LAEVOLAC*SYR 180ML 66.7%

LAEVOLAC 66.7 g/100 ml syrup
Lactulose

What it is and what it is used for
Laevolac contains lactulose, a laxative that stimulates bowel motility.
Laevolac is indicated in adults and children for the short-term treatment of occasional constipation.
Consult your doctor if you and/or your child do not feel better or feel worse after 7 days.

What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not use LAEVOLAC if you and/or your child:
- are allergic to lactulose or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6),
- have abdominal pain, even of unknown origin,
- have episodes of nausea or vomiting,
- have an intestinal obstruction or narrowing (intestinal stenosis),
- have rectal bleeding of unknown origin,
- are suffering from severe dehydration (excessive loss of water from the body).

Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using LAEVOLAC.
Health education notes
First of all, it should be noted that, in most cases, a balanced diet rich in water and fibre (bran, vegetables, and fruit) can permanently resolve the problem of constipation.
Many people think they suffer from constipation if they do not have a bowel movement every day.
This is an incorrect belief as this situation is completely normal for a large number of individuals.
Instead, constipation occurs when bowel movements are reduced compared to one's personal habits and are associated with the passage of hard stools.
If episodes of constipation occur repeatedly, a doctor should be consulted.
The treatment of chronic or recurrent constipation always requires the intervention of a doctor for diagnosis, prescription of medicines, and monitoring during therapy.
Consult your doctor:
• when the need for a laxative arises from a sudden change in previous bowel habits (frequency and characteristics of bowel movements) that has lasted for more than two weeks, or when the use of the laxative fails to produce effects.
• if you are elderly or in poor health.
Abuse of laxatives
Frequent or prolonged use or excessive doses of laxatives can cause persistent diarrhoea with consequent loss of water, mineral salts (especially potassium) and other essential nutrients. In the most severe cases, dehydration (excessive loss of water from the body) or hypokalemia (decrease in blood potassium) may occur, which can cause cardiac or neuromuscular disorders, especially if you are also taking medicines such as cardiac glycosides (medicines used to treat heart problems), diuretics (medicines that lower blood pressure) or corticosteroids (anti-inflammatories).
The abuse of laxatives can cause dependence (possible need to progressively increase the dosage), chronic constipation, and intestinal atony (loss of normal bowel function).

Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Abdominal pain; flatulence (excessive gas production in the intestine).
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Abdominal distension; urgency to defecate; diarrhoea, nausea; reduced appetite; headache.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Vomiting
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
Electrolyte loss (salts in the blood), allergic reactions, rash, itching, urticaria.

Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.