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Lactulose
- See Also
- Laxative
- Osmotic Laxative
- Constipation
- Functional Constipation
- Pediatric Constipation
- Mechanism
- Converts Ammonia to unabsorbed Ammonium
- Produces Diarrhea
- Alters bowel flora
- Indications
- Hepatic Encephalopathy (in Cirrhosis)
- Constipation
- Advantages
- Poorly absorbed (may be used in Renal Failure)
- Disadvantages: Constipation
- Not as effective or well tolerated as Miralax
- Dosages
- Constipation
- Lactulose (Chronulac)
- Consider Sorbitol 70% as alternative agent
- Adults: 30 ml PO qhs
- Children (10 mg/15 ml) 1-3 cc/kg/day divided qd-bid
- Easier to administer to young children
- May cause abdominal cramping and flatus
- Lactitol
- As effective as Lactulose with less pain and flatus
- Pitzalis (1995) Pediatr Med Chir 17(3):223
- Hepatic Encephalopathy
- Initial: 30-50 ml PO qh until Diarrhea
- Next: 15-30 ml PO tid-qid prn 2-3 stools/day
- Hepatic Coma
- Lactulose 300 ml in 700 ml water retention enema
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| Definition (MSH) | A synthetic disaccharide used in the treatment of constipation and hepatic encephalopathy. It has also been used in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p887) |
| Definition (NCI) | A disaccharide (sugar) synthesized from fructose and galactose, Lactulose is used to treat constipation and some liver diseases. Nondigestible in mammals, lactulose passes unabsorbed down to the large intestine where resident bacteria consume it and produce lactic, acetic, and formic acids, which draw fluid into the bowel to soften the stool (laxative effect). Acidification of the colon contents attracts ammonia from the bloodstream, assisting stool excretion; helpful in liver failure when ammonia cannot be detoxified. (NCI04) |
| Concepts | Carbohydrate (T118)
, Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
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| English | Lactulose, LACTULOSE PREPARATION, Lactulose product |
| Spanish | lactulosa |
| Credits | Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)
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