The active ingredient of Duphalac® is lactulose, a disaccharide synthesized from lactose. Lactulose is a synthetic sugar, which does not occur naturally and cannot be degraded by animal or human enzymes. Lactulose is also referred to as an NDO (non-digestible oligosaccharide) and reaches the colon unchanged with only few available calories – 13kcals per 20ml (13.34g) dose. Here it is degraded by specific bacteria and broken down into low-molecular weight organic acids, essentially lactic, acetic, butyric and propionic acids. Thus, the intestinal contents are acidified and the osmotic pressure and the filling volume in the colon are increased, it makes the stool softer and easier to pass, by drawing water into the bowel. It is not absorbed into your body.

PHARMACEUTICAL FORMs

• Oral solution, a clear viscous liquid, colourless to brownish yellow. 
• Oral solution flavoured with plum aroma, a clear, viscous liquid, colourless to brownish yellow. 
• Powder for oral administration, white to almost white, crystalline powder.