Duphalac for newborns - release forms, dosages, mechanism and duration of action of the drug, contraindications

Constipation in a newborn

With the birth of a baby, new mothers face many problems, but the main difficulties include bowel movements in children under one year old.
This includes colic, diarrhea, and constipation in infants, which requires the intervention of adults and doctors.

Among the variety of drugs produced by modern pharmacology, the recommendations of pediatricians come down to the drug Duphalac, which helps to quickly regulate the amount of bowel movements in children.

After passing meconium, children's stool becomes normally soft. During the first 2 months after the baby is born, the frequency of stools is up to 7 times per day. After a month, the number of bowel movements will decrease to 3. If constipation is observed, Duphalac, which belongs to a number of prebiotic and osmotic agents and has a laxative effect, will come to the rescue:

1. increases the volume of stool, softening it
2. prevents fluid from being absorbed into the blood, retaining it in the rectum
3. increases the amount of beneficial microflora in the children's intestines
4. prevents the appearance of pathogenic microflora

The medicine is released in the form of a viscous transparent solution. Shades range from completely colorless to faint yellow. There may be a light brown tint. The basis for the raw material in the production of the drug is cow's milk whey - a more natural medicine cannot be found. Due to the properties of Duphalac, it can be given to infants suffering from dysbacteriosis.

Osmotic laxatives have a lot of disadvantages, so their long-term use for chronic constipation does not give the desired result and relief. Duphalac compensates for the negative aspects due to the presence of prebiotics in it. They in turn:

1. Stimulates intestinal motility in children under one year old
2. Removes toxins from the body
3. Improves the absorption of calcium salts and phosphates
4. Remove ammonium ions
5. Not addictive in infants

The effect of the drug begins in the right place: under the influence of intestinal microflora, lactulose is broken down, increasing the acidity level and increasing osmotic pressure. Due to this property, the volume of feces increases.

The remedy is prescribed 4 days after the absence of bowel movements, if the baby has not previously begun to show concern in the form of constant pushing and crying.

After 3-4 days from the moment of the last bowel movement, the baby will no longer cope with the problem on his own, and an enema is not the optimal solution. It weakens intestinal functions, leads to a deficiency of beneficial microflora and is addictive.

At the same time as taking the medicine, you should review the diet of the nursing mother or replace the mixture with a more suitable one.

Prebiotics also have disadvantages, as the instructions warn about. The therapeutic effect does not occur immediately, but at least after a day. For some children, results become noticeable within a few days. However, compared to other fast-acting drugs, Duphalac provides long-lasting and lasting improvement, which is important for infants.

The instructions for use of the drug state that they are successfully treated:

1. constipation
2. putrefactive dyspepsia syndrome
3. enteritis
4. dysbacteriosis
5. various liver dysfunctions

The product can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription, and the period of use lasts up to 3 years. The medicine must be stored in a cool, dark place.

Dosage and advice

The initial volume of the medicine is no more than 2.5 ml, which corresponds to ½ teaspoon.

Give Duphalac once a day.

If the baby is only a few days old, you should start with 1 ml of the drug, gradually increasing the volume to 5 ml. Otherwise, colic cannot be avoided.

You can increase the dosage after 3 days if stool still does not appear.

It is important to consider that the maximum daily volume of medication for children under one year of age does not exceed 5 ml.

If the maximum dose is prescribed to an infant, it must be divided into 2 doses.

The duration of treatment varies from 3 weeks to 1 month.

Modern pediatricians focus the attention of parents on an important detail: Duphalac is given to the child exclusively as a course. Using the drug “in raids” is pointless, because it will take time to restore the intestinal microflora, so you can’t expect a one-time effect from the drug.

The intestines will empty during the day, and the baby will be able to rest in the evening and at night. The medication can also be used occasionally if constipation is not too bothersome and occurs rarely.

However, such “first aid” is acceptable only after a pediatrician has prescribed it.

