Why is Dufalac required? Reviews of adults who have ever taken this drug, as well as indications for its use, will be presented in this article. You will also learn about the form in which the mentioned medicine goes on sale, what is included in its composition, whether it has contraindications, how it should be used correctly, etc.
Packaging, form, description and composition
In what form is the drug Dufalac sold? Reviews of adults say that such a medicine is available in only one form. Which one, we will tell right now.
Syrup "Duphalac" for adults - such a medicine is a viscous and transparent liquid, slightly colored yellow. 100 ml of this drug contains 66.7 g of lactulose, as well as purified water.
The medicine is available in plastic bottles with a screw cap of 1000, 500 and 200 ml. The bottle is placed in a pack of cardboard, which contains instructions for use and a measuring cup.
It should also be noted that Dufalac syrup (reviews of adults about it will be presented below) can also be found in plastic bags made of aluminum foil. They are designed for single use of the drug and contain about 15 ml of the drug.
As with the bottle, the syrup bags are contained in cardboard packaging. In one pack, as a rule, there are 10 sachets.
Pharmacodynamics
What is this syrup for? Laxative "Dufalac" for adults is prescribed as a means of exerting a hyperosmotic effect. The drug stimulates intestinal motility, helps to remove ammonium ions from the body and improves the absorption of calcium salts and phosphates.
After taking a laxative, lactulose is immediately split by the intestinal flora, which is located in the colon. In this case, the substance is decomposed into organic low molecular weight acids. This leads to a decrease in pH and an increase in osmotic pressure. It is due to the latter process that the volume of intestinal contents increases significantly.
The described effects stimulate intestinal motility, and also have a direct effect on the consistency of the stool.
After using the drug, the physiological rhythm of bowel movement returns to normal.
Operating principle
How does the considered syrup affect the human body? The laxative "Dufalac" (for adults), or rather, its prebiotic substance, enhances the growth of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. At the same time, the growth of potentially pathogenic microorganisms is simultaneously suppressed, which ensures a more favorable balance of intestinal microflora.
Pharmacokinetics
Is Dufalac medication well absorbed? The instructions and reviews of specialists say that the absorption of this drug is very low. After taking the medicine inside, it unchanged reaches the intestine (colon), where it is split by the local flora.
A complete metabolism of the drug occurs when it is taken in a dosage of 45-70 ml. When used in higher volumes, the medication is partially excreted unchanged.
Indications for use
When is a drug such as Dufalac prescribed? Reviews of adults say that this drug effectively helps in the presence of the following deviations:
- with constipation (to regulate the physiological rhythm of colon release);
- for softening the stool for medical purposes (for example, with hemorrhoids, after surgery on the anus or colon);
- with hepatic encephalopathy in adults (for the prevention and treatment of precoma or hepatic coma).
Laxative "Dufalac" for adults: contraindications for use
The considered tool can in no case be used when:
- galactosemia;
- hypersensitivity to any substance of the drug;
- intestinal obstruction;
- fructose or galactose intolerance , as well as glucose-galactose malabsorption and lactase deficiency;
- perforation or risk of perforation of the digestive tract.
It should also be said that with extreme caution, the laxative "Dufalac", reviews of which are ambiguous, must be prescribed for colostomy, rectal undiagnosed bleeding and ileostomy.
Reception methods
The agent in question is intended for oral administration. Syrup can be used both undiluted and diluted. The taken single dose should be swallowed immediately, without delaying in the oral cavity.
Dosages of this drug should be selected individually. If a single daily dose has been prescribed, then it is taken at the same time (at breakfast, lunch or dinner).
During treatment with a laxative, it is necessary to drink plenty of fluids (about 1.5-2 liters per day, in equal portions).
For accurate dosage of the drug, you can use the measuring cup that comes with the kit.
When using the medicine in bags, you need to tear off the corner and immediately take the contents.
Dosage funds for adults and adolescents
At what dosage is Dufalac syrup taken? Reviews of adults say that for the treatment of constipation, as well as for softening the stool, adults and adolescents (from 14 years old) are prescribed from 15 to 45 ml of the drug. This dose can be taken either once or previously divided into two parts.
After a few days of treatment, the initial dosage is adjusted. As a rule, it is reduced to 15-30 ml.
The therapeutic effect of taking such a medication appears in about 2-3 days.
Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy
For the treatment of this disease, an adult is prescribed 30-45 ml of syrup three times a day. After that, they switch to a maintenance volume of the drug. It is selected so that the patient’s soft stool is observed 2-3 times a day.
Overdose
In case of an overdose of a laxative, the following symptoms occur in patients: diarrhea and severe pain in the abdomen. To treat this condition, you need to stop taking the medicine or reduce its dose.
If a large amount of fluid is lost due to vomiting or diarrhea, the patient may need to adjust the water-electrolyte balance.
Side effects
Are there any side effects of Dufalac laxative? Reviews of adults say that in the first days of using this medication, bloating and increased gas formation are possible. Typically, these symptoms disappear after a few days.
When using the drug for a long time (in high dosages), the patient may disrupt the water-electrolyte balance. Undesirable reactions such as flatulence, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting also occur.
Pregnancy and lactation
Taking the drug in question does not imply any effect on the infant or fetus. This is due to the fact that the systemic effect of lactulose on a nursing or pregnant woman is negligible. In this regard, the drug "Dufalac" can be prescribed during such periods.
It should also be noted that the tool in question does not affect the reproductive function of a person.
Drug interaction
The combination of Dufalac with antacids and some antibiotics can reduce the therapeutic effectiveness of the former.
The pharmacological action of the active component of the agent in question is accompanied by a decrease in the acidity of the contents of the colon. In this regard, such a drug can change the release of pH-dependent substances (for example, during treatment with 5-aminosalicylic acid drugs).
special instructions
Before taking a laxative, be sure to read the instructions or consult a doctor.
If abdominal pain occurs of unknown origin (before starting therapy) or if there is no therapeutic effect for several days, the patient should consult dhfxe.
Patients with diabetes should be aware that the drug "Dufalac" may contain a small amount of sugar (for example, galactose, lactose, epilactose or fructose). It should be noted that during the use of syrup in amounts recommended by a specialist for the treatment of constipation, the content of these components does not pose any danger to people with the aforementioned disease. As for the therapy of hepatic encephalopathy, it involves the use of high doses of the drug, which should certainly be taken into account by patients with diabetes mellitus.
For the treatment of young children, the laxative Dufalac should be used only in exceptional cases, strictly under the supervision of a pediatrician. It should also be borne in mind that during such therapy, a child may have impaired bowel movement reflex.
The use of the drug in question does not affect the person’s ability to drive a car or drive complex mechanisms.
Syrup "Dufalac": reviews of real people
Reviews about this drug are ambiguous. However, for the most part they are positive.
According to patients, the laxative syrup “Dufalac” allows not only to eliminate the problems of bowel movement, but also to improve the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. This is due to the fact that the active substance of the drug is able to increase the population of beneficial lactobacilli.
It should also be noted that most patients like the fact that the laxative has a therapeutic effect gently, does not have tonic effects on the smooth muscles of the uterus and rectum. In addition, the drug does not contribute to the occurrence of adverse reactions, and therefore it can be used in pediatrics, as well as for the treatment of pregnant women and nursing mothers.
In addition to the use of purely for therapeutic purposes, syrup is prescribed for specific diagnostics (for example, in preparation for colonoscopy). By the way, some patients claim that taking such a medication can smooth out the discomfort with this type of study.
In fairness, it should be noted that the tool in question has negative reviews. Some people complain of the lack of any effect. In this case, doctors recommend contacting a specialist and undergo a medical examination.