How long is it safe to take lactulose?

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How long is it safe to take lactulose?

Postby ButtQueen » 21 Jan 2014, 11:05

Hey there fissure fellows!

I am new to the forum. A quick history regarding my fissure buddy here:

First diagnosed with anal fissure in November 2013 after I passed an extremely large and dry BM that literally stuck in between. Had to strain my intestines out to get it out (lucky that did not get me heamorrhoids). The result was blood in the toilet bowl that looked like a lot. From this day on, I had hard BMs for seven days that would feel like passing razor blades or shards of glass, followed by intense burning and itchy feeling for 6 hours that would make sitting/walking/lying down, all a hell.

So after this terrible week, finally decided to visit my family GP. As suspected, she saw a fissure down there, which was also infected. Yikes! Anyway, along with a topical anaesthetic, an anti-bacterial ointment and a lactulose syrup, I was also prescribed a 6-day anti-biotic course. All of this combined very well and the fissure was safely on to its road of recovery, when exactly after 2 weeks, it re-tore after a relatively harder piece of stool. The excruciating pain while having a BM was back and I cried my eyes out!

Anyway, went to the GP again in a panic. She only said that it was simply a small re-tear and that I should continue my fiber diet regimen and that it would heal in 8 to 10 days. It took exactly two weeks for it to reach to a point where I would not feel any pain while passing BM and little to no pain following it.

This brings me to today. When I had a slightly harder BM again today in the morning(not sure why, still taking Lactulose, with lots of water), the fissure got irritated again, followed by slight irritation that lasted for 3 to 4 hours.

So, the question is, how long is it safe to take Lactulose? I've been taking around a teaspoon every night, mixed in warm milk or water, for 2 months now. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
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Re: How long is it safe to take lactulose?

Postby JHH » 21 Jan 2014, 14:20

Hi there Queen.

Im on lactulose myself, and discussed this with my doctor. Lactulose is safe for long term use, since its not absorbed by the body. It just draws water into the colon.

I have been taking it for 8 months.

Good luck
JHH
- Fissure developed in Jan '13
- Started rectogesic in Feb '13 and diltiazem Apr '13.
- Got botox Jun '13
- Healed by Okt '13, although I still had some irritation for about a year.
- New fissure April '22, healed June 2022
- New fissure 24. December 2023
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Re: How long is it safe to take lactulose?

Postby ButtQueen » 21 Jan 2014, 19:50

Thanks! Good to know that. For some reason some pieces of my stool are still hard despite taking lactulose and they seem to cause some damage :/ Any suggestions?
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Re: How long is it safe to take lactulose?

Postby JHH » 22 Jan 2014, 09:05

I has that problem too. Like a plug first, then the rest was soft. I used both lactulose, magnesium and psylium husk to get rid of that. Oh, and plenty of water ;-)

Also prelubing with vaseline before BM made the plug come out easier.

P.S. i used 30ml lactulose/day, maby you need to increase the dose.
- Fissure developed in Jan '13
- Started rectogesic in Feb '13 and diltiazem Apr '13.
- Got botox Jun '13
- Healed by Okt '13, although I still had some irritation for about a year.
- New fissure April '22, healed June 2022
- New fissure 24. December 2023
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JHH
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Posts: 785
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Re: How long is it safe to take lactulose?

Postby JHH » 22 Jan 2014, 09:07

BTW. Have you tried miralax/movicol?. That stuff is the king of soft poo's...
- Fissure developed in Jan '13
- Started rectogesic in Feb '13 and diltiazem Apr '13.
- Got botox Jun '13
- Healed by Okt '13, although I still had some irritation for about a year.
- New fissure April '22, healed June 2022
- New fissure 24. December 2023
User avatar
JHH
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Posts: 785
Topics: 16
Joined: 22 Feb 2013, 17:00
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Has thanked: 48 times
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Re: How long is it safe to take lactulose?

Postby ButtQueen » 22 Jan 2014, 09:10

Thanks for your reply! You are a gem! Yes, maybe I need to up that dose a bit. I am scared to do that though, afraid that might give me diarrhea!
In answer to your second question, I am actually from Pakistan. We don't have movicol/miralax here. The only option that I have of is psyllium husk. But I am not sure about how or when to take it. Any suggestions here too?
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ButtQueen
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Re: How long is it safe to take lactulose?

Postby JHH » 22 Jan 2014, 12:35

Well. If you up your lactulose, you should do it slowly, cause like you say, it might cause diarrhea.
As for psylium husk, it works different from person to person. In some it might bulk the stool, so use with caution. I took one tablespoon morning and evening, and had good results.

I still think movicol is the best choice, and you might want to try order it online if its unavailable where you live.
- Fissure developed in Jan '13
- Started rectogesic in Feb '13 and diltiazem Apr '13.
- Got botox Jun '13
- Healed by Okt '13, although I still had some irritation for about a year.
- New fissure April '22, healed June 2022
- New fissure 24. December 2023
User avatar
JHH
Moderator
 
Posts: 785
Topics: 16
Joined: 22 Feb 2013, 17:00
Location: 6 o'clock
Has thanked: 48 times
Been thanked: 69 times
Gender: Male


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