All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. The patient may need to consult the doctor or pharmacist, if he/she notices any side effects.
The side effects listed as follows are classified by body system according to their incidence (common or uncommon). Common side effects have an incidence of ≥1% and uncommon effects have an incidence of <1%.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Common: Abdominal pain. Uncommon: Feces discolored, nausea, rectal hemorrhage, vomiting, diarrhea.
Immune System Disorders: Uncommon: Urticaria, anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction, hypersensitivity.
Renal and Urinary Disorders: Uncommon: Chromaturia.
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: Uncommon: Breast milk discoloration.
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Uncommon: Erythematous rash, maculo-papular rash, perianal irritation, pruritus.
Due to the presence of chrysophanic acid in natural senna, sennoside-containing laxatives may cause discoloration of breast milk, urine, or feces. There is no pathologic significance to this discoloration. Urine discoloration (chromaturia), if present, may interfere with the interpretation of laboratory tests.
Reversible pigmentation of the colon, i.e., melanosis coli, may also result from prolonged use of senna containing preparations.