Typically, the prescribed volume of the drug is diluted in a large amount of liquid. When the product enters the intestines, it attracts fluid from it, and with constipation, there is a lack of moisture. The more you drink with Duphalac, the faster the result will appear. But you won’t be able to offer children under one year old a lot to drink, especially if the baby is fed mother’s milk.

The drug must be carefully diluted in a small amount of mother’s milk, boiled water or mixture and given to the baby using a teaspoon. You can use a syringe (without a needle) for this purpose. After the baby swallows the medicine, it is applied to the breast or offered a bottle with an adapted mixture.

Lactulose acts as an active ingredient in the drug, therefore, if a child has lactose intolerance, Duphalac cannot be used. It is prohibited when:

1. galactose intolerance
2. lactase deficiency
3. glucose-galactose malabsorption
4. intestinal obstruction
5. diabetes mellitus

Parents cannot give their child an accurate diagnosis, and therefore self-medication often leads to disastrous consequences. Before using the medicine, a doctor's examination is necessary.

In newborns, Duphalac during the first 24 hours can cause:

1. cramps and pain in the tummy
2. intestinal colic
3. flatulence and bloating

In very rare cases:

1. water balance disorders
2. myalgia
3. arrhythmia
4. convulsive syndrome
5. lethargy
6. intestinal disorder
7. vomiting and nausea

A side effect occurs when the drug is overdosed and the course duration is violated, so it is better to ask your pediatrician how much Duphalac to give to a baby under one year old. If there is no improvement, you should also consult a doctor.

The Internet is full of conflicting information and reviews of various directions about the drug.

Some parents believe that only Duphalac helped eliminate constipation in the baby, while others are sure that they would never have given it to their little one if they knew how many negative aspects would arise after use. Negative reviews can be explained by dosage violations and instability of the course of treatment.

Addiction and the presence of an effect only during administration were also noted. Allergic reactions, abdominal pain in children and accumulation of gases are common. Therefore, simultaneously with the drug, it is advisable to use an anti-colic remedy for newborns.

We bring to your attention a video in which a pediatrician will talk about how to deal with constipation in a baby.

Constipation isn't just about going to the bathroom infrequently or reducing the number of soiled diapers.

A child under 12 months of age is diagnosed with constipation if two or more of the following signs are present:

• bowel movements less than three times a week;
• passing hard, large stool or small granules that look like rabbit droppings;
• tension during the act of defecation, which is expressed by crying or a sound similar to grunting. Grunting and straining are normal for newborn babies at these times. Their faces become red as their bowels are emptied. But this becomes a problem if the strain is combined with hard stool or blood on the diaper;
• blood on diapers associated with hard stool.

The nature and frequency of stool depend on age and the individual nature of intestinal functioning. In newborns who eat breast milk, the norm is 5 - 10 bowel movements per day. Formula-fed babies have darker, thicker stools.

Constipation can cause a lot of discomfort for a child. Duphalac is a type of laxative that works to soften stool.

The active ingredient is lactulose. It is a synthetic, indigestible disaccharide formed from molecules of simple sugars (monosaccharides) - fructose and galactose. The commercial syrup used for treatment is yellow-orange in color. It is produced by isomerization of lactose.

Here is a list of questions that parents who decide to give this remedy may have.

How does the product work?

Doctors focus on the naturalness of the composition, so parents trust this product. The basis of the drug is cow's milk whey. The active ingredient that causes a laxative effect is lactulose. The component does not affect the functioning of the digestive system and does not have a negative effect on it.

Lactulose is a carbohydrate that is not absorbed by the body. Duphalac for newborns works as follows:

• Once in the intestines, lactulose begins to absorb water, which leads to swelling of the feces and their softening.
• As a result of an increase in the volume of intestinal contents, its walls begin to work more actively.
• Lactulose serves as an excellent nutrient medium for bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. And they, in turn, ensure the normal functioning of the digestive system.
• As a result, Duphalac not only effectively eliminates constipation, but also prevents this problem.

