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Why is it not recommended to take lactulose at night?

Jul 15, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
When lactulose takes effect, it stimulates intestinal motility, which may lead to frequent bowel urges at night, interrupting the sleep cycle and reducing sleep quality, particularly in individuals with light sleep. During nighttime, the dim lighting increases the risk of bumps or falls when getting up to use the bathroom, and exposure to cold environments may cause physical discomfort. For individuals with limited mobility or elderly patients, the urge to defecate caused by medication at night further increases the risk of accidents.

Generally speaking, the main reasons why lactulose is not recommended to be taken at night are mainly based on the potential to affect sleep, inconvenience of using the restroom at night, increased gastrointestinal burden, interference with drug absorption, and the possibility of causing abdominal distension at night. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Potential impact on sleep: When lactulose takes effect, it stimulates intestinal peristalsis, which may cause frequent urges to defecate at night, interrupting the sleep cycle and reducing sleep quality. This effect is especially noticeable for individuals with light sleep.

2. Inconvenience of using the restroom at night: The dim lighting at night makes getting up for the restroom risky for bumps and bruises, and the cold environment might cause physical discomfort. For individuals with limited mobility or elderly populations, the urge to defecate caused by taking medication at night increases the risk of accidents.

3. Increased gastrointestinal burden: Gastrointestinal activity slows down at night and digestion weakens. Taking lactulose at this time may increase the burden on intestinal peristalsis, causing gastrointestinal discomfort and affecting the body's nighttime rest and recovery.

4. Interference with drug absorption: If other medications need to be taken in the evening, lactulose might accelerate intestinal emptying, affecting the duration of other medications staying in the intestines, reducing their absorption efficiency, and influencing treatment effectiveness.

5. Inducing abdominal distension at night: Lactulose fermentation in the intestines produces gas. When lying down at night, gas is not easily expelled, making it prone to cause abdominal distension and pain, causing tossing and turning, and increasing physical discomfort.

Lactulose should preferably be taken during the daytime, adjusting the medication time according to personal bowel habits, and avoiding taking it on an empty stomach. If it is necessary to take it at night, preparations for using the restroom should be made in advance, and if severe discomfort occurs, consult a doctor promptly to adjust the medication plan.

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