Guttalaks for children

Such a problem as constipation occurs not only in adults, but also in childhood. To eliminate it, laxative medicines are used, including Guttalax. Is it possible to give it to a child, how does it act on the work of the intestines, and in what dose is it allowed for children?

Guttalaks produce:

• In drops. This medication is represented by plastic bottles, which have a cork-dropper. Inside one bottle contains 15 or 30 ml of a slightly viscous transparent liquid. It is colorless, yellowish or yellow-brown. The taste of this solution is missing.
• In tablets. They are characterized by a round flat shape and white color. Such tablets, as well as drops, do not smell. One pack may contain 20 or 50 tablets.

The active substance in any variant of Guttalax is represented by sodium picosulfate. In 100 ml of drops it contains 0.75 grams, and in one tablet - 5 mg. Additional substances in the liquid form of the drug are sorbitol, sodium benzoate, water, sodium citrate and citric acid. In tablet form, the auxiliary ingredients are lactose, corn and potato starch, magnesium stearate, and silica.

Sodium picosulphate in the composition of the drug has a local laxative effect. This compound is broken down in the colon by bacteria of the normal flora. It produces an active metabolite, which stimulates the mucous membrane and increases peristalsis. The result will be an accumulation of electrolytes and water in the intestinal lumen, due to which the act of defecation is triggered, and the stool softens and disappears more quickly.

The drug acts exclusively in the colon. Thanks to its use, the natural evacuation of feces is stimulated. The drug does not affect the digestion of food in the small intestine. Guttalaks absorbed in very small quantities. The therapeutic effect of its reception is observed after 6-12 hours (this time depends on the rate of decomposition of sodium picosulfate).

The reasons for appointing Guttalaks include:

• Atonic constipation, for example, arising after surgery.
• Constipation caused by medication.
• Anal fissures or hemorrhoids (with such problems, the drug softens the feces and facilitates defecation).
• Irritable bowel syndrome, one of the symptoms of which is constipation.
• Diseases of the gallbladder.
• Constipation caused by intestinal dysbiosis.
• Constipation caused by dietary disorders.

Guttalax tablet form is contraindicated in children under 4 years of age. Drops can be used in younger children, however, under the age of 2 years, pediatricians do not prescribe such a remedy, since the intestinal flora involved in the metabolism of picosulfate in infants is not sufficiently developed. For this reason, doctors can prescribe drops at the age of 2-4 years, counting the dosage by weight of the baby. Without specialist control, giving Guttalaks to a child under 10 years old is unacceptable.

How else can cope with childhood constipation, will tell Dr. Komarovsky in the next video.

Guttalaks tablets or drops can not be given:

• With intestinal obstruction.
• With severe abdominal pain, especially if it is accompanied by vomiting and high body temperature.
• In inflammatory bowel disease.
• In case of intolerance to sodium picosulfate or another ingredient of the drug.
• With severe dehydration.
• When fructose intolerance.

Reception of Guttalaks can provoke such negative symptoms:

• Nausea
• Pruritus
• Dizziness.
• Discomfort in the abdomen.
• Fainting
• Stomach ache.
• Rash on the skin.
• Loose stools.
• Vomiting.
• Quincke swelling.

• Drops can be taken at any time of the day undiluted or added to a glass of water. If necessary, they can be mixed with any other liquid or food. The pill is swallowed and washed down with water.
• The daily dose of Guttalax liquid form for a child of 4-10 years is from 5 to 10 drops, and for a child over 10 years old - from 10 to 20 drops. The solid form of the drug is given to children 4-10 years old by half or whole tablet per day, and by the age of 10 years, 1-2 tablets per day.
• It is recommended to begin treatment with a minimum dosage, for example, a child at the age of 6 is given 5 drops of a liquid medication, after which they monitor changes in stool. With the ineffectiveness of this dose, the amount of the drug is increased, but does not exceed the maximum age dosage per day (in our case, 10 drops).
• Children under 4 years old may be prescribed Guttalax drops by calculating the daily dose of the medicine by weight of the child. For every 2 kg of body weight baby needs 1 drop of the drug.
• The duration of Guttalaks usually does not exceed 10 days and must be adjusted by a doctor.

An excessively high dose of the drug usually causes diarrhea and dehydration, which interferes with the fluid and electrolyte balance. In severe cases, the drug provokes ischemia of the muscle tissue of the colon and convulsions. Prolonged dosage of Guttalax causes chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, a decrease in the level of potassium in the blood, which can cause urolithiasis, kidney damage, muscle weakness and hyper aldosteronism.

If Guttalaks is prescribed in a high dose and glucocorticoid hormones or diuretics will be used additionally, this will increase the risk of electrolyte disturbances (will provoke hypokalemia). When administered with antibiotics, the laxative effect may be reduced.

Both forms of Guttalaks are OTC drugs, so there are no difficulties with their acquisition. The average price of a bottle with 15 ml drops is 280-300 rubles, and a pack of 20 tablets is about 200 rubles.

Keep the drug at home should be at a temperature of from 0 to 30 degrees Celsius in a place where the medicine can not be available to a small child. Shelf life and drops, and tablets is 3 years.

The use of Guttalax in children is most often satisfied by parents. Moms praise the drug for its mild action, good effect, no unpleasant taste, reasonable price and ease of use. Negative reviews are rare. They note the lack of effect, which is why they had to use another laxative medication.

You can replace Guttalaks with medicines with the same active ingredient, for example:

• Drops or pills Guttasil.
• Coated tablets or drops Slabilen.
• Drops Regulax Picosulphate.
• Laxigal drops.
• Drops Slabikap.

In addition, the pediatrician may recommend other laxatives (Glitselaks, Duphalac, Lactulose, Microlax, Bisacodil), but you should choose an analogue only with a specialist. It is undesirable to give any medicines of such a group without consulting a doctor.