Laxatives for infants

If, despite all the positive indicators, the baby has no stool for 3-4 days, but there are no other alarming symptoms, then there is no need to sound the alarm. But if you have symptoms such as intestinal pain and loss of appetite, you still need to contact your doctor for recommendations or a laxative.

To treat constipation in newborns, pediatricians suggest administering glycerin suppositories, gas tubes, enemas, and laxatives. Parents need to firmly remember that self-medication in this matter can lead to disastrous consequences and ruin the child’s entire life.

Duphalac is the only remedy (besides glycerin suppositories) that can be safely given to newborns without a doctor's prescription. The drug is absolutely harmless

Precautionary measures

The main active ingredient of the medicine is lactose.

If there is a problem of intolerance to such a substance, giving Duphalac to newborns is strictly prohibited. Other main contraindications: diabetes, intestinal obstruction.

The first dose of medication may cause bloating, colic, and excessive gas formation. Duphalac can cause vomiting, diarrhea, water imbalance, and disruption of the reflex responsible for bowel movements. All these side effects can occur if the dosage is incorrectly prescribed or if the drug is used for a long time. The use of Duphalac in the treatment of constipation should be under the supervision of a pediatrician. If after some time there is no improvement, the specialist will prescribe an alternative.

Constipation is a very common problem, but it is not something to be taken lightly. Newborns should not be given any laxatives without the permission of their pediatrician. Only a specialist should prescribe medications. Using Duphalac without dosage or independently prescribing its doses will not only not bring a positive effect, but can also lead to consequences that will then be difficult to eliminate. Sometimes constipation is a temporary phenomenon that goes away on its own, so drug treatment should only be used when necessary.

Duphalac for infants: how and how much to give

Duphalac for newborns and infants is used for long-term treatment of chronic constipation.

Lactulose is the active ingredient of the drug. It is not absorbed in the small intestine and is not destroyed by human enzymes, so it remains in the digestive tract for a long period of time.

It retains water in the intestines, reducing its absorption, which helps soften the stool and painless bowel movements. Duphalac has a secondary laxative effect in the colon.

There it is fermented by intestinal flora. This produces substances that stimulate peristalsis and have oxidizing properties.

Duphalac is the recommended first choice drug for constipation. It can be used for newborns and children up to one year old.

To give the medicine to your child, measure out the correct amount using a measuring spoon or oral syringe. You can purchase them at the pharmacy. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon - it will not give the required dose.

If the child vomits less than 30 minutes after taking a dose of the drug, give the same dose again.

If your child vomits more than 30 minutes after taking a dose, you do not need to give another dose. Wait until your next medicine dose.

If your child is constantly vomiting, go to the hospital and consult a doctor.

If less than 4 hours have passed, you can give your child medicine. For example, if you always give the drug around 7 a.m., you can give the missed dose any time before 11 a.m. If more than four hours have passed, do not give the missed dose. Just wait until your next medication dose.

The doctor should be aware of any possible interactions of Duphalac with other drugs.

Before using Duphalac, tell your doctor about all the medications your baby is taking. Especially when it comes to antacids, medications containing aluminum and/or magnesium, or other laxatives.

You can give your child medications containing paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless the doctor prohibits it.

Check with your doctor before giving other medications to your child. These include herbal and homeopathic medicines.

Constipation in infants is a common but very unpleasant phenomenon. The work of the immature intestine is disrupted, as a result, gas formation increases, paroxysmal abdominal pain and constipation occur.

According to statistics, every 6 children suffer from difficult or systematically insufficient bowel movements. This problem is more common in infants who consume formula milk, but infants are also at risk.

Duphalac is an effective lactulose-based laxative that improves the functioning of the digestive tract and gently eliminates constipation of various origins. The medicine has a gentle effect on the intestines, and therefore is used for newborns and older children. The medication does not cause addiction and quickly normalizes stool.

