Lactulose for Constipation, Chronic User Reviews
Brand names: Enulose, Kristalose Generlac Constilac Cholac
Lactulose has an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 from a total of 86 reviews for the treatment of Constipation, Chronic. 70% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 22% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Lactulose
- Vaa...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- February 16, 2020
"I have suffered from terrible constipation my whole life... I'm 61 now. I eat tons of vegetables, drink lots of water, and have tried Fybogel and other bulking agents. Nothing worked! Three weeks ago, I had an operation and was advised to take lactulose to avoid straining my wound. Well, what a transformation. Since then, I take 30ml per day and have a perfect bowel movement daily. I only wish I had discovered lactulose earlier in my life. I'm lucky in that I actually enjoy the sweet syrup, and I suffer very little wind at all. Everyone's different, but I would definitely say it's worth a try."
- Ken...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- February 7, 2018
"This worked well to soften hard stools and make straining unnecessary, but it surprisingly gave me an irregular heartbeat after taking it for two weeks. I did not realize what the source of the irregular beats was for a few days, but when I stopped taking the lactulose, my heart was back to normal in a couple of days. It could just be a coincidence and unconnected to the lactulose, but after digging deep into an FDA site, I found that 5% of users find it can cause some type of heartbeat irregularity - AF, palpitations, slow beats, fast beats, etc. Hope that is useful to someone."
Frequently asked questions
- Ano...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- February 8, 2019
"I'm on lactulose 15-30 ml for almost two years. I've had constipation my entire life. Until I was four, I thought it was normal. I've bounced from specialist to specialist. Nobody can give me a diagnosis, but all I knew was the feces buildup was releasing toxins into my body and it was just unhealthy. An x-ray of my torso showed that the buildup was literally putting pressure on my lungs and it had impacted my breathing. Specialists gave me one of two options: laxatives or surgery. So, I tried countless laxatives, diets, exercise regimens. The only thing that's helped so far in my 15 years of life is sennas and enemas, both of which are extremely painful and give me awful diarrhea. Until lactulose. It's helped tremendously, and I can have natural movements. The only uncomfortable thing is all the flatulence, but that's better than curling up into a ball in pain."
- Is...
- August 16, 2019
"My daughter was constipated for 3 weeks. After two hospitals, one prescribed Lactulose. 45 ml three times a day. It’s been 5 days and all that has happened is diarrhea. Is that normal?? Is that the stool that has liquefied?"
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.- Anonymous
- December 10, 2012
"Just start at one tablespoon (15 ml) and then start increasing the dosage by one teaspoon (5 ml) every day until your bowel movement is soft. There are very few complications. It can be taken safely for decades. In fact, you may have to increase the dosage over time."
- jen...
- September 18, 2015
"I have been severely constipated on and off for four years. I have tried other laxatives, they barely worked for me. Before my doctor prescribed this to me, I couldn't produce a bowel movement for a month. I was really sick, I couldn't eat or drink for days at a time. I was running fevers, I couldn't walk, and I was fainting. I take 90 ml three times a day. It's a really high dose, so be sure to take your own recommended dose, but I can now use the bathroom at least twice a day. My stools were literally compacted, and now I am all cleared out. I highly recommend this medication."
- MiM...
- August 23, 2020
"I have a muscle contraction condition that won't allow me to go. I poured a load of lactulose in orange juice, and 20 minutes later, I barely made it to the toilet for my blowout. If you eat or drink anything, you'll blow every time. It takes an entire day to get back to normal. The gas would have set my house on fire if I didn't have an electric stove. I took about 3 tablespoons, and it was worth the relief I felt."
- Jaw...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- April 7, 2020
"This drug is a miracle worker, as I have MS and slow digestive transit. As a result, my stools dry out and I can't go for 7-8 days. Taking only 25 ml of lactulose every second day does the trick, no bloating, no pain, just regular movements that are normal to pass. A side effect for me is, yes, wind—normally 4-8 hours after taking the dose, but 4 hours of wind is a small price to pay. It is very sweet, sweeter than sugar, but I actually like it, I must have a very sweet tooth. It’s in no way unpleasant to take, just sweet."
