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Lactulose User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

Brand names: Enulose, Kristalose Generlac Constilac Cholac

Lactulose has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 from a total of 155 reviews on Drugs.com. 70% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 19% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Lactulose

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Lol...
  • November 3, 2020

For Constipation, Acute "My constipation I can manage with my diet when I’m at home and have a regular routine, but when my routine is out of sync on holiday, then it becomes a real issue. When I come back from holiday, I will take 50 mL in one go. It tastes vile, goosebumps as it’s going down. Maybe the thought of what’s ahead makes it taste worse than it actually is. After that, in about maybe 2 hours, I’ll have a movement. After that, I usually have chronic and very smelly gas. As a result, I never do this when there’s anyone in the house. Literally, I do this at 9 a.m. when my husband is gone to work. When he gets back by 6, the gas has usually subsided and I can close all the windows again! Between gas, there are trips to the bathroom, which become less and less solid until finally, it’s just all brown water. My advice is, this is excellent for a one-off where you have a day where you don’t need to be at work or anywhere else to be."

8 / 10
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  • Hel...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 16, 2022

For Constipation, Acute "I suffer from constipation a lot. I generally need help once a week from a laxative. I take this when I have no other choice because it tastes so bad. It’s so thick and just disgusting. On the plus side, the stuff works. I get very, very bloated afterward, look about 6 months pregnant for 12 hours after. The gas is pretty chronic. The smell is also not great. I take huge doses in one go (50 mL plus) because it just doesn’t work other than that, sadly. I fully recommend it; however, have no callers that day to your home as toilet trips will be frequent and audible."

10 / 10
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  • tss...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 5, 2024

For Constipation, Chronic "It has changed my life! Only good! My entire life, I had experienced constipation. I have a redundant colon, and it is looped. It has made a wonderful difference. I'm able to go every day rather than maybe once or twice a week."

10 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • Ind...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 4, 2021

For Constipation, Acute "I had been in hospitals, and I was able to go, but never much. Imaging showed a moderate amount of stool in me. The doctor ordered lactulose. The nurse said it would just make it easier for me to go. It was in a cup that looked like an oversized coffee creamer. I took it right before I went to OT. Less than an hour after, I started cramping. Before I could finish saying I needed to get to a bathroom, I was going. They took me to my room, and I got on the bedside commode. I wasn't able to get off of it for 1.5 hours. I always thought magnesium citrate was awful stuff. This was way more harsh for me. It was effective, but I was not expecting that much of an effect or for it to hit so soon. I would be afraid to take it again."

3 / 10
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  • Han...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • April 27, 2023

For Constipation, Chronic "Has anyone gained weight using lactulose? I’ve been taking it daily for the past almost two years. It works well for me, but the weight part is annoying. 20 pounds, ugh. I don’t know how to get the weight off. I don’t eat a lot. I drink liters and liters of water. I’m frustrated. Please, someone tell me how to lose the weight."

8 / 10
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  • Ott...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • May 29, 2021

"Earlier this evening, had 'severe cramps and bloating but no output into my colostomy bag.' I think it could be related to a Metro Egg Sandwich that I had earlier. Tried Divol Plus and 2 Extra Strength Tylenol and heating pad...nothing helped. Called Shoppers in Toronto, they suggested I take 1/2 capful of lactulose. It did the trick within 15 minutes, cleared me right out. Cramps dropped 80%. Came within seconds of calling 911, but I didn't, and I made it through. Remember, too much can cause serious diarrhea in the colostomy bag, so limit lactulose if you can. Take every 3 to 4 days. Not too much."

8 / 10
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  • ang...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 25, 2024

"Wow, I suffered really bad bloating to the point I was so exhausted. I tried everything from probiotics to digestive enzymes, nothing was helping. I felt like I had so much water retention. I thought I needed to try something to see if it helps relieve the heavy bloating feeling. I took 15 ml, and within two hours, my stomach was rumbling away, then I broke wind numerous times. As much as this is gross, I knew it was working, and the relief I got from it was amazing. I felt like a massive balloon at first that slowly got smaller. Now I feel 7 lbs lighter."

