Forlax

Forlax (INN - macrogol) is an original French laxative with osmotic properties. Used in the treatment of constipation in adults and children.

The therapeutic effect begins to manifest after a day or two after taking the drug. The dosing regimen is as follows: 1-2 packets in the morning or 1 packet in the morning and in the evening (this is not dogma - the dose can be adjusted according to the circumstances). Before use, the powder is dissolved in a glass of water. The duration of treatment for adult patients and children older than 8 years is, as a rule, 3 months.

If the symptoms of constipation persist after 3 months of regular intake of the drug, an additional in-depth diagnostic examination is needed.

Clinical and pharmacological group

Laxative with osmotic properties.

Terms of sale from pharmacies

Can buywithout a doctor's prescription.

Price

How much does Forlax cost in pharmacies? The average price is at the level of310 rubles.

Composition and form of release

Forlax has only one form of release - a powder with an aromatic additive (orange and grapefruit), packaged in bags of 4 or 10 grams. The package can be 10 or 20 bags.

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In one package of the drug, depending on the dosage contains 4 g or 10 g of macrogol 4000 + additional ingredients (sodium saccharinate, grapefruit and orange oil, citral, linalol, alpha terpineol, maltodextrin, E420, E220, E320, cis-3-hexenol, orange juice, acetic aldehyde, ethyl butyrate, octanal, gum acacia).

The powder quickly dissolves in water, forming a translucent white solution.

Pharmacological effect

Forlax is a remedy from the group of osmotic laxatives based on macrogol. Long linear molecules of this polymer include hydrogen bonds that can hold water molecules. Thus, there is an increase in the volume of intestinal contents.

As a result of Forlax, intestinal contraction intensifies, and reflex irritation of its walls with an increased volume occurs. The drug promotes the intestinal contents and does not adversely affect the water-electrolyte balance in the body, as well as the level of vitamins and trace elements.

The use of Forlax promotes softening of stool with constipation. The laxative effect is observed after 24-48 hours from the moment of taking the drug.

The drug is not absorbed into the blood, acting solely in the lumen of the intestine.

Indications for use

The drug is used to treat systematic constipation, to prepare patients for diagnostic studies of the intestine (endoscopic or roentgenologic) or to surgical interventions on the large intestine and abdominal organs.

Contraindications

There are several conditions of the patient's body, in which the use of Forlax powder is contraindicated, they include:

Chronic inflammatory bowel pathology - Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis.
Diagnosed intestinal obstruction or suspected development.
Hypersensitivity to macrogol 4000 or auxiliary components of the drug.
The presence of perforation (the formation of a through hole) or the threat of its development of the wall of any part of the intestine.
The toxic increase in the diameter of the large intestine with a functional spasm of the smooth muscles of its walls.
Pain in the abdomen of unknown origin.

Before taking Forlax powder, it is important to make sure there are no contraindications.

Intended use for pregnancy and lactation

During pregnancy Forlaks is appointed with great care and with the presence of clear grounds for this. However, there is no evidence of its negative impact on the fetus. In this case, the drug is allowed to be used by nursing women, since it is practically not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and, therefore, does not enter the blood and breast milk.

Dosage and route of administration

As indicated in the instructions for use, the contents of 1 sachet should be dissolved in about 50 ml of water and take in the morning (at a dose of 1 sachet / day), or in the morning and evening (at a dose of more than 1 sachet / day).

Children aged 6 months to 1 year are prescribed 1 packet / day;
from 1 year to 4 years - 1-2 bags / day;
from 4 to 8 years - 2-4 sachets / day.

It should be remembered that according to reviews Forlax starts to work 1-2 days after admission. The therapeutic effect is enhanced if during the course of therapy to observe sufficient physical activity, drink plenty and eat a meal rich in vegetable fiber.

Duration of treatment - no more than 3 months. If the symptoms of constipation persist for more than 3 months, it is necessary to conduct a repeated extended diagnostic examination.

Adverse Reactions

In adults:

diarrhea, nausea, bloating;
allergic reactions;
dehydration (rarely).