- Rel...
- January 10, 2021
"Overall, after being on high doses of pain meds, constipation has gotten worse and worse over the last year. I've tried many things, and the only thing that's really helping is lactulose. Some people might find this medicine not so good or that it doesn't work, but for me, this has been kind of life-saving. Within 3-6 hours, I know I'll be going to the bathroom. It does relieve constipation pretty fast. It all depends on your weight and how much of this stuff you want to put into your body. Without this, I would be in tears crying. I have even been to the emergency room. Mixing this with Linzess is best. I advise anybody to try this because it has been very successful for me. There are many days that I still have constipation, but lactulose does eventually work when you get the right dosing in your body. Thanks."
- Pud...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- May 10, 2019
Generlac (lactulose) "I’ve been struggling to have a bowel motion for years. I am on a high dose of OxyContin and Oxycodone daily due to pancreatic cancer, so I have what they call opioid-induced constipation. I was going two weeks without having a bowel motion, then my doctor started me on Generlac, and it works wonderfully. I took 30ml for the first dose, and 24 hours later, I was on the toilet. I take 15ml daily to keep me going. No cramping or diarrhea... just a little gas."
- CMa...
- Taken for 5 to 10 years
- April 8, 2018
"Doctor prescribed 3x/day. It worked and still works wonderfully after 7 years. But, 3x/day was too much. I decided nightly before bed, and it works GREAT. Sometimes I have to take a double dose, but I'll tell you, this medicine is a dream come true for me as when I am not going (I have irritable bowel syndrome with constipation - IBS-C) I get sick as a dog: nausea, cramping, lightheaded, and more. Don't be afraid to experiment in the beginning to find the right dose and dosing schedule for you."
- CKR...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 18, 2014
Generlac (lactulose) "This was the only treatment that worked after my hemorrhoidectomy - had to go to the ER to get this prescription though after three days of constipation from the pain meds - too bad my surgeon did not prescribe this to me earlier."
- Mis...
- January 9, 2014
"I've taken codeine and morphine for a long time and have been constipated for years, on and off. I've tried senna, Movicol, and they'd take at least 5 days to work. And the taste of 2 Movicol sachets with 250ml was yuck. Also made me bloated. I've started lactulose on 15ml 3 times a day, but around 2 hours after taking 15ml, I was going to the bathroom! It's very convenient too as I just add the 15ml to a drop of juice/squash. Very happy to have found something so good, but it does cause me a lot of wind."
- Jus...
- October 27, 2013
"This is a miracle. Taking Oxycodone makes you so constipated, it's not funny. I take 80ml-100ml, which is a dose I wouldn't recommend to someone taking it for the first time. Start small and see how it works for you. I take it right before bed. And by the time I wake up, it's toilet time, every time. Sometimes I will get a slight pain in my stomach during sleeping and it can't wait till my usual wake-up time."
- Kit...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- January 25, 2014
"I've suffered with Irritable Bowel Syndrome all my life, got worse in adulthood. Mixture of constipation and diarrhea. I'm now 6 months pregnant, got no more IBS cramps, but painful gas that doesn't pass. I took this for the first time in my life this morning at 9 AM. Took 30mls as suggested by the pharmacist. Only ONE hour later and I'm having bowel movements and a lot of wind. No pain or cramps for once! Only thing is it's been non-stop toilet runs for 10 hours."
- Sll...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 21, 2020
"I took 30 ml twice a day on day 1, then 30 ml three times a day on day 2. Then today on day 3, I've taken 30 ml twice, and it has done nothing for me besides give me really bad gas and make me feel like I'm going to poop myself sometimes when I do pass gas."
- tin...
- December 24, 2014
"12 weeks pregnant and constipated really bad with no movement for nearly 7 days. I had a really bad tummy ache and I couldn't take much while being pregnant. The pharmacist gave me this (liquid) and after about 4 hours, it was gone. I was so pleased. It's the best thing I've ever used for constipation."
