How to choose the right products and create a diet

What is Duphalac used for?

The probiotic contained in the medicine stimulates intestinal peristalsis, increases the volume of feces and affects the metabolism of minerals: phosphorus, nitrogen salts and calcium. As a result, the absorption of toxic substances is reduced, internal microflora is normalized and defecation is facilitated.

Duphalac is indicated to eliminate intestinal dysfunction:

• acute and chronic constipation;
• slowing down the physiological emptying of the colon;
• excessively dense feces;
• various types of intestinal dysbacteriosis;
• dyspeptic syndrome;
• increased fermentation process;
• acute symptoms of hemorrhoids;
• hepatic encephalopathy and stool disorders caused by it

In some cases, Duphalac is used to prevent complications and to cleanse the intestinal lumen before abdominal surgery.

How does the product work?

The active ingredient of the drug is milk lactulose. Purified water is used as an auxiliary. There are no other components in the syrup. The principle of action of the medicine is determined precisely by its composition. After taking the drug, lactulose enters the stomach. Then, unchanged, the substance descends first into the small intestine, then into the large intestine.

Lactulose increases osmotic pressure in the intestine. The collected liquid helps soften the hard stool balls and increase their volume. As a result, irritation of the intestinal walls and the act of defecation occurs. Microorganisms living in the large intestine break down lactulose into amino acids necessary for the reproduction of lacto- and bifidobacteria.

Duphalac is often used for constipation, as it solves the problem not only quickly, but also gently. In this case, no disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract occur, since Duphalac “works” only in the lumen of the colon. This selective effect of the drug is explained by the fact that the bacteria necessary for the breakdown of lactulose do not live in other parts of the intestine.

Who is Duphalac contraindicated for?

Treatment with the drug is excluded:

• in case of individual intolerance to components;
• rectal and other internal bleeding;
• intestinal obstruction;
• acute pain syndrome of unknown origin;
• suspected development of appendicitis;
• galactosemia.

The medicine is used with caution in cases of carbohydrate metabolism disorders and diabetes mellitus.

Contraindications and side effects

Duphalac helps well against constipation and can be used in all age categories of patients, but there are contraindications for using the product. Contraindications for treatment with Duphalac are: intolerance to lactulose, galactose, fructose, gastrointestinal obstruction, galactosemia, diabetes mellitus (with caution). After taking Duphalac, various side effects can sometimes occur.

These are:

• flatulence;
• pain in the intestines;
• diarrhea;
• nausea, vomiting.

Increased gas formation goes away on its own two to three days after starting to take the drug. Pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting indicate an incorrect dosage. To correct the situation, you need to reduce the daily dosage of the medication.

Duphalac is a good and fairly safe remedy for constipation. But it is not recommended to use it without a doctor's recommendation. Only a specialist can select the required dosage that is unable to provoke unpleasant side symptoms.

How to take Duphalac correctly

The syrup is recommended for oral use: ingested, diluting with water if necessary. It is undesirable to retain the substrate in the mouth; you need to drink it quickly, in one sip, at regular intervals. Usually - 1 time per day.

Dosages depend on the severity of the physical condition. General recommendation: 15–45 ml of product per day. In this case, the initial dose is usually higher: 30–45 ml, and the maintenance dose: 15–25 ml. During the treatment period, you should drink at least 2 liters of liquid.

Use of Duphalac® in children

Duphalac® is a popular and affordable medicine used for constipation in children and adults. Its peculiarity is its mild action and the absence of age restrictions. Duphalac® can be given to children of any age, from newborns to teenagers.

The medicine is available in the most convenient form for children - in the form of syrup. Each package includes a bottle and a convenient measuring cup.

Required dosage

The active ingredient of Duphalac®1 is lactulose. It has osmotic properties, that is, it acts on the intestinal walls and feces: changing their consistency and stimulating the process of excretion of feces, and also helps restore the physiological rhythm of bowel cleansing. The medicine is not absorbed ahead of time, but goes directly into the large intestine, where it begins to break down.

When prescribing a laxative to children, it is important to ensure compliance with the dosage. Detailed instructions for the drug Duphalac® contain all the necessary information on proper use.

The dosage of the laxative depends on the age of the child1:

The dose of the drug is also determined by the doctor, it is indicated in the instructions and depends on age:

Duphalac®

Before giving Duphalac® to your child, carefully read the instructions.

The dose of the drug may vary depending on the stage of treatment. To maintain the achieved result, the dosage of Duphalac® for children under 6 years of age is not reduced, but for a school-age child it is reduced by 5 ml (to 10 ml).

In most cases, after a few days the initial dose can be reduced to a maintenance daily dose.

The daily dose of the drug can be taken once or several times a day. For a single dose, it is advisable to give the child syrup at approximately the same time. With proper treatment, the drug helps regulate the rhythm of the intestines and ensures the normalization of intestinal flora.

Effect of the drug Duphalac®

Duphalac® allows you to gently and effectively solve the problem of constipation in children of any age. Whatever the main reasons for stool retention - eating disorders or psychological problems - the drug helps remove unpleasant symptoms and relieve the child from discomfort.

Along with eliminating constipation itself, the medicine will help improve the microflora of the large intestine and establish a natural stool pattern. The drug is easy and pleasant to take: even the most stubborn little patient will not refuse the tasty syrup.

Duphalac® has no restrictions on the timing of use: it can be given as much as necessary. However, this does not eliminate the need to consult a doctor. If constipation systematically bothers your child, and the reasons for regular bowel retention are not clear, you should contact your pediatrician. The doctor will determine the main causes of the problem, give recommendations for taking the drug and talk about effective measures to prevent constipation.

The material was developed with the support of Abbott to improve patient health awareness. The information in the material does not replace consultation with a healthcare professional. Contact your doctor.

