# What would happen if you took Kaopectate AND Ex-Lax at the same time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666 "2009-06-22T23:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/1 "2009-06-22T23:49:46Z")
No, I’m NOT going to do this. I happened to be watching an old episode of _Beavis and Butthead_, and at one point, Beavis mentions he once drank an entire bottle of Kaeopectate, because he heard it was for diarrhea. He mistakenly thought it would GIVE him diarrhea, as Ex-Lax would. So, I started thinking: what would be the result if you combined the two? Would they cancel each other out? Enquiring mind wants to know! ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/2 "2009-06-23T01:27:26Z")
I’ve often thought about things like this, except with sleeping pills and No-DOZ stimulants. I would expect that they wouldn’t exactly counteract one another. My money is on the Ex-Lax having a marginally greater effect, therefore giving you a mild case of the trots, but not nearly as bad as they would be without the Kaopectate. Just my conjecture. I haven’t tried this either. Maybe a knowledgeable person will be along shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/3 "2009-06-23T01:54:02Z")
The answer to this question depends on a couple points, first and most important, are you talking about the formulation of these drugs now, or when the _Beavis and Butthead_ episode aired? From a quick search (mainly to find out what the heck was in the respective products), Kaopectate was reformulated in 2004, and Ex-lax was reformulated in 1999. Kaopectate currently contains bismuth subsalicylate (also the active in Pepto-Bismol). The exact Mechanism of Action of how it relieves diarrhea isn’t totally known, but is mostly assumed to be caused by promoting the absorption of fluid from the colon. Ex-Lax currently contains Sennosides, which produce a laxative effect by irritating the colon causing an increase in the peristalsis of the colon. So, their mechanisms of action do not cancel each other out, I don’t know exactly what would happen if you took both, but an educated guess would be extreme cramps caused by trying to pass a hard dry stool. I would not recommend using these two products together, if you really wanted to counteract the action of something that stopped you from going, make sure you take something that actually counteracts what the drug did in your body. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/4 "2009-06-23T02:04:43Z")
Are we talking about old Kaopectate (Kaolin/Pectin) or new Kaopectate (Bismuth Subsalicylate)? Old Kaopectate was basically clay and pectin, both of which absorbed water to produce a firmer stool. They did not prevent water loss, I don’t think. New Kaopectate, well… here’s the drug information: > [@](#): > > Antidiarrheal—Exact mechanism has not been determined. Bismuth subsalicylate may exert its antidiarrheal action not only by stimulating absorption of fluid and electrolytes across the intestinal wall (antisecretory action) but also, when hydrolyzed to salicylic acid, by inhibiting synthesis of a prostaglandin responsible for intestinal inflammation and hypermotility. In addition, bismuth subsalicylate binds toxins produced by Escherichia coli . Both bismuth subsalicylate and the intestinal reaction products, bismuth oxychloride and bismuth hydroxide, are believed to have bactericidal action. Ex-Lax modern formula contains sennosides, extrated from senna, and belongs to the stimulant class of laxatives; it stimulates peristalsis, forcing out feces regardless of “doneness” or consistency. Combined with either of the two antidiarrheals above, you will at best achieve faster expulsion of normal feces. More likely, you’ll experience intestinal pain (and possibly bleeding) as your irritated colon is flogged into propelling and expelling chunks with the consistency of ice-cold butter. ETA: or, y’know, what he said. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/5 "2009-06-23T02:06:34Z")
Whoops ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/6 "2009-06-23T03:10:19Z")
Ex-Lax Wins. Did you not figure someone had already tried it? [Ex-Lax vs. Kaopectate](http://www.zug.com/scrawl/deathmatch/index02.html) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/7 "2009-06-23T03:21:22Z")
> [@statsman1982](#): > > I’ve often thought about things like this, except with sleeping pills and No-DOZ stimulants. I asked [THAT](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=151120) question a while back, inspired by a _Simpsons_ episode, where Homer does just that. The other main reason I asked is because I have a toothache, and my dentist prescribed Vicodin for the pain (which I no longer need, thank god), and Clindamycin. The former can cause constipation, the latter diarrhea. And that made me wonder, what would happen if you took a laxative, and something that would be a cure for diarrhea, or something of that nature, at the same time. (I guess, though, as you said, it would depend on how each worked) ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/8 "2009-06-23T04:01:57Z")