- Anonymous
- December 14, 2009
"I have been on a large dose of Morphine for years for my worsening back problems. I have gone as long as 8-10 days without a bowel motion. Lactulose is the only thing that has worked. Usually within 4-6 hours I will start having BM's. I haven't had any side effects, not even cramping. I use 15 to 30 cc on an as needed basis. I did read that you should not use Lactulose if you are diabetic because it is a sugar."
- Kbb...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- July 17, 2020
"After reading others' comments on their experience with lactulose, frankly, I'm jealous. I was prescribed this for 'moderate constipation,' which left me in such bad pain that I went to the ER. I've been taking 15 ML per day for 3 days. And... not a burp, not a fart, absolutely nothing. The day after my first dose, I got 'the poo cramps' and gleefully raced to a toilet only to be left disappointed and still full of, you know what."
- Wes...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- October 3, 2021
"I have never written a review for a product, but wished to register for an account to share my experience for those of you that may be experiencing a similar problem. I'm 50, gym-fit, 2 personal training sessions a week, and a textbook nutritional intake. I had not taken a laxative in my life, but suddenly I could not goooooooo. This has been going on for 8 weeks. Tried Laxido, Dulcolax, and Fibogel, and eventually came across this site and decided to try Lactulose. It really took me a week to tailor the measurement to my body, initially taking 45ml doses twice a day - in bed and with breakfast. This dose caused runny poo, bloating, and obscene gas. I then knocked it down to 15ml at similar times, and hurrahhhhhhh, I have found the perfect dose. I have been 5 mornings in a row, comes out easily and formed. The sudden bowel change and family medical history of bowel cancer ensued that I have a colonoscopy booked in for next Tuesday. Good luck all - find the correct measure for you."
- Nyt...
- March 12, 2016
"I have had chronic constipation most of my life and never thought too much about it, I just accepted it. I've been on pain meds for close to 6 years, and they are definitely making it worse since I'm having pain, which concerned me. So, I had a CT scan to make sure the pain wasn't coming from something serious. The doctor felt the constipation was the cause. I'm on day 1 of this stuff, and I was prescribed 30 ml 3 times a day. I waited for a day I could be home in case it got bad. I had my first bowel movement about 1 hour after the dose and 3 total since the 1st dose (took 3 hours ago). I think I'm going to stick with 1 a day for now, and if it slows down, then I will add the second dose and work my way up if necessary. It tastes like honey but has a thinner consistency."
- Wha...
- September 15, 2019
"I had to see the doctor eventually due to having an anal fissure, a very painful thing to have. I was finding it hard to get any sleep without pain. My doctor suggested taking a lactulose brand called Actilax. I haven't ever taken laxatives. My first dose was after I purchased it at lunchtime and then in the evening. The next day at lunchtime, I had a soft bowel motion twice. Two days later, I took it once a day, no more pain going or blood. I suggest not diluting, yes, it is a thick syrup with an odd taste! But drink lots of water during the day. Side effects: wind! Didn't come with the special dosage cup. Lower the dosage on the third day. I'm so surprised I have no more bleeding, which I had for weeks."
- Anonymous
- August 17, 2011
"I would go up to one month without having bowel movements. I'm very afraid of using medicine because I take medication for epilepsy, and I do not want any interactions causing the anticonvulsants to be less effective. My doctor gave me lactulose and told me to drink water with it. He said not to be worried about it interfering with my medicine because what the lactulose does is pull water into the stool to make it soft. I still don't take it with my daily medication. I wait at least 3 hours after or 4 hours prior to taking my daily medication. The only thing I do not like is it is very sweet. Check to see if it is okay to take if you are diabetic. I assume it has sugar in it because of the sweetness."
- Anonymous
- April 14, 2012
"I take 6 Percocet daily for back pain. 30ml of lactulose generally takes effect in 4 to 6 hours. At times it can produce diarrhea if I take more. At times I can skip a day as I am able to have bowel motion naturally. It doesn't adversely impact my blood sugar levels."
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"Have suffered constipation for 45 years, having tried everything doctors prescribed me - did the high fiber diet, you name it, I've tried it. I discovered lactulose 4 months ago and wish I had discovered it years ago. I have the right dosage for me down to a T so as not to suffer cramps or embarrassing wind. For me, it has been great, I'm not sick with constipation anymore."