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Docusate Sodium 50MG Softgel (RED) 50 mg Capsule, Liquid Filled, 100-count — NDC 51316-0651-01 package photo
Label image from the product's FDA listing (DailyMed) — may show a different pack size or an older label revision.

Docusate Sodium 50MG Softgel (RED) 50 mg Capsule, Liquid Filled, 100-count — NDC 51316-651-01 (Billing 51316-0651-01)

by CVS Pharmacy · 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON / 100 CAPSULE, LIQUID FILLED in 1 BOTTLE

This is a package of 100 capsules of Docusate Sodium 50MG Softgel (RED) 50 mg Capsule, Liquid Filled from CVS Pharmacy, marketed since Mar 2025 and currently FDA-listed. It is this product's only package size.

NDC 51316-0651-01
🏷️ FDA NDC (as labeled) 51316-651-01 billing pads the product segment with a zero
OTC On market Non-controlled ⇄ Compare with another NDC
🗂️ FDA directory synced Oct 1, 2026 · this listing last changed Jul 24, 2026 · sources: openFDA · FDA label (DailyMed) · FDA Orange & Purple Book · First Databank · CMS NADAC, ASP, Medicare & Medicaid · RxNorm
📋 All sources & update times →

This page is curated, coded, and maintained by

Compiled from public FDA, CMS, DailyMed, NADAC, and related drug data sources. Editorial policy

Identity & classification

Regulatory identifiers FDA, NLM and CMS codes for this package

FDA NDC (as labeled) 51316-651-01
Product NDC 51316-651
11-digit billing NDC 51316065101
RxCUI 1247759
UNII F05Q2T2JA0
Application # M007
SPL Set ID 273e5b52-1cf9-2525-e063-6394a90a8b4f
DEA schedule Non-controlled
Marketing category OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG
Marketing status On market
FDA listing status Listed (active directory)
Marketing start 2025-03-06
Route ORAL
Dosage form CAPSULE, LIQUID FILLED
Substance DOCUSATE SODIUM
Quick answers
  • RxCUI (RxNorm): 1247759
Why two NDCs? The FDA registers this code as 51316-651-01 — a 5-3-2 layout, and that's what's printed on the package and shown on DailyMed. For insurance claims, every NDC is standardized to a uniform 11-digit 5-4-2 format by adding a zero to the product segment → 51316-0651-01. Same drug, same package — only the format differs.
Where does this data come from?
Identifiers from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Structured Product Labeling; RxCUI from RxNorm (NLM); GPI from Medi-Span; GCN / HIC / AHFS / legend from First Databank.

RxNorm drug class

This medicine belongs to the Softeners, emollients class.

Drug family (ATC) Softeners, emollients
Where does this data come from?
Therapeutic classes from RxNorm RxClass (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — Established Pharmacologic Class (FDA), ATC drug family (WHO) and mechanism of action, matched by this product’s RxCUI.

Clinical

🧪 What is this product?

This is an over-the-counter oral softgel capsule containing docusate sodium, a stool softener. Docusate sodium is typically used to help ease bowel movements and relieve occasional constipation by softening stool. It works as a surfactant that allows water and fats to mix into the stool, making it easier to pass. This product is marketed under the FDA's OTC monograph rules for its category.

Where does this data come from?
Plain-language summary from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine); supplement & herbal interactions and nutrient depletion data from the Natural Medicines database; our full guide is HelloPharmacist editorial content.

Pricing

A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.

Price systemPer mLPer package
Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs.
Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data.
Medicare drug plans payPart D · quarterly No Part D plan price is available for this NDC in our data.
ℹ️
No price is published for this exact package yet. CMS surveys NADAC per package size, so a different pack of the same drug often has one.
Where does this data come from?
NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) is the CMS weekly pharmacy-acquisition-cost survey — what pharmacies pay. ASP (Average Sales Price) is the CMS Medicare Part B drug-payment file, published quarterly. Medicaid pays is computed by us from CMS State Drug Utilization Data (total reimbursed ÷ units, trailing 12 months) — gross of rebates and inclusive of dispensing fees, so it reflects what Medicaid paid, not an acquisition cost. Medicare drug plans pay is the median negotiated point-of-sale unit cost across plans listing this NDC in the CMS quarterly Prescription Drug Plan pricing files, before rebates. The VA pays is the federal contract price (FSS, and the statutory Big 4 ceiling where listed) from the VA National Acquisition Center pharmaceutical price file. All are free public government data; each measures a different payer, so the figures are not directly comparable.

