Lactulose: Uses, indications and cautions when using

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Patients with cirrhosis who do not have enough bowel movements a day can progress to hepatic encephalopathy and coma. In addition to the main treatment drugs, patients need to use lactulose to ensure adequate bowel movements and limit hepatic coma. What does lactulose do?

1. What does Lactulose do?

What does lactulose do? Lactulose is used by mouth or rectally to treat and prevent liver-brain complications of certain liver diseases. In essence, Lactulose does not treat liver disease, but it can help patients maintain alertness and avoid hepatic coma.
Lactulose is a solution of artificial sugar, which works to acidify the large intestine environment through the mechanism of reducing the amount of ammonia in the blood.

2. How to use Lactulose?

Lactulose is used by mouth to treat liver disease, patients need to use it regularly 3-4 times a day or as prescribed by a doctor. To improve the taste of Lactulose, the patient can dissolve the drug with juice, water, or milk. The goal of the patient when taking Lactulose is to have soft stools 2-3 times per day. Lactulose dosage is based on the patient's medical condition and response to therapy (i.e. frequency and number of stools per day).
For patients taking oral lactulose for constipation, it should be taken regularly once a day or as directed by a doctor. Lactulose can be administered rectally as an enema in patients with cirrhosis. In this way, the patient should dissolve the recommended amount of lactulose with 700ml of clean water or physiological saline. Then, put the above mixture into the rectum and keep it for about 30-60 minutes as directed by the doctor. If lactulose is kept in the rectum for less than 30 minutes, the patient may repeat the same dose immediately thereafter unless otherwise directed.

Using Lactulose regularly helps bring the most effective, so patients should make a habit of using the drug at the same time every day. When lactulose is administered rectally to cirrhotic patients, the patient's consciousness may improve for at least 2 hours. If lactulose is taken by mouth, improvement in consciousness may take up to 24-48 hours. For the case of using Lactulose to treat constipation, it can take up to 48 hours for patients to start having a bowel movement.

3. Lactulose drug side effects

Common undesirable effects of Lactulose:
Flatulence; Distention ; Belching; Cramping abdominal pain; Nausea ; Cramp. If any of the side effects of lactulose persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist as quickly as possible. Some undesirable but serious and uncommon side effects of Lactulose drug such as:
Diarrhea; Vomiting; Muscle spasticity or weakness; Irregular heartbeat; Mental/mood changes; Convulsions . A serious allergic drug reaction to Lactulose is very unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if symptoms include: rash, red, itchy skin, swelling of any part of the body. body, dizziness, shortness of breath.

4. Notes when using Lactulose

Before using Lactulose, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have ever had an allergic reaction to the drug or any other allergic condition. In addition, if you have certain medical conditions, you should not use Lactulose. Therefore, before using it, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have problems such as: a galactose restriction diet (such as a diet that includes little or no dairy products), bowel obstruction .
Before using Lactulose, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: diabetes. Do not take any laxatives while using Lactulose. Regular use or abuse of laxatives can lead to severe dehydration, especially in children or the elderly. Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of dehydration such as muscle weakness, muscle cramps, or dizziness.
Before having surgery or a procedure (such as electrocautery), tell the doctor or surgeon that you are taking Lactulose. Lactulose is essentially a sugar solution, so for diabetics when using Lactulose medicine can affect blood sugar levels. Your doctor may need to adjust your medication, exercise, or nutritional regimen while taking Lactulose.

During pregnancy and lactation, patients should only use lactulose when clearly needed after discussing the risks and benefits with their doctor before taking it. Before using Lactulose, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all products you are taking (including prescription, nonprescription, herbal), especially of: antacids containing antacids. aluminum and/or magnesium, other laxatives. Symptoms of lactulose overdose include: severe stomach cramps, diarrhea.
If you are taking Lactulose to treat liver disease, your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-protein diet. If a patient is on lactulose for a long time, blood mineral levels should be tested periodically to monitor disease progression or to check for lactulose side effects. If you miss a dose of Lactulose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take it as usual.
Store Lactulose between 2-30 degrees Celsius, protect from light and moisture, do not freeze the medicine because this will make the medicine too thick, unable to divide the dose. If lactulose solidifies, the patient should warm the medicine at room temperature until the lactulose can be poured into a stream. The color of Lactulose medicine may become darker than usual, if this happens so strongly that the patient cannot swallow, discard Lactulose and buy a new product. Do not flush Lactulose down the toilet or down the drain unless it has expired or is no longer in use. Lactulose is used by mouth or rectally to treat and prevent liver-brain complications of certain liver diseases. To ensure the effectiveness of treatment, patients need to take the medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor or pharmacist.

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Reference source: webmd.com