Why does the laxative lactulose take about 48 hours to work?

Answer 1

So to give you time to stock up on the loo paper

Answer 2

Lactulose is what is known as an osmotic laxitive.
In normal terms this means that it drags water into the bowel around the lactulose to make the stools softer.

The reason that it takes a few days to work is that the lactulose takes a while to move through the bowel. Also if there are rather hard stools waiting to get out, they still have to be expelled from the rectum beofre the lactulose stools can come through.

If the time your food takes to get through the bowels is a bit longer too, then the lactulose will take even longer to work.

Answer 3

Lactulose is a synthetic Sugar used to treat constipation. In the treatment of chronic constipation, Lactulose is broken down in the colon into products that pull water out from the body and into the colon through osmotic action. This water softens stools causing a cathartic effect. It can be especially useful for negating the constipating effects of opiates and opioids.
The United States is the only country in the world that requires a prescription for purchase.
Please see the webpages for more details on Lactulose.
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Answer 4

Can be anywhere for 24-48 hours, depending on how fast your digestive system is. It's an osmotic laxative and has to pass though your entire gastric tract to reach your bowel before it can work. When there, it's high glucose content encourages water into the bowel, which means that the faeces is bulkier and therefore easier for your muscles to move.

Answer 5

Instead of the laxative try this, 16oz glass fill half way up with cranberry juice, add tablespoon of baking soda, mix well (it will foam up) and drink. Don't go too far from the bathroom. This will clean you out and it also helps to reduce the acid in your body. I do this to avoid colds. Works for me.

Answer 6

That stuff really didn't work for me, at all. And it's partly to do with the speed of your digestion regularly amd how slow it is now. Remember to drink lots.

Answer 7

When I took it it didn't take as long as that, but there is another one available called Laxoberol, it is much stronger and you can buy it over the counter. Just don't take too much!

Answer 8

It doesn't always - depends why you take it. If constipated it takes longer to work than if you're given it to clear you out prior to an operation.

Answer 9

in reply to that last answer about America and prescriptions - in Britain it is obtained on prescription too. They are extremely careful about issuing it too, as the pharmacist phoned the surgery to check why I was presenting a prescription for an adut dose for treatment for my (almost) three year old child. (I did get it because that is what the hospital ordered)