10 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 8, 2022

For Constipation, Chronic "I developed chronic constipation out of nowhere and am a vegetarian, had tests run, colonoscopy, etc., no answers but was suffering daily, every day. Tried dietary changes, bowel training, Movicol, Metamucil, more water, you name it. Became extremely debilitating and distressing. After 8 months of this nightmare, I tried Lactulose (Actilax), and whilst it took a week to really work, now I’m having a normal BM same time daily. I’m currently taking 20 ml twice daily, you may need to see what dose works for you. I know medicine isn’t always a long-term solution, but when you are suffering, it’s worth a shot until you can find another solution. I will keep taking it daily along with a healthy diet, etc., until I can see another specialist. Beware, initially it can cause bloating and discomfort, so start off slowly and drink plenty of water and build up the dose rather than start big."

9 / 10
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  • Nik...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • March 22, 2021

For Constipation, Acute "FLATULENCE! So chronic you’d almost be proud of it. Don’t have visitors over or even use this on a day when you have an empty house. I use it when I maybe drift away from my usual diet and need help, so maybe once or twice a month I take 60 ml in one go. Your poo basically ends up as liquid by the end of the experience. I used to use it every day for a while, but found I was both bloated and flatulent."

8 / 10
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  • Bjo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 27, 2023

For Constipation, Chronic "Lactulose 30ml twice a day with lots of water, doesn't seem to work on its own for me. I still need Senokot every three days to get things out, but I think the lactulose at least makes it soft so my hemorrhoids can heal. At this dose, a bottle only lasts 10 days, so I'm hoping I can reduce the dose gradually."

7 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 14, 2023

For Hepatic Encephalopathy "I take lactulose 3 times a day. Since taking the higher dose, I no longer have any hand tremors and have not had another episode of going to sleep and not waking up for 36 hours. I still have periodic leg swelling if I am really active."

10 / 10
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  • Sad...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 23, 2023

For Constipation, Acute "If you’re really chronic and you need to go like NOW, then take 45 mL in one go. Make sure you are near a bathroom because it definitely is very on and off for a while. That’s the dose I take when I realize it’s been a while since I went. At that dose, it works within 2 hours for me. Effects last about 2 hours also. Is it pretty or pleasant? No, but it’s effective, and you feel so much better, it’s also inexpensive, which is great."

9 / 10
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  • Lin...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 20, 2022

For Constipation, Chronic "I've had issues with constipation on and off my entire life, may be the cause of my decades of migraines, actually. Once went an entire MONTH without going, can you even imagine that?! Got a high colonic (colon cleanse), and that flushed it all out! This time a doctor prescribed this lactulose stuff for me, thought I'd give it a try. Suggested 30 ml a day, three days later, NOTHING but gas! Today, the fourth day, I decided to up the dose! So I took TWO 30 ml doses, five hours apart, and BOOM! Had one BM, and I KNOW there's lots more still in there, very bad gas too. I am feeling a little crampy, so probably tomorrow I will continue a higher dose and will go again. Eventually, I will lower the dose back down and even see if I can quit altogether as laxatives become a crutch that you can't function without eventually. I don't take any other drugs, no pain meds, and I eat healthy and am healthy in every other aspect but the migraines and constipation, would LOVE to get rid of those!"

7 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 5, 2022

For Constipation, Chronic "I have tried this stuff twice over the last 5 years and still doesn't work. I've had 25 ml twice this time, and it does nothing, which is annoying because when I sent the person to get laxatives in the first place, I told them not to buy this, but the guy behind the counter said it was the best. But twice in the last 5 years, I bought this, and it doesn't work. First time I was 18 years old, now I'm 23."

1 / 10
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  • Ata...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • April 25, 2017

For Constipation, Acute "I have been taking Duphalac for the past 2 years and was quite satisfied with its results. But for the past 4 months, I have been having the problem of excessive water retention and bloating in my abdomen. Water retention was such that my stomach used to get swollen, and hence I had a loss of appetite. Because of my inflated abdomen, I used to feel chest pain along with dry coughing. It was really a miserable feeling as I had lost 5 kg in weight because of not having proper meals. Finally, I had to stop Duphalac, and within 3-4 days, the water retention, bloating, etc., had stopped. It's my advice to people facing a similar problem to stop Duphalac immediately and switch to some other laxative after consulting the doctor."

