Lactitol

Lactitol is a prescription medication used to treat chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults. 

• Lactitol is available under the following different brand names: Pizensy

Common side effects of Lactitol include:

• Upper respiratory tract infection,
• Gas (flatulence),
• Diarrhea,
• Increased blood creatinine phosphokinase,
• Abdominal distension, and
• Increased blood pressure

Serious side effects of Lactitol include:

• Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• Fever
• Hives, itching, rash
• Nausea
• Reddening of the skin, especially around the ears
• Swelling of the eyes, face, or inside of the nose
• Unusual tiredness or weakness

Rare side effects of Lactitol include:

• none 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

• Unit-dose packet, oral powder
  • 10 g/packet
• Multidose bottle, oral powder
  • 280 g/bottle
  • 560 g/bottle

Chronic Idiopathic Constipation

Adult dosage

• Indicated for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC)
  • 20 g orally once a day
  • Reduce to 10 g orally once a day for persistent loose stools

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Lactitol has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Lactitol has serious interactions with no other drugs.
• Lactitol has moderate interactions with no other drugs.
• Lactitol has minor interactions with no other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Known or suspected mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction
• Galactosemia

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Lactitol?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Lactitol?”

Cautions

• Drug interaction overview
  • May reduce the absorption of coadministered oral medications; administer oral medications at least 2 hours before or after lactitol

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Unknown whether maternal use will result in fetal exposure to a drug
• Insufficient data available from case reports on use in pregnant women to evaluate for any drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes
• Lactation
  • No data available on the presence of lactitol in human or animal milk, its effects on breastfed infants, or its effects on milk production
  • Unknown whether minimal systemic absorption of lactitol by adults will result in clinically relevant exposure to breastfed infants
  • Consider the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding along with the mother’s clinical need for lactitol and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from lactitol or the underlying maternal condition