Packaging — all sizes for this product

Package NDCDescription Marketing startMarketing endStatus
51316-0651-01 You're viewing this Main listing 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON / 100 CAPSULE, LIQUID FILLED in 1 BOTTLE 2025-03-06 — Active

Therapeutic equivalents

ProductLabelerPackNADAC/unitTEStatusPrice vs. this
Colace 50 mg 67618-0111-28 Atlantis 28 capsules $0.256 — Availability likely —
Docusate Sodium 50Mg Softgel (Red) 50 mgthis 51316-0651-01 CVS 100 capsules — — FDA listed —
Docusate Sodium softgels 50mg (Dye Free) 50 mg 51316-0652-03 CVS 30 capsules — — FDA listed —
Docusate Sodium 50 Mg 53345-0015-01 Humanwell 20000 capsules — — FDA listed —
About this product: other versions of the same ingredient, strength and form are listed above, least expensive first, with FDA equivalence ratings where available.
Where does this data come from?
Equivalents are other NDCs of the same ingredient, form and route from the openFDA NDC Directory, ranked least-expensive-first by NADAC. Therapeutic-equivalence (AB) ratings come from the FDA Orange Book; biologics use the FDA Purple Book for biosimilar & interchangeable status.

Availability & generic status

🏛️
2025
On the market since
Mar 2025
📍
2026
Currently FDA-listed
1 year listed
🔒
·
No generic listed yet
brand only
ℹ️No FDA-approved generic found

We did not find an FDA-approved generic match for this exact strength, form and route.

Where does this data come from?
Patents and exclusivity from the FDA Orange Book (small-molecule drugs), refreshed from public FDA data. Generic launch timing is an estimate, not a guarantee.

What it looks like

Color red
ShapeOval
Imprint164
Size9 mm
ScoringNot scored
One label can cover several strengths, so colors may be combined — always confirm a loose pill against the dispensed prescription label or a pharmacist.
Where does this data come from?
Physical description (imprint, shape, color, scoring, coating) from this product’s FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL), mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA.

Inactive Ingredients / Excipients

Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.

💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.

  • UNII 9DBA0SBB0L
    A synthetic red dye derived from coal tar used as a colorant in medicines and cosmetics. It gives tablets, capsules, and liquids their red or pink appearance for identification and visual appeal.
  • UNII H3R47K3TBD
    FD&C Blue No. 1 is a synthetic blue dye approved for use in foods and medicines. It serves as a colorant to give the medication its distinctive appearance and help with product identification.
  • UNII WZB9127XOA
    A synthetic red dye used to color medications and make them easier to identify. It serves as a colorant in tablets, capsules, and liquid formulations.
  • UNII H77VEI93A8
    A synthetic yellow dye used to color medications. It helps identify the drug and make it visually distinctive, with no effect on how the medicine works.
  • UNII 2G86QN327L
    Gelatin is a protein derived from animal collagen, commonly used in medicines as a gelling agent and capsule material. It helps create soft or hard capsule shells that hold and release medication, and can also thicken liquid formulations.
  • UNII PDC6A3C0OX
    Glycerin is a clear, thick liquid derived from plant oils or fats. It acts as a humectant to retain moisture, a sweetener, and a solvent in medications.
  • UNII 9E0S3UM200
    A sugar alcohol solution derived from glucose that stays liquid without forming crystals. It functions as a sweetener, humectant (moisture-retaining agent), and solvent in liquid medications and syrups.
  • UNII 3WJQ0SDW1A
    Polyethylene glycol is a synthetic liquid or solid polymer used in medicines as a solvent, lubricant, and humectant. It helps dissolve active ingredients, reduces friction during manufacturing, and retains moisture in the final product.
  • UNII 6DC9Q167V3
    Propylene glycol is a clear liquid derived from petroleum or vegetable sources. It acts as a solvent, humectant, and preservative in medicines, helping dissolve active ingredients and maintain product stability.
  • UNII 46N107B71O
    Shellac is a natural resin secreted by the lac beetle. It's used as a coating on tablets and capsules to control how quickly the medicine dissolves and to improve appearance and stability.
  • UNII 15FIX9V2JP
    Titanium dioxide is a bright white mineral powder commonly used as a colorant and opacifying agent. It makes pills and tablets white or lighter in color and helps make coatings non-transparent.
  • UNII 059QF0KO0R
    Water is a liquid solvent that dissolves and mixes ingredients together in liquid medicines, syrups, and injections. It helps distribute the active drug evenly throughout the product.

