Formulary
Lactulose: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Lactulose clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Lactulose: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Lactulose clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Constipation**
- **Child** (By Mouth): 5-17 years 5-20 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
- **Adult** (By Mouth): Initially 15 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
**Hepatic encephalopathy (portal systemic encephalopathy)**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 30-50 mL 3 times a day, dose subsequently adjusted to produce 2-3 soft stools per day.
**Constipation (dose approved**
- **Child** (By Mouth): 11-17 years Initially 15 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
- **Adult** (By Mouth): Initially 15 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
**Constipation for lactulose**
- **Child 1-11 months** (By mouth): 2.5 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
- **Child 1-4 years** (By mouth): 2.5-10 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
- **Child 5-17 years** (By mouth): 5-20 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
**Hepatic encephalopathy (portal systemic encephalopathy) for lactulose**
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 30-50 mL 3 times a day, dose subsequently adjusted to produce 2-3 soft stools per day.
**Constipation (dose approved for use by community practitioner nurse prescribers) for lactulose**
- **Child 1-11 months** (By mouth): 2.5 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
- **Child 1-4 years** (By mouth): 5 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
- **Child 5-10 years** (By mouth): 10 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
- **Child 11-17 years** (By mouth): Initially 15 mL twice daily, to be adjusted according to response.
Cautions
Lactose intolerance
Contraindications
Galactosaemia; gastro-intestinal obstruction; gastro-intestinal perforation; risk of gastro-intestinal perforation
Side effects
Common or very common Abdominal pain; diarrhoea; flatulence; nausea; vomiting Uncommon Electrolyte imbalance
Interactions
**Other interactions (1):**
- Lactulose may increase the loss of potassium induced by other drugs (e.g.
Pregnancy
Not known to be harmful.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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