Anyone had experience of lactulose?

[undercoverelephant]

DD (14 months) is really constipated - strains and cries out in pain but doesn't pass anything (or very little). I'm going to see the doctor about it tomorrow, but started her today on lactulose, at pharmacist's suggestion.
Does anyone know how long it takes to start working? Also, is there anything I can do to prevent constipation in the long run? I offer her high fibre foods/fruit and veg/water/breastmilk every day. But she doesn't eat a great deal.

[posieparksherbroom]

I had a fair bit too much after dc4, just stick to the dose it won't be too long!

[Indith]

It takes 3 or 4 days.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

Lactulose is a stool softener, it doesn't hasten transit in the same way that senna does for example.
I had lactulose for a while whilst taking codeine, it is the most nauseating substance known to man.

[Pogleswood]

You need to make sure they drink enough as well,that was always our problem as DD wouldn't drink much.(For the lactulose,and the original problem)
In the long run I think it helps to watch what she does eat and see what works,and what she'll eat - we always found tinned mandarins worked really well keeping constipation at bay,or curing it,and both the DC's like them! Fruit comes with built- in water too,which helps.
Hope you sort it out!

[Divatheshopaholic]

we had problem with dd at around 12m and after 2-3 days of crying and not pushin it, our gp prescribed lactulose, it did not take long, we only gave her tiny little in her water. she loved apple and fruit puree, i think its baby milk the problem since went to cow`s milk she was fine.

[treedeLivingDeadery]

It's ok if it's the sweetened type. They need to drink masses of fluid, both for the constipation, and for the way lactulose works. We used it for 18 monts, later adding in movicol. Then a visit to the chiropractor sorted it out in 2 trips. DD needs a spine check every month now, and no meds. After 4 years of constipation! Might be worth a trip just to check her neck isn't out or her pelvis or something. We wish we had gone sooner. x

[alypaly]

it is an osmotic laxative rather than a purgative. In other words its a gentle laxative ..which works better if you drink as much as poss too. Can take 3-4 days to start working so dont give up with the doses.