"Dufalac" is a well-known drug based on lactulose, which is used in the presence of difficult bowel movements. This drug has been used as a laxative since the middle of the last century. It is produced from lactose, which is found in dairy products, or rather in rennet serum. Next, we consider in detail the instructions for use with Dufalac, find out what dosage, depending on age, is required to be observed during the treatment process, and also find out what doctors and patients are talking about its effectiveness in their reviews.
Release form and composition
Dufalac is produced in the form of a colorless syrup. The content of the main component - lactulose per 100 milliliters of the drug is 66.7 grams. The substance that contributes to the absorption of the drug is distilled water. Syrup is sold in bottles of 200 and 500 milliliters, even liter containers are found. Additionally, for convenience, each container is equipped with a measuring cup.
Instructions for use for Duphalac syrup for adults and children are very detailed.
Another possible form of release are disposable bags of 15 grams, of which there are ten pieces in a package. So, now we will go directly to the instructions for use of this drug and find out what indications are for its use.
Indications for use
According to the instructions for use for "Dufalac", the following ailments and conditions are indications for the use of this medication:
- The presence of rapid and, at the same time, loose stool, caused by a bacterial infection.
- The development of an inflammatory disease of the stomach caused by infections, for example, salmonella, which often happens with gastroenteritis.
- The presence of difficult digestion along with dyspepsia, especially in children upon administration.
- The presence of difficulties with bowel movements. In this case, Dufalac is taken to normalize such physiological processes.
- The presence of microbial imbalance of the intestine.
- The presence of impaired liver function, along with the failure of this organ.
- The presence of hepatic coma.
- Preoperative preparation period. In this case, Dufalac is prescribed immediately before surgery on the large intestine or before removal of hemorrhoids.
Contraindications
As indicated by the instructions for use with Dufalac, you can not assign it to patients in the following cases:
- In case of patient intolerance to lactose.
- Hereditary galactosemia disease.
- In case of violation of intestinal motility and obstruction.
- The presence of diabetes in a patient.
- In case of allergy to the main component of the drug.
Instructions for use "Dufalac" for adults
"Dufalac" is taken orally, and is used during breakfast, the dosage is set individually by the attending physician. The dose of the drug depends on the disease to be treated:
- In case of difficulty in defecation, depending on the stage of treatment of the disease, the initial dose for adults is from 15 to 45 milliliters of the drug. The supporting norm is from 10 to 25 milliliters. Improvement usually occurs on the second day after taking the medication. In the absence of positive dynamics, the volume of the drug increases. This is confirmed by the instructions for use for Dufalac for adults.
- Against the background of microbial imbalance of the intestine, that is, with dysbiosis, 10 milliliters are taken.
In the presence of a condition of hepatic coma, dosing at an early stage of therapy is about 45 milliliters per dose three times a day. Next, the amount of the drug is set individually so that bowel movements are performed about three times a day. Among other things, this drug can be prescribed in the format of a solution for insertion into the rectum, that is, to perform an enema. In this case, 300 to 700 milliliters are required. You should familiarize yourself with the instructions for use with Dufalac in advance.
- With a disease caused by salmonella, take 15 milliliters three times a day for twelve days. Then the medicine is also taken, but already five times every day.
Next, consider the instructions for use for Dufalac for children.
Instruction for children
Since the drug acts as a medicine with a small number of contraindications, it is also used to treat children up to a year. Instructions for use with Dufalac reports the following:
- If the child has difficult bowel movements, the dosage for newborns and babies up to three years is 5 milliliters. For ages of three to six, 10 milliliters. From the age of seven to fourteen, you can take 15 milliliters of Dufalac syrup according to the instructions for use.
- Against the background of microbial imbalance of the intestine, children under three years of age are prescribed 3 milliliters. At the age of four to seven, you can already take 5 milliliters. And starting from the age of seven, 10 milliliters.
In all other cases, the dosage of Dufalac is set individually. Instructions for use also indicate that it can be used during pregnancy.
Pregnancy
"Dufalac" is prescribed for treatment of pregnant women, and, in addition, lactating women, due to the safety of its components, as well as their natural origin. Lactulose does not have any negative effect on human reproductive functions and on the development of the fetus as well. But, nevertheless, sometimes this drug can cause an increase in muscle tone in the uterus, which is associated with gas contamination.
What else does the instructions for use for Dufalac tell us?
Side effects of the drug
In the first days of treatment, some people in the stomach may form an excessive accumulation of gases, which will soon disappear, approximately this happens after three days. Another adverse reaction is vomiting.
In patients suffering from hepatic encephalopathy, sometimes electrolyte imbalance is observed, which is associated with diarrhea, which is caused by the long-term use of a large dosage of the drug. If the prescribed dosage is exceeded, abdominal pain may appear along with diarrhea.
To get rid of the manifestations of such side effects, manufacturers recommend changing the dosage or completely stop taking this medication.
Instructions for use with Dufalac for constipation for adults and children do not end there.
Drug Interactions and Special Instructions
We give special instructions in the treatment of this medicine:
- In the absence of positive dynamics and relapses of difficult bowel movements within three days from the start of admission, you need to seek repeated consultation with a doctor.