6 / 10
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  • Car...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 14, 2021

For Constipation, Chronic "I have been constipated badly, many visits to ER, urgent care, and many CT scans, X-ray, and always dry stools stuck in the intestines. One doctor prescribed lactulose. At first, it caused me bloating. I called the pharmacist and recommended 15 ml and Gas X together. Now I have my normal BM."

10 / 10
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  • Gra...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 28, 2022

For Constipation, Chronic "I was prescribed Lactulose for constipation that had troubled me for over three years. Had tried other medications. I took Lactulose for two months every day as prescribed, and now have been with no medication at all for over a month. I had no adverse effects while taking it and would return to it if I need."

9 / 10
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  • Hon...
  • November 27, 2021

For Constipation, Chronic "Brand: XactDose. Manufacturer: VistaPharm. Dose: 20g/30mL. Great results with this medication. I was using Miralax for a few days (4 or so) but didn't get any results. I then took XactDose after going to a doctor. First day taking it, I felt really gassy and bloated within 3-4 hours. My second day I experienced the same things, only this time I actually expelled a good amount of stool. It felt like a decent burden was done away with, and I felt lighter. It's my go-to whenever I get really constipated, it works very well. Didn't get the same results with generic lactulose (10g/15mL) that I got after I ran out of XactDose. I even tried a double dose of it. Maybe I should've tried one more day with the doubled dose? Oh, and it seems like Sam's Club pharmacy is the only place that is able to get this for you now. Many pharmacies don't have it. Call around and ask for lactulose made by the manufacturer VistaPharm and save yourself some gas."

10 / 10
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  • Anu...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 19, 2019

Lactulose for Constipation, Acute "I used this Duphalac syrup, but I can say that it's the worst medicine I have seen ever in my life and has not even a single percent of laxative effect. In fact, it had the opposite effect, it will even increase the hardness of stool. If I had an option to rate this medicine, I would have rated it negatively. Such a waste of a company and product. I would request to don’t buy this medicine at any chance. Rating: -10, the worst."

2 / 10
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  • Kay...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 5, 2025

For Constipation "Works great for constipation. It is really sweet and has a thick texture like Karo syrup. It may cause you to be really gassy, though. Find the dose that works just right for you because if you take too much, you’ll end up with diarrhea. My doctor told me to take 30-45 ml doses. 30 was just right for me, but when I tried 45, it overdid it! The only negative I have is that you can’t pinpoint exactly when it will kick in! It's worked as early as 2 hours after taking for me."

9 / 10
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  • Rus...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 6, 2025

For Constipation, Acute "After three days of working on my small boat, I had extreme difficulty passing a motion. Very solid stool not going to come without a lot of effort. I never have problems, and I’m in my 70s. But I’d not eaten well, worked in awkward spaces, done heavy lifting, etc., and was probably dehydrated. Weekend and away from usual medical help. Wife overseas, away from family. I had read the book GUT by J. Enders some time back out of interest. Did the exercises she recommended to no avail and very uncomfortable. To cut the story short: Bought a bottle of Laevolac lactose solution over the counter. 30 ml down the hatch. Tastes great. Ate lots of fruity fiber. Two to three hours later, rear end all joy and back in business, albeit a little gas, but who cares? Men enjoy that. 12 hours on, all is bliss. Two sloppier poos and just now normal production. Bit of borborygmus but understandable."

10 / 10
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  • Ale...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 10, 2025

Lactulose for Constipation, Chronic "Today in the morning I had a hard constipation, and the bowel movement was stuck. I can't explain how much pain I was in. It hurt a lot. I drank water and ate broccoli and carrot, then the bowel movement worked with difficulty, but in the evening I went to a medical store, and I was recommended Duphalac. When I drank it, then within one hour I was able to pass stool with ease. I got a wonderful experience, and I had bowel movement three times today without any problem. I am feeling okay now."

10 / 10
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  • Gas...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 20, 2022

For Constipation, Chronic "The taste isn't too bad, smells and tastes like a melted banana popsicle. Day 1 and 2 it worked. 15 ml 3 times a day but now it longer works. Taking daily and back to nothing. Not even the gas. Nothing."

5 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • October 23, 2012

Lactulose for Constipation, Chronic "This is the best medicine I've ever used for my constipation. I also have irritable bowel syndrome."

10 / 10
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123 Report
  • Anonymous
  • May 31, 2012

Lactulose for Constipation, Chronic "Only thing that actually works!"

10 / 10
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84 Report

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