Lactulose (sometimes called 'The L-Word') is a laxative with a secondary treatment for Hepatic Encephalopathy. Its chief mechanism of action is by decreasing the intestinal production and absorption of ammonia.
One of the drugs I was on was incredibly effective. Effective at its “on-label” use: Lactulose is a uniquely powerful laxative. And it is life altering.
The reason I took Lactulose is because it binds with ammonia, clearing it from your blood stream and preventing a repeat occurrence of encephalopathy. Given avoiding insanity was very important to me, getting rid of ammonia was very important to me. And so Lactulose was very important to me.
But the ammonia binding characteristic of Lactulose is a secondary effect. Its “on-label” primary effect is as an incredibly powerful laxative. So you drink Lactulose, it happens to binds with the excess ammonia, and you flush everything in your digestive track out of your system. Not once or twice a day. The goal is three or more times a day. Medicinally, the more the merrier, although doctors do realize there are functional issues if you don’t have a rectal catheter.
Because of the severe life impacts of the drug, within LifeRing Liver Spot meetings Lactulose is called the “L-Word”.