Children:

acute, prolonged pain in the abdomen;
excessive gassing, nausea;
itching is also possible on the skin and hives.

Overdose

Exceeding the recommended therapeutic dose of Forlax powder is accompanied by significant diarrhea. In this case, the drug should be discontinued. With dehydration and loss of salts, it may be necessary to restore the water-electrolyte balance in a medical hospital.

special instructions

Before you start using the drug, read the special instructions:

Before the start of therapy, organic gastrointestinal diseases should be excluded.
Forlax contains sorbitol, so the drug should not be used in patients with congenital fructose intolerance.
Treatment of constipation with drugs is recommended only as a supplement to a healthy lifestyle and diet, for example: increased consumption of liquids and fiber; adequate physical activity, which contributes to the restoration of gastrointestinal motility.
There are reports of aspiration cases when large volumes of polyethylene glycol are introduced with electrolytes through a nasogastric tube. Children with neurological disorders with swallowing are at risk of aspiration.
Very rare cases of hypersensitivity (including rashes, urticaria, edema) were observed with the administration of preparations containing macrogol (polyethylene glycol). In exceptional cases, anaphylactic shock was observed.
Forlax does not contain a lot of sugar or polyol, so the drug can be prescribed to patients with diabetes mellitus, as well as patients whose diet excludes galactose.
In the case of diarrhea with extreme caution should be treated in patients who are predisposed to violations of water-electrolyte balance (for example, in patients with impaired liver or kidney function, or patients receiving diuretics); in such cases it is necessary to control the content of electrolytes.

Compatibility with other drugs

Forlax slows the absorption of concomitant medications. Therefore, it is recommended to appoint it not earlier than 2 hours after taking other drugs.

Reviews

We offer you to familiarize yourself with the opinions of people using Forlax:

Svetlana. Like forlax, usually laxatives act abruptly, quickly and quite painful for the intestines and priests, and after taking forlax no unpleasant symptom, only after a time of soft cleansing of the intestine. And after all, I took his month to restore an independent chair. It turned out, I'm happy.
Irina. Forlax was given to me in the hospital, when I was in the hospital, I could not go to the toilet at all. Thank the nurse, I advised a really gentle remedy. I did not often come across laxatives, only once I had to use it, but what was also forlax - the action is completely different. If I did not know that I was taking the medicine, I would have decided that the intestine itself had cleared. Took two weeks before the end of inpatient treatment, more constipation was not in the hospital, or when she returned home.
Sofia. A doctor appointed a husband for the treatment of chronic constipation. Initially, I was embarrassed by the fact that it takes a whole month to drink and that the effect should be expected within 24 hours, but later I realized that this is a plus. Firstly, for a month the constipation is cured, and not just the symptomatology is removed, and secondly, the effect is not immediate, it does not tie to the toilet, so you live in your usual schedule and that's it. Now there are no problems with the stool, but there are a couple of bags in the medicine cabinet, just in case, there will not be enough of seven of the members who are still having trouble with constipation.

Analogues

Structural analogs for the active substance:

Lavakol;
Osmogol;
Realaksan;
Transit;
Fortez Rompharm;
Fortrans.

Before buying an analogue, consult your doctor.

Forlax or Dufalac?

Dufalac has the same indications as Forlax, but Dufalac is still used in the complex treatment of hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic precoma due to the fact that it is able to suppress proteolytic and stimulate the sour-milk bacteria.

The main difference between Forlax and Dufalac is that the latter can be administered to children, beginning with the infant age, and to pregnant women. In addition, Dufalac contains lactulose, which positively affects the intestinal microflora, in particular, inhibits the growth of salmonella and shortens the period of bacteriocarrier.

According to the principle of action and the timing of the appearance of a laxative effect, the drugs are completely identical.

Shelf life and storage conditions

To store Forlaks, regardless of the form of release, you need at a temperature of a maximum of 30 degrees, in a place where they can not be reached by children. The medicinal product has a shelf life of 3 years, after which it can not be used.