According to doctors, constipation is the absence of bowel movements or delayed bowel movements during the day. Although here everything depends on the age and type of nutrition: in infants up to 1 month, the number of bowel movements depends on food intake, and for artificial children the norm is from 2 to 3 bowel movements.

A nursing mother should pay attention not only to the number of bowel movements, but also to the appearance of stool (thickness, smell, color). The baby's stool is semi-liquid and has a yellow tint with cheesy inclusions. In children who consume formula milk, the stool is thicker and has an unpleasant odor.

• the child becomes excessively restless, strains, but cannot empty his bowels, and he cries;
• during pushing, the baby screams and moves restlessly;
• a small portion of dense feces may be released, followed by a more liquid mass, while the baby cries as unpleasant sensations appear in the anus;
• there is regularly no bowel movement for 1 or 2 days;
• the newborn sleeps restlessly;
• refuses food;
• no gases;
• flatulence, hard stomach;
• pulls knees to stomach;
• sometimes vomiting occurs.

Constipation occurs due to a lack of fluid, improper nutrition of a lactating woman (gas-forming products should be excluded), after taking certain medications (antibacterial, antispasmodic drugs, NSAIDs, etc.).

Defecation is disrupted due to a lack of breast milk, after the introduction of new foods to the diet, or with a sharp transition from one type of food to another.

There are many other causes of constipation; your pediatrician will help you identify them and prescribe proper treatment.

If a nursing mother follows all the doctor’s recommendations regarding the prevention or elimination of constipation, but problems with bowel movements do not disappear, then it is necessary to use a laxative.

Duphalac is an effective medicine with a laxative effect that gently relieves constipation in an infant. This drug consists of lactulose and distilled water. It is a clear syrup with a yellowish or brown tint and a sweet aftertaste. The liquid is in a plastic bottle with a measuring cup or in a disposable bag.

The drug stimulates the physiological mechanisms of fecal excretion and restores the natural bacterial flora of the intestine. Lactulose, which is a simple carbohydrate, is not absorbed into the stomach.

The component reaches the colon and is broken down into organic acids.

Lactulose is a prebiotic (a nutrient medium for the development of beneficial bacteria), and therefore promotes the proliferation of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.

The laxative has an irritating and osmotic effect. The number of beneficial bacteria increases and the muscles of the colon are activated. The medication attracts water into the intestinal lumen, after which the stool softens and increases in volume. After bile enters the small intestine, a laxative effect appears.

Indications

Duphalac syrup is prescribed in the following cases:

• Severe constipation (constipation) with a chronic course;
• Rare, difficult or incomplete bowel movements;
• Disturbance of the natural bacterial flora;
• Hepatic encephalopathy (neurological disorders due to liver dysfunction);
• Putrefactive dyspepsia (digestion due to insufficient digestion of proteins);
• Hepatic coma (progressive stage of liver failure);
• Cleansing the intestines before surgery on the lower parts of the digestive system or diagnostics;
• Hemorrhoids (to soften the intestinal contents).

The drug promotes the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the child’s digestive tract, activates motility, liquefies the intestinal contents and accelerates its exit. In addition, after taking the drug, phosphates and calcium salts are absorbed faster and ammonium ions are removed from the body. The medication inhibits the development of salmonella and shigella in the intestines.

Rules of application

According to the instructions for use, Duphalac is suitable for children of all ages. Take the medicine orally (inside). The dosage and treatment regimen will be determined by the doctor after establishing the diagnosis.

Rules for using the drug:

• It is recommended to take the drug systematically; if you miss at least one dose, the effectiveness of therapy decreases.
• If necessary, the mixture is diluted with water; the pediatrician will tell you when to do this.
• Newborns up to one year old take the medicine once, and older children - twice.
• While taking a laxative, you should increase your daily fluid intake. Infants have enough milk, and older children should drink at least 1 liter of filtered water.

Your pediatrician will tell you about all the rules for using Duphalac.

