are caused by the following factors (in addition to sluggish peristalsis):

sedentary work;
low physical activity (or lack thereof);
stressful situation;
lack of fluid;
climate change;
poor nutrition (the predominance of foods that cause constipation in the menu: baked goods, rice, pasta, potatoes);
excess weight

Knowing what the drug is for, it is easier to decide whether it is right for you or not.

Useful video

For information about laxatives and side effects with long-term use, watch this video:

Benefits for weight loss

The medicine is often used for weight loss. How justified is this? There is only one recommendation for prescription related to extra pounds - constipation caused by physical inactivity and excess body weight. If there is no such problem, it is not advisable to take the drug for weight loss.

Although Senade has a certain effect as a means of losing weight due to:

removing accumulated feces from the colon;
cleansing the body of the rest of the garbage present there.

What you shouldn’t count on when taking Senade for weight loss:

the drug does not speed up or improve digestion;
does not interfere with the absorption of food (all carbohydrates and fats eaten will be digested according to the general scheme, enter the blood, increase sugar, and be deposited on the sides), and will not be immediately excreted unprocessed;
does not trigger lipolysis, does not accelerate fat burning;
does not remove excess fluid and does not relieve swelling.

How to benefit from pills for weight loss:

take to cleanse the intestines 1-2 days before the diet;
further - drink no more than 2 times a week;
use after unplanned overeating (after a buffet table, a holiday);
Limit your daily caloric intake and go in for sports.

When losing weight, you should learn that you cannot take Senade on a regular basis, every day. This will cause unpleasant side effects, addiction and cause irreparable harm to the body. Self-administration is highly undesirable if there are no recommendations from a nutritionist or gastroenterologist.

Relief from constipation - proper nutrition

At any age, the problem of constipation is easier to prevent than to treat. Proper nutrition and inclusion of foods that are healthy for digestion in your diet will help normalize intestinal function and the state of microflora. You need to eat more vegetables and fruits, cereals, as they contain a lot of fiber and complex carbohydrates, which help increase intestinal motility. For snacks for the same reasons, it is ideal to choose dried fruits and nuts.

Depending on the type of constipation, doctors may prescribe a special diet, but a universal dish for better bowel movements is considered to be “grater” salad, for the preparation of which you need to take 1 part of grated carrots and beets for 3 parts of shredded white cabbage. It is better not to add salt and spices to this salad, but you can sprinkle the vegetables with lemon juice and olive oil. All cabbage dishes of any variety help normalize intestinal function. At the same time, it is desirable to reduce the fat content of all dishes and products as much as possible.

Contraindications

Hay glycosides are quite powerful active substances that, under certain conditions, can cause harm to the body. Therefore, the list of diseases and conditions for which it cannot be taken is quite impressive. Official absolute contraindications prescribed in the instructions:

strangulated hernia;
peritonitis, any other inflammation in the abdominal cavity (nonspecific ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, granulomatous enteritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis);
intestinal obstruction (obstruction);
inflammation of the bladder and ureters;
spastic constipation due to high rectal tone;
water-electrolyte imbalance;
acute abdominal syndrome - pain of unknown origin in the epigastric region;
internal bleeding: uterine, gastrointestinal;
age up to 6 years;
individual intolerance to components (most often lactose).

Experts warn that the list of contraindications specified in the instructions should be expanded and supplemented with oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of mechanical obstacles to the movement of contents in the intestines and fever.

Separately prescribed cases require careful use of the drug, the so-called relative contraindications:

kidney diseases;
failure of the liver;
rehabilitation period after abdominal surgery;
pregnancy;
lactation.

In all these cases, mandatory permission from a specialist to take the drug and constant medical supervision are required. It is prohibited to take Senade if you have these diseases and conditions.

Menstruation and age after 60 years are also not the best periods for taking laxatives, especially for weight loss. Despite the fact that they are not indicated in the instructions, it is better for women not to ignore them.

Symptoms and treatment of overdose

Accidentally exceeding the recommended amount of Senade can provoke diarrhea, complicated by dehydration. First aid is to increase fluid intake to replenish losses of water and electrolytes. In difficult cases, the patient needs hospitalization and rehabilitation measures.

If signs of overdose appear (dyspeptic disorders, severe dryness of the oral mucosa, cephalgia), the patient should contact the local clinic. When visiting a therapist, he needs to describe in detail the problems that have arisen and receive a scheme for restoring water and electrolyte balance.