12 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.

The official label also statesInactive ingredients D&C red 33, FD&C blue 1, FD&C red no. 40, FD&C yellow no. 6, gelatin, glycerin, noncrystallizing sorbitol solution, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, purified water, shellac, titanium dioxide

Label-section wording can be broader than the structured product block and may mention additional formulation ingredients.

Where does this data come from?
Data sourced from official FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL) via DailyMed — ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.

Inactive ingredient FAQ

Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
No. Inactive ingredients can differ by manufacturer, dosage form, strength, and package / product version.
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Some SPLs do not provide a complete structured inactive-ingredient list, and older or unusual labels may only include the information in narrative text.
Can inactive ingredients matter?
Yes. They can matter for allergies, intolerances, dyes, gluten / lactose concerns, preservatives, and formulation differences — but confirm with a pharmacist or the manufacturer when it’s clinically important.

Manufacturer & labeler

LabelerCVS Pharmacy
FDA applicationM007 (OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG)
Labeler code51316
First marketedMar 2025
Product typeHuman Otc Drug
Portfolio550 products on file
The labeler markets the product; the application holder owns the FDA approval. They’re often the same company but can differ (e.g. a repackager or an authorized generic). A mailing address / phone appears here when the manufacturer includes it in the product’s FDA label (not all do).
Where does this data come from?
Labeler, application holder and registered establishment from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Drugs@FDA; address/contact from the product’s FDA label.

FDA label — Drug Facts FDA SPL

The complete FDA label for this product — the official Drug Facts labeling, verbatim, section by section. Jump with a chip, search within the label, or expand everything.
🎯 Indications and Usage ⏱️ Dosage and Administration ⚠️ Warnings 🧪 Active Ingredient 🧪 Inactive Ingredients 🎯 Purpose
🎯 Indications and Usage 14 words ▾

Uses relieves occasional constipation (irregularity) generally produces bowel movement in 12 to 72 hours

⏱️ Dosage and Administration 48 words ▾

Directions Take only by mouth. Doses may be taken as a single daily dose or in divided doses adults and children 12 years and over take 1-6 softgels daily children 2 to under 12 years of age take 1-3 softgels daily children under 2 years ask a doctor

⚠️ Warnings 119 words ▾

Warnings Do not use if you are presently taking mineral oil, unless told to do so by a doctor Ask a doctor before use if you have stomach pain nausea vomiting noticed a sudden change in bowel habits that lasts over 2 weeks Stop use and ask a doctor if you have rectal bleeding or fail to have a bowel movement after use of a laxative. These could be signs of a serious condition. you need to use a stool softener laxative for more than 1 week If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. Keep out of reach of children.

In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away (1-800-222-1222).

🧪 Active Ingredient 10 words ▾

Active ingredient (in each softgel) Docusate sodium USP 50 mg

🧪 Inactive Ingredients 30 words ▾

Inactive ingredients D&C red 33, FD&C blue 1, FD&C red no. 40, FD&C yellow no. 6, gelatin, glycerin, noncrystallizing sorbitol solution, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, purified water, shellac, titanium dioxide

🎯 Purpose 3 words ▾

Purpose Stool softener

Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling, mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA. Prefer the government’s original formatting? View this label on DailyMed ↗

Reported adverse events (FAERS)

Read carefully: FAERS reports are voluntary and unverified. Counts are not incidence, do not establish causation, are subject to reporting bias, and cannot be used to compare one drug to another. Shown for signal context only. Reports for DOCUSATE SODIUM 50MG SOFTGEL (RED) (this brand).