The question: “How to give Duphalac to a baby?” worries many mothers. Before using the medicine, the child should be examined by a neonatologist and a pediatric gastroenterologist. With the help of the medication, constipation and intestinal microflora disorders are treated even in children from the first days of life. If parents follow the dosage and frequency of administration determined by the doctor, then negative reactions do not occur.

Infants are given syrup in its pure form or slightly diluted with liquid (breast milk or boiled cooled water). Doctors recommend giving the drug to the child in the morning on an empty stomach; there is also a second option - during the morning meal.

Dosage for infants aged 0 to 1 year:

• for constipation, the first 3-4 doses – 1 ml, to normalize the microflora – 1.5 ml once a day;
• for constipation, the daily dose of medication is gradually increased to 5 ml, and to eliminate dysbacteriosis - to 3 ml.

The question of how to give Duphalac to newborns so as not to cause negative reactions worries parents. If the mother immediately gives the full dose of the medicine, then the baby will experience flatulence in the first year of life.

For this reason, 1 to 1.5 ml of syrup is first given. It is important to take the drug regularly, without interruptions.

If after 7 days of taking a laxative the newborn’s condition does not improve, then you should contact your pediatrician to increase the dosage or replace the drug.

A lactating woman should monitor her baby’s diet during treatment. You should exclude from your diet all foods that increase gas formation. Otherwise, the mother will only worsen the child’s condition.

For chronic constipation, the baby should be switched to artificial nutrition. For this purpose, special mixtures are suitable that restore normal stool.

To speed up recovery, pediatricians recommend doing exercises and massage. To do this, stroke the child’s belly with the palm of your hand (without pressure) in a clockwise direction. Before performing gymnastics, you should consult a doctor who will tell you which exercises are the most effective.

For a child who is 1–2 years old, the daily dose of medication increases:

• from 1 to 5 years – from 5 to 10 ml;
• from 6 to 14 – from 10 to 15 ml.

To restore the natural bacterial flora in a child who is two years old, parents should give him 3 ml of medicine. The daily dose of the drug to normalize microflora in patients aged 4 to 6 years is 5 ml, and for a child older than 7 – 10 ml.

Indications

This medicine has certain indications. They are indicated in the instructions for use. It states that Duphalac for newborns can be prescribed in the following cases:

• severe constipation with a chronic course;
• rare and incomplete bowel movements;
• disruption of the natural bacterial flora;
• the presence of hepatic encephalopathy;
• putrefactive dyspepsia;
• haemorrhoids;
• the need to cleanse the lower intestines before surgery.

Taking Duphalac for an infant ensures the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the child’s digestive system, and, in addition, activates motility and dilutes the intestinal contents, ensuring its accelerated exit. After the child takes this drug, phosphates are absorbed more quickly and ammonium ions are removed from the body. Taking the medication helps inhibit the development of salmonella and shigella in the intestines.

General recommendations for the drug

Duphalac for children is available in the form of a transparent thick solution. Color - from colorless to brownish-yellow. The liquid form makes the drug convenient for use in infants.

• Try to give the medicine at about the same time every day;
• If you are in doubt about the effectiveness of the medicine, consult your doctor, but continue to give Duphalac as usual. Do not give extra doses as this will cause harm;
• Give this medicine only to your child. Never give it to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same;
• If you think someone else has accidentally taken the medicine, contact your doctor;
• make sure you always have enough of the drug;
• Make sure the medicine you have at home is not expired.

Lactulose, the active ingredient in Duphalac, was first synthesized in 1929 and has been used for medical purposes since the 1950s. It is included in the “List of Essential Medicines” of the World Health Organization.

Duphalac is available as an over-the-counter medicine.

The retail price of the drug is about 320 rubles.

Analogues of Duphalac for newborns

It is possible to identify analogues of a drug that are similar to it in terms of the presence of the active substance in the composition and the effect it has on the child’s body. The drugs are available in the form of syrup or emulsions, or can be presented in the form of powder for the preparation of a suspension:

• Bioflorax;
• Depurax;
• Laksarin;
• Lactuvit;
• Lactulose;
• Medulak;
• Nomaze;
• Normolak;
• Purslane.

