Lactulose

pharmacological · digestive · Oral

Lactulose. Synthetic disaccharide laxative — non-absorbable; bacterial fermentation in colon produces short-chain fatty acids → osmotic + mild… Oral half-life 2 h.

Synthetic disaccharide laxative — non-absorbable; bacterial fermentation in colon produces short-chain fatty acids → osmotic + mild prokinetic effect. Also used in hepatic encephalopathy: lowers gut pH, traps NH4+ for fecal excretion → drops blood ammonia.