Lactulose and Bloating: What Users Say

• Mis...
• January 9, 2014

For Constipation, Chronic "I've taken codeine and morphine for a long time and have been constipated for years, on and off. I've tried senna, Movicol, and they'd take at least 5 days to work. And the taste of 2 Movicol sachets with 250ml was yuck. Also made me bloated. I've started lactulose on 15ml 3 times a day, but around 2 hours after taking 15ml, I was going to the bathroom! It's very convenient too as I just add the 15ml to a drop of juice/squash. Very happy to have found something so good, but it does cause me a lot of wind."

• Wes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2021

For Constipation, Chronic "I have never written a review for a product, but wished to register for an account to share my experience for those of you that may be experiencing a similar problem. I'm 50, gym-fit, 2 personal training sessions a week, and a textbook nutritional intake. I had not taken a laxative in my life, but suddenly I could not goooooooo. This has been going on for 8 weeks. Tried Laxido, Dulcolax, and Fibogel, and eventually came across this site and decided to try Lactulose. It really took me a week to tailor the measurement to my body, initially taking 45ml doses twice a day - in bed and with breakfast. This dose caused runny poo, bloating, and obscene gas. I then knocked it down to 15ml at similar times, and hurrahhhhhhh, I have found the perfect dose. I have been 5 mornings in a row, comes out easily and formed. The sudden bowel change and family medical history of bowel cancer ensued that I have a colonoscopy booked in for next Tuesday. Good luck all - find the correct measure for you."

• Lor...
• October 20, 2016

For Constipation, Chronic "I've literally tried everything for my constipation. A high-fiber diet made it worse, and I was relying on more dangerous laxatives. Lactulose didn't work for me to begin with until my gynecologist told me to increase my dosage, so I take 40 ml twice a day. I now have a bowel movement every day, whereas in the past, I'd go once a week and still be blocked up. It is a lifesaver. The only negative thing about it is the water retention. It has made my stomach so bloated and made me gain about 5 lbs in water weight, but these side effects are tolerable. I'll just keep to loose-fitted tops for the mean time :)"

• Blo...
• December 8, 2016

For Constipation, Chronic "I have had chronic constipation since 5 years old. I had chronic pain from a condition I was born with, and at 30 received OxyContin for the pain, otherwise, I would be in a wheelchair. As a child, after eating, I would bloat, I still do, even on just 2 cups of coffee. It has taken 4 days for lactulose to work, but I feel a lot better. My doctor said, 'water, water, water!' as the lactulose draws the water into our bowels. She also mentioned trying the MSP diet, as you can be misdiagnosed as IBS and it could be certain proteins and sugars, as well as wheat, barley, beans, and dairy, which makes it too hard for our gut to process."

• Ver...
• December 5, 2017

For Constipation, Acute "This worked after 48 hours. The label said that it could take up to 48 hours, but most of the other reviews said that it worked much faster, so when it didn't work quickly for me, I began to lose hope. Thankfully, it worked, pretty much exactly after 48 hours. I'm in my second trimester, and hadn't done a poo for 4 days, and the last time had been very painful. I'd felt incredibly bloated and uncomfortable, and hunched over when I walked, and couldn't get comfortable to sleep. When I first went again after 48 hours, it wasn't easy, but it wasn't really painful either. I stirred the medicine into large glasses of water to help me drink enough fluids, and also to dilute the excessively sweet taste."

• lro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2022

For Constipation, Chronic "This works better for me than Miralax — which worked well but less consistently after taking it for a few years. I am underweight due to the GI issues making it hard to eat (110 lbs, 5 ft 6 in man), so I take a small dose, 10 mL RIGHT before bed to avoid any gas pain (which isn’t bad, I sleep on my left side to help it pass, gone by AM) and drink 4-8 oz of water with it. If I’m not well hydrated, I learned I will cramp, but that’s an easy fix. By the AM after coffee, I’m good to go. No diarrhea usually, just normal stool w/o pain. No bloating or nausea either. It leaves a coating in the throat, so I chase it with juice and then drink water. I’d recommend using a syringe and aiming it past the tongue if the taste bothers you. Initially, I was backed up, so I took 15 mL 2x/day and now maintain with up to 10 mL nightly, occasionally 15 mL nightly if I’ve had a lot of carbs or fibrous veggies. I’m now able to eat well and gain weight."

• DaD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2021

For Constipation, Chronic "The negative effects of this medication make it the worst I have ever experienced in 70 years of living! Abdominal bloating, incredibly painful stomach pressure, diarrhea, sweating, pressure on the prostate gland, and hardly any relief from constipation. Let the user beware!"

• Bos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2023

For Constipation, Chronic "After trying several other medications that didn’t work, my doctor prescribed Lactulose at 30 ml twice a day. I decided to take 15 ml to be safe. Well, I did have a bowel movement, but with the worst stomach cramps and bloating. The cramps are unbearable. I only took this medication once, and it’s horrible. I personally will never take it again."

