Another Question about Latolose

[Flowerchild700]

This something I've wondered about from time to time, but never asked because it didn't usually apply to me, until now. I have Cirrhosis.  On my bottle of lactulose it says TAKE 30 ML 3-4 TIMES A DAY to achieve 2 to 3 bowel movements a day. Does that mean if I have 2 to 3 BMs without the lactulose, then I don't need it,  AND if that's true then can't I just take the laxative of my choice, and if not why?

[Flowerchild700]

I want to thankyou all for you wonderful answers. I forgot to say that before,
because I started falling to sleep typing. I couldn't hold my eyes open. I had to go lay down.

[Flowerchild700]

She's my primary.
I see a someone at the hepatitis C Clinic at duke also, but right now only see her about once every six months. I guess that will change when I get on the treatment. It was to far for me to drive all the time. But now I have someone to drive me . I quit driving driving completely about a year ago. I had to depend on "the van" for transportation.It was terrible. But now my Son In Law is staying with me. He's pretty dependable about taking me to appointments.      

[patra_]

Are there other hepas or infectious disease Drs in your area?  when you get cut off twice, when you have a list, I have to wonder about the Dr?  Yes, they are busy, BUT...especially when you have that kind of problem.

Hope you either grt the attention and answers you need or that you are able to find a new Dr.

Hang in there!   Pat

[Flowerchild700]

Such good answers!      But I still know if I'm having 2-3 BMs, am I still in danger of getting HE. I don't usually have that many BMs. I guess it was all the fresh Veggies I was eating. But if it should happen again what should I do. I don't want to have diarrhea. It is definitely a balancing act all the time, for me when taking lactulose ( flyinlynn). Dbze2  I've wondered about Mirolax as it works by a similar method. I guess I need to ask my doctors, but they always seem to busy to answer all my questions. I've had one doctor to cut me off  when twice when I made a list. and say we'd have to take a little at a time me

[flyinlynn]

I cant seem anything that says Miralax is the same as Lactulose.

I did find
The chemical name for Lactulose is 4-0-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-fructofuranose. The molecular weight is 342.30. It is freely soluble in water.

MiraLax (polyethylene glycol 3350, NF) is a synthetic polyglycol having an average molecular weight of 3350.

I did run accross some other interesting information about probiotics among them Lactobacillus plantarum  being possibly helpful in reducing minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Also helpful for irritable bowel syndrome

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3631524/

Might be worth discussing with your doctor.