The thread below this one in GQ is: 'Buying High Explosives, a Practical Guide ’ which strikes me as a perfect response. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/9 "2009-06-23T08:47:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Ex-Lax Wins. Did you not figure someone had already tried it? > > [Ex-Lax vs. Kaopectate](http://www.zug.com/scrawl/deathmatch/index02.html) Ha! I knew it! ---
**Author:** ![Scruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Scruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruff)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/10 "2009-06-23T14:33:59Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > The other main reason I asked is because I have a toothache, and my dentist prescribed Vicodin for the pain (which I no longer need, thank god), and Clindamycin. The former can cause constipation, the latter diarrhea. And that made me wonder, what would happen if you took a laxative, and something that would be a cure for diarrhea, or something of that nature, at the same time. Yikes! That must have been one hell of a toothache. Much sympathy. I guess the real issue is: **Never** take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/11 "2009-06-23T15:00:38Z")
Why am I reminded of the old “Immovable Object vs Irresistible Force” concept? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/12 "2009-06-23T15:13:25Z")
So waitaminnut – old-school Kaopectate is no longer available? Is there a competing kaolin-pectin anti-diarrheal product out there? ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/13 "2009-06-23T16:50:43Z")
It’s not precisely the same, but I know numerous people who are taking methadone (which, as an opioid, causes constipation by slowing down intestinal peristalsis, thus giving the intestines more time to pull water from the stool, drying and hardening it). Some of them take saline laxatives like milk of magnesia or Miralax to counteract the constipation; these work by causing more water to be drawn into the colon, softening and loosening the stool. Several of them have told me that the laxative seems to “win” and they always have diarrhea; I asked one of them if she was just taking too much, and she told me she’d thought of that and tried taking less, but that just led to stomach cramps and gas. She preferred to take a larger dose and have a predictable bout of diarrhea a couple hours later rather than deal with the pain from the cramps and gas. I’ve had some interesting conversations, yes sir… ETA: You coud probably simulate this kind of laxative/anti-diarrheal battle by taking some milk of magnesia (or Miralax) and some Immodium, since Immodium’s active ingredient is an opioid. But it doesn’t sound like fun. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/14 "2009-06-23T20:35:40Z")
According to a parody of Monster Mash I once heard, you take a Monster Dump. > [@](#): > > Ex-lax, prunes, > and a slice of whole wheat bread > I ate an ear of corn > Before I went to bed. > A glass of Kaopectate, > and some Metamucil, too. > I pinched another loaf, > And loudly farted too! > It was a DUMP! > It was a MONSTER DUMP! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/15 "2009-06-23T20:46:29Z")
> [@Scruff](#): > > Yikes! That must have been one hell of a toothache. Much sympathy. > > I guess the real issue is: > **Never** take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time. Thanks. The antibiotic seems to be working – I only needed the vicodin the first two days. That and ambusol did the trick. However, it’s scheduled to be yanked out on July first, my birthday. ☹ So I can’t have cake. (For the disgustingly nosy, the um, other end is fine) ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/16 "2009-06-23T22:08:10Z")
After my surgery the doctor recommended taking a stool softener (not a laxative) with every dose of percocet. Worked for me, I didn’t get constipated. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-took-kaopectate-and-ex-lax-at-the-same-time/500666/17 "2009-06-23T22:30:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Exact mechanism has not been determined. I love seeing this on medicinal products. They are coming right out and saying “It works, but we don’t know how.” My grandmother told me once, not in these words, that carbonated beverages can cause restless leg syndrome. And I find empirically that she was right. Exact mechanism has not been determined.