Movelax Mechanism of Action

Laxative.
Pharmacology: Lactulose is a synthetic disaccharide osmotic laxative containing galactose and fructose. Colonic bacteria break lactulose primarily to lactic and acetic acid which results in an increased osmotic effect and slight acidification of the colonic contents. This results in an increased fecal bulk, softened stools and shortened transit time. It may take 48 hours before an effect is obtained.
Lactulose exerts its effect only in the colon. It decreases blood ammonia concentrations by acidifying the contents of the bowel reducing intraluminal pH to below 5. This reduces the degree of portal systemic encephalopathy since the absorption of ammonium ions and other toxic nitrogenous compounds into the blood is decreased.
Pharmacokinetics: Bioavailability: Lactulose is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. No enzyme present in human gastrointestinal tissue is capable of hydrolysis of this disaccharide. Lactulose reaches the colon virtually unchanged with less than 2% being absorbed by non-mediated diffusion. Urinary excretion is less than or equal to 3% and is essentially complete within 24 hours.