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A member asked:
What is lactulose, and why is it given to liver patients?
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Non-digestible sugar: Lactulose is a non-digestible sugar. When ingested, it is metabolized by normal colon bacteria into small fatty acids, acetic acid, & lactic acid. The extra h+ attracts & binds ammonia (nh3) from the blood creating ammonium (nh4+). This is trapped in the colon & defecated out. This reduces the overall blood ammonia concentration which worsens hepatic encephalopathy. But it also causes diarrhea.
Answered 12/29/2019
6.2k views
Lactulose: Lactulose is used to remove ammonia from the blood of patients with advanced liver failure in an effort to prevent liver coma. It removes ammonia from the blood and into the colon so it can be removed from the body.
Answered 1/30/2020
237 views
Related Questions
A member asked:
Husband has liver fibrosis bridging cirrhosis but stopped drinking. takes lactulose and stopped drinking three months ago.will disesase get better?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
What would the consequences be if someone with alcoholic liver disease stopped taking lactulose? Can the amonia levels get so high it could be deadly
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Diagnosed with cirrhosis in 2009 taking lactulose & Lasix (furosemide) what is my prognosis without liver transplant?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
Lab says normal liver ammonia is between 27-102.husbands is 108 and doctor put him on lactulose. has stage 3 fibrosis.why when ammonia not that high?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Colace, miralax, (polyethylene glycol) or lactulose. Which is safer for heart patients who also have chronically low potassium?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
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