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Original poster

Lactulose Dosage

14 replies

Vicky1989x · 21/02/2022 08:04

Was at GP last week for an unrelated issue but asked them to prescribe lactulose again for my DD instead of movicol as I’m having trouble getting her to take it.

Problem is, the dosage is the same as when she had it at 4 months (2.5ml twice a day) which isn’t working. Tried 5ml twice a day as GP told me at 8 months to try that but even that’s not working.

Just wondering how much others give for it to be effective? She’s 21 months.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 21/02/2022 08:29

My bottle says 5-10mls over age 1. That's for 3.335g/5ml strength. Maybe lactulose is not the right treatment for your dds constipation. Speak to the GP again

Lactulose Dosage
endofthelinefinally · 21/02/2022 08:30

Have you tried the ERIC help line? Are you managing to get plenty of liquids into her, plus stewed apple, prunes, porridge, vegetables? Personally, I found lactulose on its own not very good. You need to do all the other things too.

Original poster
Vicky1989x · 21/02/2022 08:49

Thanks @dementedpixie - GP is useless, just gave me some information on constipation (like I haven’t already read the whole of Google on it Hmm)

@endofthelinefinally She eats plenty of fruit and veg, prunes, pears.. the only problem I have with her is she doesn’t drink enough. I’ve tried so many different cups. Movicol is hard to get into her because of that, hence why I asked to try lactulose again.

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endofthelinefinally · 21/02/2022 08:52

Lactulose only works if you drink lots of fluid. Maybe you could increase wet food? Jelly, soup, ice lollies etc.

endofthelinefinally · 21/02/2022 08:55

You might need to add in something to increase motility. Have a chat with ERIC.

Mimi91 · 21/02/2022 14:58

How long has it been since her last bowel movement? Is it chronic?

I had the same issue with my DD recently (18m), she still BF and eats well, but when she became severely constipated she stopped drinking out of her cups. We ended up in a catch-22 situation as she wasn't drinking enough water, so wasn't pooing, so wasn't drinking, etc. Prunes, pears, apples, lactulose, movicol did nothing. Went back to the GP 3 times, she went almost 2 weeks without a single bowel movement.

In the end, I asked for a suppository and they agreed. Worked within 20 mins, then had a few days of lots of soft poo (so the laxatives and softeners did do something) and we haven't had any issues since. I think she got to the point of it being too painful to pass and started withholding. Her appetite and drinking water again came back almost immediately. So stressful isn't it! After explaining to the GP about DD refusing water, she just said "well she has to drink"....helpful!

Grasshopper90 · 21/02/2022 18:41

We had DD on 10ml per day at the same age, but whether it worked or not was hit or miss. She’s now on Movicol and will drink it in juice or squash. Have you tried that? I know the sweet drinks aren’t ideal but far better than a constipated, miserable toddler.

Inthesky42 · 21/02/2022 20:00

My GP had my son on 10ml 3x a day (30ml across the day) until he was reliably doing a soft and non painful poo. Yes that is way over the recommended dose but his justification was that it is so important for him to learn to poo without pain so that he doesn't end up with a longer term problem such as a distended bowl. We followed the advice. It worked. He is now sill taking 10ml a day and pooing without pain but he is on it for a long time... Every time we try to reduce / get rid of it he's constipated again.
Try diluted apple juice to get him to have more water.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 21/02/2022 20:02

Definitely look at the ERIC website.

You can get chocolate flavoured movicol or you can make it up per instructions and add it to hot chocolate.

Original poster
Vicky1989x · 21/02/2022 21:39

@Mimi91 Sounds exactly like my DD! It’s so stressful. I tried a suppository but she kept pushing it back out 😂 glad it worked for your DD! I think lactulose gives her a bellyache, might have to go back to movicol.

OP posts:
Original poster
Vicky1989x · 21/02/2022 21:42

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I took her back to the GP this evening as I’ve had enough of seeing her in pain. He’s agreed to a blood test as I’m Coeliac myself so want to rule that out.

As for movicol suggestions, I think I’m gonna go back to it. If I put it in her juice or milk how would that work? Normally it’s 1 sachet to 60ml of water so say I made 6oz of juice do I just put 1 sachet, would it still be effective?

OP posts:
HiKelsey · 21/02/2022 21:51

Little one doesn't have a milk allergy at all does she?x

Duracellbunnywannabe · 21/02/2022 21:58

@Vicky1989x

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I took her back to the GP this evening as I’ve had enough of seeing her in pain. He’s agreed to a blood test as I’m Coeliac myself so want to rule that out.

As for movicol suggestions, I think I’m gonna go back to it. If I put it in her juice or milk how would that work? Normally it’s 1 sachet to 60ml of water so say I made 6oz of juice do I just put 1 sachet, would it still be effective?

You make up the one sachet with 60 ml of water and then add that to the juice.
Crumbkee · 19/05/2022 16:40

Has your child ever had any dental problems from lactulose since they have been on it for a long time? Mine has been on it for a month.

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