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Lactulose

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

This medication is used to treat constipation. It encourages bowel movement by drawing water into the bowel. This helps to soften the stools and increase bowel movement.

This medicine may take up to 48 hours to work. If your symptoms do not away, check with your healthcare professional.

It is also used in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, a condition associated with liver disease.

How should I take or use this medication?

Take your medicine as prescribed by your healthcare professional.
Take this medicine with a glass of water, with or without food.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
Omit dose if it is very near your next dose then take your next dose at the usual time.
Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medicine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine. This includes a history of lactose or milk intolerance.
Inform your healthcare professional if you are on a galactose or lactose free (or milk free) diet. This preparation contains both lactose and galactose.
Inform your healthcare professional if you have either pre-existing / or a history of bowel obstruction.
You are taking any other medicines, including supplements, traditional medicines and herbal remedies.
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

What are some common side effects of this medication?

Lactulose may cause discomfort associated with flatulence or cramps as well as nausea and vomiting.

If these symptoms occur, are persistent and/or distressing or should any unusual symptoms arise, consult your healthcare professional.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue.
Difficulty in breathing.
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medicine and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Seek immediate medical attention should you experience rectal bleeding or should symptoms persist despite treatment.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Lactulose can generally be taken with most other foods or medicines. However, please inform your healthcare professionals if you are taking other medicines or herbal preparations.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimer

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on September 2022

This article was last reviewed on Thursday, June 22, 2023