Abstract: The subject invention involves pharmaceutical compositions in dosage unit form, for peroral administration of bisacodyl to a human or lower animal having a gastrointestinal tract, with a lumen therethrough, with a small intestine and a colon with a junction therebetween, comprising:(a) a safe and effective amount of rapidly-dissolving bisacodyl means; and(b) a delivery means which prevents the release of bisacodyl from the dosage form into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract during transport of the dosage form through the lumen until the dosage form is near the junction between the small intestine and the colon or in the colon, and which then releases the bisacodyl in the lumen near the junction between the small intestine and the colon or within the colon,The subject invention also involves methods for providing laxation for humans and lower animals in need thereof by peroral administration of such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition in a unit dosage form for peroral administration in a human or lower animal, having a gastrointestinal tract comprising a small intestine and a colon with a lumen therethrough having an inlet to the colon from the small intestine, comprising:a. a safe and effective amount of rapidly dissolving bisacodyl incorporated into or coated on the surface of a dosage form selected from the group consisting of a spherical substrate, an elliptical substrate, a hard capsule, or a compressed tablet, with a maximum diameter of about 3 mm to about 10 mm; andb. an enteric polymer coating material comprising at least one inner coating layer and one outer coating layer;wherein the dosage form has a smooth surface free from edges or sharp curves; the elliptical substrate and the hard capsule have a ratio of the long to short diameters of no greater than about 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition in a unit dosage form for peroral administration in a human or lower animal, having a gastrointestinal tract comprising a small intestine and a colon with a lumen therethrough having an inlet to the colon from the small intestine, comprising:a. a safe and effective amount of rapidly dissolving bisacodyl incorporated into or coated on the surface of a dosage form selected from the group consisting of a spherical substrate, an elliptical substrate, a hard capsule, or a compressed tablet, with a maximum diameter of about 3 mm to about 10 mm; andb. an enteric polymer coating material;wherein the dosage form has a smooth surface free from edges or sharp curves; the elliptical substrate and the hard capsule have a ratio of the long to short diameters of no greater than about 1.