Top reported reactions

Nausea1,622
Fatigue1,591
Dyspnoea1,398
Constipation1,225
Diarrhoea1,225
Vomiting1,191
Pain1,170

Age at onset

Neonate10
Infant19
Child23
Adolescent33
Adult1,419
Elderly1,750

Reporter sex

20,325 reports
Male · 43%
Female · 57%
Unknown · 0%

Serious outcomes

Life-threatening1,213
Reports over time (by year) — tap or hover for the count & year
2019 2021 2023 2026 1,734 0
Most recent year is provisional (FAERS lags ~3 months).
Where does this data come from?
Adverse-event reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA. FAERS reports are voluntary and unverified — counts are not incidence and don’t establish causation.

About this NDC listing & data coverage

Over-the-counter (OTC) product
What data is (and isn’t) available for this NDC — tap to expand
NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) ✓ Available
Labeler ✓ Available
Product & package description ✓ Available
Marketing category & status ✓ Available
Active ingredient / dosage form / route ✓ Available
FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) ✓ Available
Package photos ✓ Available
Inactive ingredients (structured) ✓ Available
NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey.
Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data — Not published for this NDC Applies only to products approved under an NDA/ANDA; many listings are out of scope.
HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal.
Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold.
“Not published” reflects what the public FDA / CMS / NLM sources provide for this exact package code — it is a property of the data feeds, not a judgment about the product.

Questions about this listing

Is this NDC FDA-approved?
An NDC listing does not by itself establish FDA approval — the NDC Directory records that a product is listed with FDA, not that it was reviewed and approved. This listing's marketing category is "Otc Monograph Drug". Products approved under an application carry an NDA, ANDA, or BLA number.
Why is there no price listed?
The pricing shown on our NDC pages comes from CMS NADAC, a voluntary survey of retail community pharmacy invoices. CMS does not publish a NADAC for every NDC — packages outside the retail survey (institutional and hospital products, bulk packages, discontinued items, and many OTC items) may never receive one. A missing price reflects the survey's scope, not this product's actual cost, and does not mean the product is free or unavailable.
Is the NDC printed on the package the same as the 11-digit billing NDC?
Yes, they identify this exact package in different formats. The form printed on the packaging and shown on DailyMed is the one the FDA registered. Insurance claims use a fixed 11-digit 5-4-2 format, so the short segment is padded with a leading zero and the dashes are dropped. The Identity section at the top of this page lists each form of this code.
Is this package still being marketed?
Yes, per the latest FDA NDC Directory data on this page: this package is listed as actively marketed, with no marketing end date reported by CVS Pharmacy. Listing status can change — the directory data on this page refreshes weekly.
Who lists this product with the FDA?
CVS Pharmacy is the labeler of record for this NDC — the company under whose FDA-assigned code the package is listed. The labeler may be the manufacturer itself or a distributor marketing the product under its own code.
Do I need a prescription for this product?
This NDC is listed with FDA as an over-the-counter product, so it does not require a prescription. Follow the package directions, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure whether it is right for you.
This page identifies an FDA-listed package (the NDC) and reports public regulatory and pricing data about the listing. It is reference information, not a medical recommendation — talk to your pharmacist or prescriber about your own medication.
Where does this data come from?
Listing facts (marketing category, packager status, marketing dates) from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory; label availability from DailyMed; pricing coverage from CMS NADAC; equivalence scope from the FDA Orange Book.
← 51316-0650-04 · CVS 51316-0652-03 · CVS →
For educational and professional reference only — not medical advice. Pricing reflects published NADAC and CMS ASP (free public data) and may differ from your acquisition cost; always verify before billing or dispensing.