Dulcolax Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If you take Dulcolax (bisacodyl) regularly or need it for a colonoscopy prep, you may have heard rumors about shortages. This article gives you the most current picture of Dulcolax availability in 2026, explains what's causing any supply issues, and tells you exactly what you can do if you can't find it.

Is Dulcolax in Shortage Right Now (2026)?

Here's the current picture for each Dulcolax formulation:

Dulcolax tablets (bisacodyl 5 mg): Widely available. Not listed on the FDA or ASHP drug shortage databases. Available at most pharmacies, grocery stores, and online retailers.

Bisacodyl suppositories (10 mg): Intermittent spot shortages at chain pharmacies. Independent pharmacies and online retailers often have better stock. Some areas are more affected than others.

Dulcolax for colonoscopy prep kits: Generally available when ordered through specialty pharmacy or hospital pharmacy channels, but may not always be on retail shelves.

What Happened in 2023: The Laxative Demand Surge

The roots of current availability challenges trace back to 2023. Sanofi, the manufacturer of Dulcolax, publicly stated it experienced 'unprecedented demand' for Dulcolax products. Multiple factors drove this surge:

Social media trends promoting laxatives for weight loss attracted new, often misguided users.

Increasing GLP-1 medication use (like Ozempic) among patients caused constipation as a side effect, driving laxative demand.

An aging U.S. population with naturally higher rates of constipation added to baseline demand.

Why Suppositories Are Harder to Find Than Tablets

Bisacodyl suppositories have a more fragile supply chain than the tablets. G&W Laboratories, a major manufacturer of bisacodyl suppositories, exited the market — reducing the number of manufacturers producing this formulation. With fewer manufacturers, any disruption at a single facility can cause widespread availability gaps at retail pharmacies.

Suppositories are also manufactured differently from tablets, requiring specialized equipment and different raw material sourcing. This makes scaling up production quickly more difficult when demand increases.

Current Shortage Status: A Timeline

2023: Unprecedented demand surge. Sanofi reports temporary retail stockouts across multiple Dulcolax product lines.

2024: Tablet supply largely normalized. Suppository availability remained inconsistent following manufacturer market exit.

2025-2026: Tablets remain widely available. Suppositories continue to show intermittent spot shortages at chain pharmacies in certain regions.

What Patients Should Do Right Now

If you need tablets: Check your local pharmacy — they're almost certainly in stock. If the Dulcolax brand is out, ask for generic bisacodyl 5 mg tablets — it's the same thing.

If you need suppositories: Try independent pharmacies first, then grocery store pharmacies. Ask about special-ordering if stock is unavailable. Check Amazon or Walmart.com.

Use medfinder: medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check availability and texts you results — saving you from driving to empty shelves.

Consider alternatives: Senna tablets are a direct same-class substitute. Milk of Magnesia works faster. Talk to your pharmacist about what's available.

Should I Be Worried About Finding Dulcolax Long-Term?

For tablets — no. Bisacodyl oral tablets have multiple manufacturers and a robust generic market; supply is stable. For suppositories, the situation is more uncertain, and intermittent gaps may continue for some time. If suppositories are an important part of your medical regimen, talk to your provider about a backup plan and keep a small supply on hand. Use medfinder.com to quickly locate stock when you need it.

For more information, see our guide on why Dulcolax is hard to find and our comparison of alternatives to Dulcolax.