Medication Safety Tips
Featured Resources
About UsReporting Medication ErrorsContact Us
Brought to you by
Left Chevron
Back
Left Chevron
Reporting a Medication Error

Hidden Pork Content in Colace Capsules

Published April 1, 2025

Did you know that some medicines have ingredients that come from pigs? For example, the stool softener Colace (docusate sodium) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine that comes as a gelatin capsule. The gelatin used in Colace capsules is made from pork products. A nurse reported that a Muslim patient had taken multiple doses of Colace without realizing they contained pork. Unfortunately, the container and product labeling do not mention that the medicine contains pork. People with food allergies or sensitivities, or those who want to avoid animal products for religious, cultural, or dietary reasons, need to know all of the ingredients in their medicines.

Here's what you can do: If you have concerns about the ingredients in a prescription or OTC medicine, ask your pharmacist or try contacting the company for more information.

‍

More Safety Articles

Don’t Confuse a Product Called WartSTICK with Lip Balm!

Many people are familiar with over-the-counter wart treatments. They're typically liquid based or are packaged in an aerosol container with a special application tip. But did you know there is also a wart remover that uses a dry formulation in the form of a stick? Within the last year a company called Balassa Laboratories has repackaged an old formula of a solid stick wart remover (previously packaged under the name PediFix). The newly packaged product, called WartSTICK, is now available at popular chain drugstores such as CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens on-line. Our concern? It looks identical to a container of lip balm. The active ingredient in WartSTICK is salicylic acid, which should NEVER come in contact with the lips or mucous membranes inside your mouth.

Learn More

Safer Choices for Pain Control After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Are you (or is someone you know) scheduled to have wisdom teeth removed? Pain after wisdom teeth removal is common, so dentists and oral surgeons may prescribe strong medicines that combine a common non-opioid pain medicine (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin) with a stronger opioid pain medicine (such as codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone). Examples of such combination medicines are Lorcet Plus, Vicodin ES, Norco, Endocet, and Percocet, or generic equivalents of them. Opioids are effective in treating pain, but even short-term prescriptions can lead to dependence or addiction.

Learn More

Steps Parents Can Take to Help Their Child Safely Get Their Medicines at Camp

Learn More

Don't Reconnect the Tubes

When you visit someone in the hospital, you may be amazed to see how many tubes are connected to them. Sometimes one of these tubes becomes disconnected. But don't try to be helpful and reattach the tube. You could connect it to the wrong thing and cause serious harm.

Learn More