LACTULOSE ALTER "66.7% ORAL SOLUTION" 180 ML BOTTLE"

Name
LACTULOSE ALTER 66.7% oral solution
Lactulose


What is it and what is it for?
Lactulose Alter contains lactulose, a laxative that stimulates intestinal motility.
This medicine is indicated in adults and children for the short-term treatment of occasional constipation.
Contact your doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 7 days.


What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not take Lactulose Alter
- if you are allergic to lactulose or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
- you have abdominal pain, even of unknown origin;
- if you have episodes of nausea or vomiting;
- you have a blockage or narrowing of the intestine (intestinal stenosis);
- you have rectal bleeding of unknown origin, you are severely dehydrated (excessive water loss from the body).


Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Lactulose Alter.

Health education notes: Keep in mind that, in most cases, a balanced diet rich in water and fiber (bran, vegetables, and fruit) can resolve constipation. Many people think they suffer from constipation if they are unable to have a bowel movement every day. This is a misconception, as this condition is completely normal for a large number of people.
Constipation, however, occurs when bowel movements are less frequent than usual and are associated with hard stools. If you experience recurring episodes of constipation, you should consult your doctor.

Treatment of chronic or recurrent constipation always requires medical intervention for diagnosis, medication prescription, and monitoring during therapy.
Consult your doctor before taking this medicine in the following cases:
- if the need for a laxative arises from a sudden change in previous bowel habits (frequency and characteristics of bowel movements) that lasts for more than two weeks or when the use of a laxative fails to produce any effects;
- if he is elderly or debilitated;
- if you suffer from diabetes, because this medicine may contain other types of sugars (lactose, galactose, tagatose);
- if you suffer from a bowel disorder called meteorism (excessive production and accumulation of gas in the intestines). In this case, take the lowest dose at the beginning of treatment; this dose may be gradually increased based on your condition;
- if you suffer from constipation that lasts for long periods (chronic) or is frequent.

Prolonged use of laxatives can cause persistent diarrhea resulting in a loss of water, mineral salts, and other essential nutrients from the body.
In more serious cases, dehydration (excessive loss of water from the body) or hypokalemia (decrease in potassium levels in the blood) may occur, which can cause problems with the heart, nerves and muscles (cardiac or neuromuscular dysfunction), especially in case of concomitant use of medicines used for heart rate problems (cardiac glycosides), medicines used to lower blood pressure (diuretics) and anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.

Laxative abuse can cause dependence (the need to continually increase the dosage), chronic constipation, and intestinal atony (loss of normal intestinal function).

Children
In children under 12 years of age, Lactulose Alter should only be used after consulting a doctor.


Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following side effects:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Abdominal pain; flatulence (excessive gas production in the intestines).

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Abdominal distension; urgency to defecate; diarrhea, nausea; reduced appetite; headache.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Vomit

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
Loss of electrolytes (salts in the blood), allergic reactions, rash, itching, hives.

Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse .
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.