Side effects

When planning to lose weight, it is worth keeping in mind the side effects of Senade. They can significantly complicate life, causing many unpleasant moments.

The instructions warn that side effects are possible from various systems and organs.

Gastrointestinal tract:

flatulence, bloating;
colic;
discomfort, pain in the epigastric region;
gagging;
atony of the colon;
nausea;
loose, frequent stools;
melanosis of the colon;
indigestion.

Urinary system:

colorless urine;
presence of blood in the urine;
protein in the urine due to kidney dysfunction.

CNS:

convulsions;
asthenia, increased fatigue, decreased performance, chronic fatigue syndrome;
confusion.

SSS:

heart failure due to cardiovascular collapse;
decreased blood pressure;
tachycardia.

And:

water-electrolyte imbalance;
allergic reactions in the form of skin rash;
osteomalacia;
dehydration.

Side effects most often occur due to long-term use of the drug - for several days, as well as due to an increase in the recommended dose. This happens especially often when losing weight. On the first day of use, it is possible to immediately reduce weight by 1-1.5 kg. This result is pleasing, and it seems that tomorrow and the day after tomorrow will be the same. But the intestines are cleared of everything unnecessary at one time, and in the following days nothing happens except a malfunction of many systems and organs.

Overdose

Uncontrolled use of Senade leads to uncontrolled diarrhea, which causes dehydration. Accompanying symptoms:

dizziness;
nausea;
gagging;
weakness, drowsiness, complete loss of strength;
muscle cramps;
pressure drop to critical levels;
fainting.

If you suspect an overdose, you need to lie down and drink as much fluid as possible to restore your water and electrolyte balance. The ideal option is mineral water. If conservative measures are ineffective, if the condition worsens, an ambulance is called for intravenous infusion of plasma substitutes.

As practice shows, an overdose of Senade is most often the fate of those who use the medicine on their own, without prescriptions or recommendations from a doctor, for the purpose of losing weight.

General information about constipation

Constipation is a disorder in the functioning of the large intestine, leading to difficulty emptying it. If feces become dry and hard, are excreted in small quantities, a person experiences a feeling of incomplete emptying, and bowel movements have not occurred for more than three days, then we can talk about the presence of constipation. Even one of the above symptoms allows one to make such a diagnosis, although, as a rule, all the characteristic signs are present at once. Medicine identifies constipation as a separate independent disease, but quite often it is a symptom of other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

How to use

For medical reasons

The instructions for use will tell you in detail how to take Senade, according to medical indications:

method of administration: oral;
drink in the evening, just before bed, so that the drug cleanses the intestines overnight and gets rid of everything unnecessary in the morning;
duration of action - from 8 to 10 hours;
1 time per day;
You can drink it not only with water, but also with any other drink, the volume is at least ½ glass;
dosage - 1 tablet per day, can be increased to 2-3 pieces. in the absence of effect.

If the use of Senade in maximum dosages (for 3 days, 3 tablets per day) turns out to be ineffective, you should consult a physician or gastroenterologist.

For weight loss

For weight loss, taking Senade will differ from the main instructions for medical reasons.

Day 1

2 days before the diet, take the drug in the evening before bed. If you have problems with stool or the last cleansing of the body was carried out more than six months ago, take 2 tablets (if there are no contraindications). If there is no constipation and the detoxification procedure is carried out regularly, 1 tablet is enough. Drink a glass of kefir. After this, eat nothing and go to bed.

Day 2

The next day, in the morning, have a bowel movement according to your urges. Arrange a fasting day: on kefir, buckwheat, juices, water.

Day 3

In the morning, do a cleansing enema and start a diet combined with exercise.

Days 4 and 5

No cleansing procedures. It is advisable to include healthy fiber in the diet for normal intestinal functioning (for example, bran).

Day 6

Before going to bed, take Senade according to the same conditions as the first time. But the next day it is no longer necessary to arrange a fasting day (optional). You can just continue to follow the diet.

The laxative should be taken at this frequency throughout the entire weight loss process. If you get the impression that it is not working (there is no particular desire to have a bowel movement in the morning, there is too little stool), you can cautiously increase the dosage to 3 tablets, carefully monitoring your well-being.