Application and dosage

In addition to respiratory diseases, young children most often experience problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

This is due to the fact that their digestive system is not yet fully formed and is very sensitive to the effects of adverse factors and microorganisms. One of the common problems that infants suffer from is constipation.

There are often cases when a baby is not able to defecate on his own until six months, when he begins to receive fiber with complementary foods, which improves intestinal function.

Thus, constipation in infants can be long-lasting, and at this time parents need to know how to help their baby. One of the effective means of combating irregular bowel movements is the drug Duphalac. You will learn how to give Duphalac to a newborn and infant for constipation from our material.

The main advantage of the drug Duphalac is that the body does not become addicted to its components. This is very important, since the child’s body must learn to regulate bowel movements on its own and, preferably, carry them out at approximately the same time every day.

The main active ingredient in the drug is lactulose (100 ml contains 66.7 g). It is a synthetic disaccharide. The human body does not contain enzymes that can break down this substance.

Therefore, when taken orally, it easily reaches the large intestine, where it promotes the proliferation of intestinal flora, which is useful for diseases and problems with this organ. Lactulose is broken down into fatty acids, which help retain fluid in the intestines and enhance peristalsis.

Naturally, every mother of a baby is interested in the question of whether Duphalac can be given to newborns. Doctors and pharmacists say it is possible. There is a corresponding entry about this in the instructions for use.

The fact is that this drug is the safest among laxative drugs. Lactulose is not absorbed into the walls of the stomach or intestines. The substance is completely eliminated from the body after it has produced a positive effect.

Therefore, Duphalac can be used for children under one year of age, because it is able to improve the functioning of the digestive system and not have a negative effect.

Important! It is strictly forbidden for parents or any other incompetent people to “prescribe” medications to their infants. If you have any health problem, including constipation, you should contact your pediatrician, who, based on your medical history, will select the most appropriate medicine for your baby.

A measuring cup is placed on the lid, with which it is convenient to measure the required amount of Duphalac syrup for a baby in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations and instructions for use.

By the way, the instructions are placed directly on the bottle, which is very convenient. Duphalac is also available in 15 ml bags in a pack of 10 pieces.

The medicine is sold without a prescription. Its shelf life is three years from the date of manufacture.

What does it help with?

Duphalac with lactulose has a laxative effect and is a drug prescribed for:

• diarrhea and gastoenteritis of viral origin (with the intervention of Salmonella, Shigella);
• dyspepsia in acute food poisoning;
• irregular bowel movements;
• liver failure;
• for medical purposes to soften stool (for example, after or before surgery).

As a rule, with normal development of the child’s body, the child walks “generally” from five to seven times a day during the first month and a half. Starting from three months - two or three times.

However, if the natural flora does not have time to settle in the intestines, or for some other reason, for example, due to improper nutrition of the mother, taking antibiotics, or inappropriate milk formula, then the child may begin to defecate rarely or stop doing so altogether.

In this case, you should contact your pediatrician, describing the problem and receiving recommendations for eliminating it. Most often, doctors prescribe oral administration of Duphalac or rectal placement of glycerin suppositories.

The medicine acts as a probiotic - it activates the growth of beneficial bacteria and suppresses the growth of pathogenic flora.

Despite the fact that the syrup is sweet, its sweetness is cloying, so not all children may like it. However, this is not scary, since the drug can be given to the baby in diluted or undiluted form. You can dilute it in boiled water or breast milk. It is prohibited to dilute syrup in juice, tea, or other drinks.

The instructions for Duphalac contain clear instructions on how to take it for newborns and children up to one year old - 5 ml per day. The dose can be given once (preferably in the morning) or divided into several doses.

If the child is very small and underweight, the doctor may recommend reducing the recommended dose to 4 ml. To avoid gas formation in the first days, you must first give the baby 1 ml.