Co-author of articles, editor - Shimbaretsky Georgy Alekseevich.

When does Duphalac start to work?

This medicine is not an instant-acting medicine. It works gently without disturbing your overall well-being. For minor digestive disorders, the effect occurs within 4–8 hours. For persistent constipation, relief may take 1 to 3 days.

Positive signs:

• reducing the feeling of heaviness in the intestines;
• disappearance of spasms;
• softening of stool;
• defecation without difficulty.

Adverse reactions

In the first 72 hours of the therapeutic course, flatulence may be observed, which disappears on its own within 48 hours. Side effects include:

• gagging;
• stomach upset;
• weakness and lethargy;
• convulsions;
• headache;
• dizziness.

With such symptoms, there is no need to stop taking the drug. You need to contact a specialist to adjust the dose.

Advantages and disadvantages

A mild action is the main, but not the only advantage of a laxative. Other positive points include:

1. No addiction. Duphalac acts according to its intended purpose, that is, it reaches the large intestine, without being absorbed into the blood and tissues along the way.
2. Prebiotic affiliation. The product belongs to the group of prebiotics, therefore it improves the intestinal microflora, positively affecting the condition of the whole organism.
3. Antitoxic activity. The amount of harmful substances in the intestines when consuming lactulose is reduced. At the same time, the negative effects of toxins on the brain are prevented.
4. Stimulation of peristalsis. Since the product acts gently, the stool gradually liquefies and passes naturally without causing harm.

Along with the advantages, there are some disadvantages of the drug:

• Too sweet taste. The excessive sweetness of lactulose may appeal to children, but cause discomfort to adults.

Important! Despite the sweetness, the product does not contain sugar. Calorie content per 100 ml – 60 kcal. This dose does not lead to weight gain.

• Harm due to long-term use. Despite the mildness of the action, extremely long-term therapy can result in destabilization of the level of electrolytes in the blood plasma.
• High price. Compared to similar drugs, Duphalac is considered an expensive drug.

Efficiency in losing weight

Women often feel complex about being overweight. Some people prefer to cope with this problem through sports activities, while others exhaust themselves with diets. Some claim that you can get rid of 2-3 kg with the help of laxatives, which include Duphalac. In reality, the drug cannot in any way affect the problem of obesity itself. If taken frequently, it can only harm a woman’s body. When used regularly to lose weight, dehydration occurs because a lot of liquid comes out with the stool. This can lead to various diseases, including serious metabolic problems.

As a result, this leads to headaches and dizziness, and general health worsens. Therefore, you should not trust such information and use Duphalac for weight loss.

Analogs

Since Duphalac is not the cheapest drug, many are interested in its analogues. Effective remedies for constipation include Lizalak, Legendal, Lactulose and Goodluck. Among the Russian proven analogues is Lactusan, which is attractive due to its low price and good therapeutic effect. The Italian-made drug Normaze has proven itself well.

When choosing one or another analogue, you should first consult with a doctor, who, based on contraindications and individual characteristics, will select the appropriate remedy.

Indications for use of Dialact

Dialact is used to treat gastrointestinal diseases caused by microorganisms that disrupt the normal intestinal microflora:

• in the complex treatment of children, including newborns, premature babies, patients with pneumonia, sepsis and other purulent-infectious diseases for the prevention and relief of intestinal dysfunction in them and to prevent the development of necrotizing ulcerative enterocolitis;
• for acute intestinal infections (in the complex treatment of acute dysentery, salmonellosis, escherichiosis, viral diarrhea, etc.), for long-term intestinal dysfunction of staphylococcal etiology, as well as for the treatment of convalescents after acute intestinal infections with ongoing intestinal dysfunction;
• indicated for children born prematurely or with signs of prematurity who receive antibiotics in the early neonatal period; children whose mothers suffered from severe toxicosis, extragenital diseases, had a long anhydrous period or other pathology; children of mothers with lactostasis, cracked nipples and resuming breastfeeding after recovery from mastitis; weakened children with anemia, malnutrition, rickets, diathesis and other manifestations of allergies; with whooping cough, especially if they have other intestinal dysfunctions;
• older children and adults with acute chronic inflammatory diseases of the large and small intestines (colitis, enterocolitis), occurring against the background of microflora disturbances with a deficiency or absence of normal flora;
• for intestinal dysfunctions as a result of intestinal dysbiosis, which arose as a result of long-term antibacterial, hormonal, radiation and other therapy, during stressful situations and exposure to extreme conditions;
• in case of violation of the purity of vaginal secretions of the III-IV degree of the “risk” group; for bacterial colpitis caused by staphylococcus and Escherichia coli (in monoflora or associations), as well as for colpitis of a hormonal nature;
• in case of intoxication of the body;
• for food poisoning.

Best before date

The release and expiration dates are indicated on the label of the plastic bottle in which the product is released. Disposable paper or foil bags are sold in cardboard packaging. The expiration date is indicated on the right side and is 3 years.

Storing the drug at room temperature or in the refrigerator does not in any way affect the increase or decrease in shelf life. If there are 5-10 days left before its end, then you can take Duphalac, but provided that it was stored correctly.

After opening the bottle of syrup, the expiration date does not change. But if we are talking about a disposable bag, then after opening it the contents should be consumed within an hour.

Over time, a sediment may form, which should dissolve after a short shaking. In addition, Duphalac may lose its effectiveness and take longer to act on the body.

It is very easy to identify an expired or defective product. First of all, pay attention to the expiration date. Next, inspect the syrup for the presence of undissolved particles or impurities. The liquid is viscous, transparent, light brown in color.

Duphalac cannot be used after the expiration date. It can cause deterioration of the gastrointestinal tract.