Attention! It is strictly forbidden to take Senade several times a day or several days in a row. This is fraught with serious health complications.

Instructions for use

Adults and adolescents over 12 years of age should start Senada with 1 tablet at bedtime or 30 minutes before meals with at least 1/2 cup of liquid.

Take daily for three days.

If you do not have a bowel movement within three days after taking Senade, you should also add half a tablet for three days.

According to this scheme, in the absence of stool, the dose of Senade can be increased to three tablets per day, but no more.

If constipation does not improve after taking the maximum dose, it is recommended to consult a doctor for a health check. Senade is not recommended for use for two or more weeks in a row due to possible side effects.

Reception during pregnancy and lactation, in children

Due to the spastic contraction of the intestinal walls under the influence of Senade, it is not advisable to take it to stimulate stool during pregnancy.

If Senade is still prescribed, the tablet should be taken with plenty of liquid to soften the stool and require less pressure.

In this case, the duration of constipation should not be more than 2 days. If you are breastfeeding, you should avoid taking Senade as anthraquinone is excreted in breast milk and may cause diarrhea in infants.

From the age of six, Senada is allowed. The initial dose is ½ tablet, preferably in the evening before bedtime, with a glass of water. If there is no effect within one day, you can add another half dose at night.

The maximum permissible dose is two tablets per day. If there is no laxative effect after taking this dose, consult your pediatrician. For children twelve years of age and older, the prescription regimen for Senade corresponds to the instructions for adults.

Its use is not recommended for children under 6 years of age.

Admission in old age

In patients of this age group, constipation is often caused by functional disorders caused by low physical activity, insufficient fluid and fiber intake. The intestinal wall relaxes and becomes atonic.

Due to the fact that Senade is practically not absorbed into the blood, no dose adjustment is required for older people.

Taking Senade for impaired renal and liver function

When using Senade in this category of patients, due to the risk of electrolyte and water imbalance, caution should be exercised and the concentration of potassium, creatinine, urea, sodium, ALT, and AST in the blood should be monitored.

Additional recommendations

For weight loss

In order for Senade to contribute to rapid weight loss, it is necessary to create certain conditions for this.

Limit your daily calorie intake.
Play sports, increase physical activity.
Drink at least 2 liters of water per day. Give 2 glasses of this volume for mineral water.
Eat fiber. Bran will be especially useful.
Before going to bed, regardless of whether you take pills that day or skip a dose, drink a glass of low-fat kefir to normalize the intestinal microflora.
It is not recommended to take weight loss medications containing senna at the same time as Senade.
If a breakdown occurs (you ate too much at night and were forced to go on a holiday), take the drug the next day in the evening and arrange an unscheduled fasting on kefir or buckwheat.
Monitor any changes in your health.

It is important to know and remember how long it takes for Senade to take effect. If you take it in the morning and then in the late afternoon, you may get a stomach ache at any time, since the interval is 8-10 hours. It’s good if this day is a day off and you don’t need to go anywhere. Then you can take the pill after waking up. It is completely inadvisable to use it in the afternoon - a sleepless night is guaranteed.

special instructions

Not compatible with:

cardiac glycosides;
antiarrhythmic drugs;
glucocorticoids;
thiazide diuretics;
licorice.

Concomitant use with these drugs may lead to hypokalemia or hypoeplyemia.

Sold in pharmacies, available without a prescription.

Stored in a place away from humidity and sunlight, at a temperature not exceeding 30 °C, for no more than 3 years.

Do not be alarmed if your urine turns red-purple or yellow-brown - this is a normal reaction to sennosides.

Special instructions and precautions

While taking Senade tablets, your urine may change color. The plant components of the drug give it a yellowish-brown tint. This property does not pose a danger to the body and does not require discontinuation of the drug.

Mineral deficiency due to laxative use often causes decreased concentration. Therefore, for the entire period of treatment, it is better to refrain from driving and work that requires increased concentration. Similar restrictions apply to alcoholic beverages.

Senade can be addictive, forming the so-called lazy bowel syndrome. In this case, there is a sharp decrease in the effectiveness of the drug, which requires a constant increase in its dosage. If after the end of therapy the stool does not return to normal, you should contact a specialist again to identify the exact cause of the defecation disorder. Quite often, doctors decide to continue the course of therapy. However, in this case, it is recommended to combine Senade tablets with other drugs with a similar effect.