Question

What electrolyte do you want to watch with bisacodyl use? Why?

Answer 1

Stimulant laxatives ,such as bisacodyl,are the laxatives most likely to cause GI irritation or fluid and electrolyte loss.Geriatric patients may be more susceptible to hypokalemia  

Laxatives can cause a loss of potassium in stool,it's worse if they cause diarrhoea.Potassium plays a key role in maintaining normal cell function.potassium is a main intracellular cation and almost all cells have the pump called NA-K -ATPase,which pumps sodium [Na] out of the cell and potassium into the cell leading to a potassium gradient across the cell membrane.so patient is experiencing hypokalemia in blood