- As part of the treatment of patients suffering from intolerance to the components of the drug, it is worth considering the presence of lactose and other components in it.
- With extreme caution, Duphalac is prescribed to patients suffering from impaired glucose uptake. This is especially true in the treatment of hepatic precoma, when the dosage is greatly increased.
- In the case of prolonged use of the drug, for example, more than six months, it is required to be checked periodically for electrolyte levels in the blood.
- In the treatment of children, the use of laxative drugs is considered a last resort.
- It must be borne in mind that during therapy, failure of the bowel reflexes themselves may be possible.
- "Dufalac" does not cause patients drowsiness or inhibited state, thus, without affecting the ability to work.
Among other things, Dufalac is used with caution in the following cases:
- The presence of rectal fissures and bleeding in the patient.
- The presence of severe pain before treatment.
According to the instructions for use, the dosage of Dufalac for adults and children should be strictly observed.
Overdose
Symptoms when taking too high a dose of this medication may manifest as pain in the abdomen. Against the background of an overdose of "Dufalac," the occurrence of diarrhea in a patient is not excluded. As part of the treatment of overdose, the drug should be completely discontinued. In some cases, it will be enough not to cancel it, but only to slightly reduce the dose. In cases of large fluid loss due to diarrhea or as a result of vomiting, the patient may need correction of disturbances in water and electrolyte balance.
This is confirmed by the instructions for use with Dufalac. With constipation, it can be very effective.
The price of the drug and its analogues
The cost of Dufalac depends directly on the volume of the bottle. The approximate cost of a small bottle is three hundred rubles. For the average bottle will have to pay about five hundred rubles. As for the large liter format, it costs over seven hundred rubles. A similar effect has the drug "Dinolac", which has approximately the same cost. But in addition to lactulose, this analogue also has simethicone - a component that breaks down gas bubbles. Thus, the main advantage of Dinolak over Dufalac is that flatulence is excluded when it is used for treatment.
In pharmacies there are also less expensive analogues of Dufalac. In them, lactulose also acts as the main active ingredient. Thus, among the analogues it is worth calling “Portalak” along with “Goodluck” and “Normase”. The cheapest is Romphalak, which costs one hundred and fifty rubles. Dufalac also has replacements in tablet format, for example, Poslabin Lactulose, whose cost is one hundred and thirty rubles, however, this substitute is contraindicated in children under five years of age.
Storage conditions for the drug
Store Duphalac at a temperature that should not exceed twenty-five degrees. Keep this medication out of the reach of children. Its shelf life, like most medicines, is three years. In no case should you use this medication after the expiration date indicated on the package. This medicine is dispensed from pharmacies without a medical prescription.
Reviews of doctors about Dufalac
I must say that infectious disease specialists with experience speak about this drug as a whole positively. Specialists call Duphalac a wonderful laxative medicine, suitable for long courses of use in diseases of various etiologies. It is reported that the effect of this medication is physiological in nature, and the composition does not cause subsequent addiction (which is very important). In addition, in their reviews, doctors write that side effects during treatment with this agent are usually minimal.
Other doctors share that they like the drug-free methods of dealing with difficulty with bowel movements. They write that lactulose, of course, is a natural component, but it is strictly contraindicated in the presence of lactase intolerance and does not act immediately, but in addition also enhances gas formation. Flatulence in babies under the age of three months can cause serious discomfort. In this regard, some crumbs are even assigned a "Simethicone" or a gas pipe is used. So, many doctors advise their patients not “Dufalac”, but the use of flax seed infusion. Thus, among pediatricians, Dufalac enjoys conflicting popularity.
Patient Reviews
Almost all patients are happy with the treatment with this drug. For example, women say that this drug has repeatedly saved them during pregnancy from constipation. It is reported that in this case, the drug acts quickly enough. As a rule, before the onset of the effect, you need to wait only an hour. True, ladies complain of such a side effect as flatulence.
Parents of young children write that Dufalac helps them treat babies. At the same time, according to the assurances of mothers and fathers, there are no problems with taking this medicine in children, since the syrup is very pleasant to taste. Therefore, experienced parents recommend Dufalac to all those who have problems with bowel movements. Many parents are sure that Dufalac is a safe, high-quality and effective medicine.
Others report that Duphalac only lasts three days during pregnancy and increases gas formation so much that it causes unpleasant sensations. Women say that because of the pressure, the tone of the uterus can increase, and, in addition, taking this drug leads to increased urination. Those who are faced with such effects admit that they refused to use Dufalac and use other drugs if necessary.
This drug helped some after an emergency operation related to the removal of hemorrhoidal nodes. Against this background, patients managed to get rid of a terrible tormenting constipation. It is reported that after taking the drug "Dufalac" on the third day after the operation to remove the node, bowel movement in humans does not take so long and painfully.
Thus, the drug "Dufalac" today is a proven, and at the same time safe means in the presence of problems with bowel movements. The only, but at the same time, significant disadvantage, according to doctors and patients, is excessive gas formation.
We reviewed the drug "Dufalac" instructions for use and reviews.