If the drug is given once a day, then throughout the course of treatment it should be taken at the same time period. It is best to do this immediately after waking up in the morning or after the first morning feeding. This way the intestines can remove feces during the day without disturbing the baby at night.

If the doctor recommended taking the daily dose of syrup in several doses, then this should be done at regular intervals.

Duphalac can be prescribed for a long period - for a month or longer. As a rule, it is recommended to drink it for two to three weeks. The child should drink plenty of fluids every day while taking the medication.

Immediate discontinuation of the drug is not recommended. Its abolition should be carried out gradually, gradually reducing the dose every day.

When the dosage is correctly selected for newborns, the effect of taking Duphalac occurs very quickly - on the same day, one and a half to two hours after use. Can last up to one or two days.

We draw the attention of mothers that any medications should be stored in a place where the child cannot reach - at a height or in a locked box.

If the drug does not have an effect within two days, you should urgently contact your pediatrician.

Before giving any medicine to her child, every mother should read the instructions and be informed about possible side effects and contraindications.

As with any medication, the body may experience side effects when using Duphalac. These include:

• flatulence - may be observed in the first two days of taking the drug, but should go away in the future;
• nausea;
• involuntary eruption of stomach contents;
• diarrhea - in case of overdose,
• abdominal pain - with incorrectly selected doses;
• electrolyte imbalance - with long-term use and diarrhea;
• allergic reactions - in rare cases.

If you experience diarrhea or abdominal pain, you can try reducing the dosage. If side effects do not go away even after taking smaller doses, the drug should not be used if the child has the following problems:

• intolerance to fructose, lactose, galactose;
• galactosemia;
• intestinal obstruction;
• intestinal bleeding;
• intestinal obstruction.

Laxative syrup is prescribed with caution to those who suffer from diabetes.

Duphalac is an effective remedy designed to combat irregular bowel movements even in children in the first days of life.

However, it is important to understand that the drug allows you to periodically help the child to defecate when he experiences discomfort and poor health. To cure constipation, it is necessary to determine its cause and begin to treat it.

It is important that the baby’s intestines work independently and defecate daily. Long-term stool retention is fraught with the development of problems with the liver, gastrointestinal tract and other undesirable consequences.

Newborns often suffer from tummies

The drug, which stimulates bowel function, is available in the form of a syrup that can be added to both water and breast milk. The main active ingredient is lactulose - it allows you to activate the natural intestinal microflora. In addition, the drug helps soften stool, preventing the absorption of liquid.

It also removes toxins and ammonium salts from the body, which can cause constipation. Duphalac stimulates intestinal peristalsis: the walls begin to contract more actively, ensuring the excretion of feces.

However, this drug has an important feature: the therapeutic effect does not occur immediately, but only within 24 hours after use.

If constipation has been a problem for a long time, you should use other medications prescribed by your doctor.

In addition, Duphalac is not prescribed for chronic constipation; in this case, a comprehensive restoration of digestive functions is required. Main indications for use:

1. Disturbance of the physiological rhythm in the functioning of the colon. Often constipation is a consequence of switching from breast milk to formula or deviations in feeding regimen. It cannot be left unattended so that problems with intestinal function do not become chronic.
2. Dysbacteriosis, which in young children is usually a consequence of poisoning or taking potent drugs. Duphalac makes it possible to restore the normal functioning of the microflora.
3. Pathologies in the liver, enteritis, dyspepsia and other diseases of the digestive tract. In such cases, the dosage is set only by the attending physician; self-medication is unacceptable. Hepatic encephalopathy can lead to serious consequences.

Duphalac is not prescribed for intestinal obstruction - in this case, other methods are used, including surgical ones.

Also a contraindication is high sensitivity to lactose, fructose, galactose and other components of the drug. Duphalac should also not be used for diabetes mellitus, lactase deficiency and some other digestive disorders.

When is it prescribed?

This drug is effectively used to make the stool consistency softer, which is necessary for constipation and before operations on the large intestine.

