Lactulose ibs

[JulieB5200]

Has anyone else suffered awful side effects with lactulose?My consultant has prescribed it for ibs c but it has made me so ill today.Took just 10ml last two days and this morning I had severe cramps and diarrhoea.This evening my stomach is so painful and windy I don’t know what to do with myself!I won’t be taking any of that again 🙈

[sophiezara]

I can’t take it either I get terrible cramps and really bad wind

[JulieB5200 in reply to sophiezara]

Thanks for your reply.I have been awake in the night and still feeling rough this morning.It has caused so much pain,cramping and wind.Hoping and praying it settles down today.x

[Sandra600]

I had side effects too, ask if you can try macrogol instead brand names movicol/laxido/transisoft it’s much gentler

[JulieB5200 in reply to Sandra600]

Thank you for your reply. I have been up in the night with pain and griping.I’m hoping it settles today .I have laxido off my gp and yeah that’s never made me suffer severe pain.Don’t know why the gastroenterologist has prescribed this but I definitely won’t be taking anymore!

[Sandra600 in reply to JulieB5200]

I’ve been on macrogol for years, I have tried lactulose but I would never take it again either, it’s awful. Hope you feel better soon, good luck x

[JulieB5200 in reply to Sandra600]

Me too!Thank you x

[xjrs]

If you have IBS lactulose is not normally recommended since it acts as a prebiotic:

theibsnetwork.org/constipat...

Since these substances are fermented by colonic bacteria, they may make symptoms of wind, bloating and pain worse and can cause anal irritation and soreness. These symptoms tend to clear as your bowel gets used to the medication.

I have IBS-C and have been prescribed Linaclotide for it and I am also taking Alflorex probiotic which has been scientifically studied for IBS. These in combination have reduced the pain I am in considerably and I have been able to tolerate more foods so that I am able to consume the extra fibre I need to have a BM. Linaclotide is meant to increase transit time and help with pain. Linaclotide reduced my pain by 50%-60%. When I added in Alflorex, the pain reduced to zero and only comes back when I am reintroducing foods back into my diet and before my body adapts (or I have to give up on that food).

To improve constipation in the short term you can try ground flaxseed on your breakfast, starting at 1 teaspoon and increasing at 1 teaspoon every 2-3 days - you'll need to consume extra water with it.

This is what I have for breakfast: 75g oat bran, 50g of all (wheat) bran soaked overnight in water plus 10 almonds & 1 tablespoon flaxseed ground together, 2 tablespoon chia seeds and 9 prunes plus homemade oat milk - all soaked for a further 15 mins (so the chia seeds form a gel).

Note that any increases in fibre need to be performed on a gradual basis. Note that I'd needed the Alflorex first to make me more tolerant to some of the FODMAPs in some of the foods mentioned.

There is also Shredded wheat (or GF version: Nutribrex) .

Before lunch I have 1 orange (which contains a natural laxative).

Before dinner I have one of these high fibre fruits:

2 small hard pears

5 dried apricots

90g Raspberries

2 kiwi

I bulk buy fruit and freeze where necessary to allow me to have this variety.

At other meals I have:

Quinoa

Wholewheat bread

Whole grain pastas (Spelt or GF: Buckwheat)

If you eat potatoes, you can try sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes since they have much higher fibre content, plus they contain a natural osmotic laxative (mannitol).

I also take 30 drops of ginger extract in a little water before bedtime to aid motility. You may need to work up the dose to say 7 drop increments each night.

I have been giving Optifibre a go, which has been helping but I need to be careful with the amount since it gives me gas.

Exercise can help with BMs. The government recommends 150 mins of moderate exercise (e.g. walking as if you are late for an appointment) or 75 of intense exercise (e.g. jogging) per week. I also have a bit of a walk around straight after breakfast to get things moving.

You need to ensure that you are drinking enough fluids (2 litres of fluid per day).

There is some good advice about constipation here:

theibsnetwork.org/constipat...

theibsnetwork.org/constipat...

[Hidden]

Same here lactulose is rubbish just ferments and causes lots of wind and pain x

[JulieB5200 in reply to Hidden]

You’re not kidding.Duno what it’s done to my gut but I feel like I’ve done ten rounds in the boxing ring!!😴

[Hidden in reply to JulieB5200]

Movicol laxido might be the lesser of the two evils lol x

[binks]

You poor thing! I can’t believe there are still consultants out there who are prescribing lactulose for ibs. Won’t have done you any harm but honestly! You won’t get used to it either so persevering doesn’t work. Just avoid it x

[JulieB5200 in reply to binks]

Ha you’d think they would know better 😞.When I get my next telephone apt I’m guessing his response will be you took too much!However I only took half of what he prescribed but it had adverse effects on my gut.x