Repositioning Candidate Details
| Candidate ID: | R1331 |
| Source ID: | DB11089 |
| Source Type: | approved |
| Compound Type: | small molecule |
| Compound Name: | Docusate |
| Synonyms: | Dioctyl sulfosuccinate; Docusate hydrogen |
| Molecular Formula: | C20H38O7S |
| SMILES: | CCCCC(CC)COC(=O)CC(C(=O)OCC(CC)CCCC)S(O)(=O)=O |
| Structure: |
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| DrugBank Description: | Docusate, or dioctyl sulfosuccinate, is a stool softener indicated for the treatment of constipation. Docusate acts by increasing the amount of water the stool absorbs in the gut, making the stool softer and easier to pass . Docusate can be orally or rectally administered. Docusate is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. However the effectiveness of docusate in treating constipation remains unclear, as several studies report docusate to be no more effective than placebo for increasing the frequency of stool or stool softening . Recently there has been pressure to stop prescribing docusate as it has been identified as an ineffective medicine. Additionally, it does not appear to lessen symptoms associated with constipation such as abdominal cramps. Still docusate is available in over-the-counter products as a common laxative. |
| CAS Number: | 10041-19-7 |
| Molecular Weight: | 422.577 |
| DrugBank Indication: | Indicated for the treatment of constipation associated with dry, hard stools or opioid induced constipation. Though recently, pressure has been building to end the use of docusate over concerns of efficacy. |
| DrugBank Pharmacology: | Docusate sodium is a laxative and an anionic detergent that supposedly promotes incorporation of water and fats into stool through a reduction in surface tension, resulting in softer fecal mass . Docusate's onset of action is 6-72 hours orally and 2-15 minutes rectally . The effects of docusate are thought to be exerted locally in the jejunum. |
| DrugBank MoA: | Recent studies suggest that docusate's mechanism of action is due largely to it's surfactant effect in the intestines, which allow fat and water into the feces to soften the stool. Docusate’s mechanism of action was investigated in 1985 on healthy patients. Docusate was added directly to the jejunum based on calculated concentrations of docusate in the jejunum. At this concentration, there was an increase in secretion of water, sodium, chloride, and potassium as well as a decrease in absorption of glucose and bicarbonate. Based on in vitro data, the authors suggested this effect was due to an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP either directly through docusate or E series prostaglandins. |
| Targets: | -- |
| Inclusion Criteria: | Indication associated |
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