• Joe...
• February 6, 2020

For Constipation, Acute "I was prescribed lactulose for constant bloating and constipation, but the taste is disgusting and tastes so overly sweet (like drinking syrup). Apart from that, I find that it doesn't work as well at all, unlike the sodium picosulphate, which works instantly after 7 hours. This laxative isn't as effective at all, apart from that, it causes excessive wind, and they smell so bad to the point it's too disgusting to bear. Plus, I can't tell when it's a fart or a poo, neither is it scary to expel it in case I poo myself. TMI, I know, but it's true! I don't think it's as good for constipation, but it's good for wind. It also has not helped with bloating, as I still wake up bloated and have it all day and night."

• Hel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2022

For Constipation, Acute "I suffer from constipation a lot. I generally need help once a week from a laxative. I take this when I have no other choice because it tastes so bad. It’s so thick and just disgusting. On the plus side, the stuff works. I get very, very bloated afterward, look about 6 months pregnant for 12 hours after. The gas is pretty chronic. The smell is also not great. I take huge doses in one go (50 mL plus) because it just doesn’t work other than that, sadly. I fully recommend it; however, have no callers that day to your home as toilet trips will be frequent and audible."

• ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2024

"Wow, I suffered really bad bloating to the point I was so exhausted. I tried everything from probiotics to digestive enzymes, nothing was helping. I felt like I had so much water retention. I thought I needed to try something to see if it helps relieve the heavy bloating feeling. I took 15 ml, and within two hours, my stomach was rumbling away, then I broke wind numerous times. As much as this is gross, I knew it was working, and the relief I got from it was amazing. I felt like a massive balloon at first that slowly got smaller. Now I feel 7 lbs lighter."

• Ott...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2021

"Earlier this evening, had 'severe cramps and bloating but no output into my colostomy bag.' I think it could be related to a Metro Egg Sandwich that I had earlier. Tried Divol Plus and 2 Extra Strength Tylenol and heating pad...nothing helped. Called Shoppers in Toronto, they suggested I take 1/2 capful of lactulose. It did the trick within 15 minutes, cleared me right out. Cramps dropped 80%. Came within seconds of calling 911, but I didn't, and I made it through. Remember, too much can cause serious diarrhea in the colostomy bag, so limit lactulose if you can. Take every 3 to 4 days. Not too much."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2022

For Constipation, Chronic "I developed chronic constipation out of nowhere and am a vegetarian, had tests run, colonoscopy, etc., no answers but was suffering daily, every day. Tried dietary changes, bowel training, Movicol, Metamucil, more water, you name it. Became extremely debilitating and distressing. After 8 months of this nightmare, I tried Lactulose (Actilax), and whilst it took a week to really work, now I’m having a normal BM same time daily. I’m currently taking 20 ml twice daily, you may need to see what dose works for you. I know medicine isn’t always a long-term solution, but when you are suffering, it’s worth a shot until you can find another solution. I will keep taking it daily along with a healthy diet, etc., until I can see another specialist. Beware, initially it can cause bloating and discomfort, so start off slowly and drink plenty of water and build up the dose rather than start big."

• Nik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2021

For Constipation, Acute "FLATULENCE! So chronic you’d almost be proud of it. Don’t have visitors over or even use this on a day when you have an empty house. I use it when I maybe drift away from my usual diet and need help, so maybe once or twice a month I take 60 ml in one go. Your poo basically ends up as liquid by the end of the experience. I used to use it every day for a while, but found I was both bloated and flatulent."

• Ata...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 25, 2017

For Constipation, Acute "I have been taking Duphalac for the past 2 years and was quite satisfied with its results. But for the past 4 months, I have been having the problem of excessive water retention and bloating in my abdomen. Water retention was such that my stomach used to get swollen, and hence I had a loss of appetite. Because of my inflated abdomen, I used to feel chest pain along with dry coughing. It was really a miserable feeling as I had lost 5 kg in weight because of not having proper meals. Finally, I had to stop Duphalac, and within 3-4 days, the water retention, bloating, etc., had stopped. It's my advice to people facing a similar problem to stop Duphalac immediately and switch to some other laxative after consulting the doctor."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2021

For Constipation, Chronic "I have been constipated badly, many visits to ER, urgent care, and many CT scans, X-ray, and always dry stools stuck in the intestines. One doctor prescribed lactulose. At first, it caused me bloating. I called the pharmacist and recommended 15 ml and Gas X together. Now I have my normal BM."

• Hon...
• November 27, 2021

For Constipation, Chronic "Brand: XactDose. Manufacturer: VistaPharm. Dose: 20g/30mL. Great results with this medication. I was using Miralax for a few days (4 or so) but didn't get any results. I then took XactDose after going to a doctor. First day taking it, I felt really gassy and bloated within 3-4 hours. My second day I experienced the same things, only this time I actually expelled a good amount of stool. It felt like a decent burden was done away with, and I felt lighter. It's my go-to whenever I get really constipated, it works very well. Didn't get the same results with generic lactulose (10g/15mL) that I got after I ran out of XactDose. I even tried a double dose of it. Maybe I should've tried one more day with the doubled dose? Oh, and it seems like Sam's Club pharmacy is the only place that is able to get this for you now. Many pharmacies don't have it. Call around and ask for lactulose made by the manufacturer VistaPharm and save yourself some gas."

• Kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2023

For Constipation, Acute "After 30 ml (2 doses), I had horrible bloating, gas, pain, nausea, and an unwell feeling. Had to discontinue use."