• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
• Mix with juice, milk, water, or sweet foods to improve taste.
• Those who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Dilute with water first. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.
• If for constipation, drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Many times this medicine is taken on an as needed basis.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
Created: 2005-04-07 16:53:10.0
Modified: 2010-03-09 08:19:02.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Do not take antacids with this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
• Belly pain or heartburn.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Diarrhea.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Severe dizziness or passing out.
• Severe diarrhea.
• Severe belly pain.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
• If you have an allergy to lactulose or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you are on a low-galactose or lactose-free diet.
• If you are taking other laxatives.
• Lactulose decreases absorption of toxins into the system.
• It softens the stool by increasing its water content.
• This medicine is used to prevent or treat changes in thinking caused by severe liver disease.
• This medicine is used to treat constipation. It may take 1-2 days to see the full effect.
