Description

Lactulose Oral Solution – 500ml draws water into the bowel, making the stool softer and easier to pass. It is generally used to treat constipation (difficulty pooing).

There two types of Lactulose Laxative available, a generic version simply called Lactulose and a branded version called Duphalac. Each is available on prescription and can be bought from pharmacies.

Lactulose Laxative tastes sweet and can be off-putting to certain people. To avoid this it can be diluted with water or fruit juice.

Click here to be redirected to the NHS website for more information about Lactulose.

Lactulose Oral Solution BNF

The Following are cautions and guidance’s from the British national formulary on Lactulose Oral Solution BNF. Lactulose Oral Solution BNF states that Lactulose laxative:

• Can cause electrolyte imbalance due to diarrhoea side effect
• Not known to be harmful during pregnancy
• People can have a lactulose oral solution bnf intolerance

Lactulose Ingredients

The following are Lactulose ingredients and what is contained within Lactulose Laxative –

• The active Lactulose Ingredients is one substance called Lactulose. Each 5ml of Lactulose Laxative contain 3.335g of lactulose.
• This product does not contain any more Lactulose Ingredients. It may however contain sugar from the manufacturing process. These can include –
  • Lactose
  • Galactose
  • Fructose

Lactulose Dose

Your lactulose dose can go up or down, depending on how well you are responding to the medicine.

For the treatment of constipation, the following Lactulose dose is recommended –

• Adults
  • Starting lactulose dose is usually 15ml taken twice a day
• Children aged five to seventeen years
  • Usual lactulose dose is 5ml to 20ml twice a day
• Children aged one to four years
  • Usual dose is 2.5ml to 10ml twice a day
• Babies ages one to eleven months
  • Usual dose is 2.5ml twice a day

What Is Lactulose Oral Solution Used For?

What is Lactulose oral solution used for? As well as being used as a laxative to help with constipation, Lactulose oral solution can be used to treat a brain problem called portal-systemic encephalopathy.

When used to treat or prevent portal-systemic encephalopathy (a complication of severe liver disease) it draws ammonia from the blood into the large intestine and is then removed by the large intestine through stool.

If you have any more questions regarding what is lactulose oral solution used for, please ask your doctor/pharmacist or refer to the lactulose oral solution patient information leaflet.