If the patient's liver is affected, then it is used to prevent the development of coma and precoma of hepatic origin . The connection of the drug with the restoration of intestinal flora gives us the opportunity to use it for dysbacteriosis, and its antihelminthic effect for enteritis and any diseases where the cause is salmonella and shigella. High effectiveness is noted when putrefactive dyspepsia develops after acute poisoning.

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Warning

Some children are too sensitive to lactulose, lactose, galactose, fructose. Duphalac consists of precisely these components. Therefore, before you start using it, give one drop of syrup and monitor your baby’s behavior. If he is calm, continue treatment. If the tummy is swollen, do not torment the baby, cancel the appointment. Have your doctor prescribe another laxative without milk sugars.

The drug has contraindications, which the doctor knows about, and will not prescribe it to harm the baby.

When should the medicine not be given?

The drug is not recommended for use if you have increased sensitivity to substances such as fructose, galactose, lactuose and lactose. For diseases associated with impaired digestion of these substances – galactosemia. If a child has an intestinal obstruction, then taking the drug can only worsen the child’s condition, since the cause of its occurrence should first be found out. If you have a history of diabetes, you should use the drug very carefully, preferably under the control of blood glucose.

Reviews

Many mothers are satisfied with the laxative effect. In addition, it is a natural product suitable for use by infants.

There are also negative reviews. But here you need to understand that without correcting the diet of a nursing mother or replacing the formula used for feeding newborns, nothing will work. There is now enough information on proper nutrition for infants and nursing mothers. Change your diet and everything will get better.

The use of Lactulose usually gives quick, good results

Anna: We gave Duphalac to a child from three weeks of age every day for two months. The stool improved, there was no addiction, since then they have never given water again.

Katya: The medicine helps well against constipation, but it causes gas formation and thereby worsens colic.

Natasha: After a week of taking Duphalac, the child began to go to the toilet normally, but in addition to the drug, we gave apple juice every day, which we prepared ourselves.

Instructions for use: what dosage to give to infants

A small body is quite sensitive to the effects of any medications, so careful selection of the required dose is very important for a newborn.

According to the instructions, Duphalac is prescribed to infants from the first days of life as needed. Mostly, young children suffer from constipation and dysbiosis. In the first case, it is recommended to start with a dosage of 1 ml of the product, gradually increasing it to 5 ml. Such a gradual increase in the volume of the drug used will relieve the newborn of flatulence and, consequently, unnecessary anxiety.

If the intestinal microflora is disturbed, infants are prescribed Duphalac in a daily volume of 3 ml.

It is recommended to give Duphalac to your child immediately after feeding. To do this, use a spoon or a measuring syringe. It is allowed to take the medicine during meals, mixing the drug with milk formula or juice. Due to the fact that the active substance absorbs water in the intestines to increase fecal mass, the newborn should be given plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

The duration of treatment for infants depends on the severity and causes of the disease. In 2-3 weeks, you can completely eliminate the unpleasant symptoms accompanying intestinal dysfunction. Sometimes just a single use of the drug is enough to relieve constipation in an infant. If necessary, Duphalac can be taken for 1 month. It is important to complete the course of treatment with laxative syrup using a gradual reduction in dosage.

Are there any possible side effects?

When a child takes Duphalac for the first time, he may have flatulence, bloating, belching, rumbling, and abdominal pain.

If any of these symptoms persist or worsen, tell your doctor right away.

Remember, the doctor prescribed this drug because he assessed that the benefit to the child was greater than the risk of side effects. Many children who are given this drug tolerate the medication well, without dangerous side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but dangerous side effects occur:

• diarrhea;
• vomit;
• weakness;
• muscle spasms;
• irregular heartbeat;
• mood changes;
• convulsions;
• severe or persistent abdominal pain;
• bloody stool;
• rectal bleeding.

A very serious allergic reaction to this medication is unlikely, but call your doctor if necessary. Signs of an allergy include itching, rash, swelling (especially in the face, throat, tongue), and difficulty breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other unusual manifestations, tell your doctor.