2 Regimens of Lactulose for Colonoscopy Preparation in Adults

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Colonoscopy Preparation

Interventions: Drug: Full dose preparation
Drug: Split dose preparation

Registration Number: NCT01887470

Lead Sponsor: Cumberland Pharmaceuticals

Brief Summary: The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of 2 regimens of lactulose as a preparation for colonoscopy.

Detailed Description: A full-dose regimen of lactulose for oral solution, where all dosing is completed the evening prior to the colonoscopy procedure, will be studied and compared to a split-dose regimen, where three doses are taken on the prior evening, and one dose is taken the morning of the procedure.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 55

Inclusion Criteria

Patients requiring bowel evacuation for colonoscopy.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients with galactosemia (galactose-sensitive diet).
Patients known to be hypersensitive to any of the components of lactulose for oral solution.
Patients with an abnormality on screening blood work or vital sign assessments that, in the Investigator's judgment, may pose a significant risk including those pertaining to dehydration or electrolyte shifts.
Patients with a history of impaired renal function.
Patients with current or recent history of hypotension, as defined by the Investigator.
Patients with a history of long Q-T syndrome.
Patients with a history of a failed bowel preparation.
Patients with severe constipation, defined as those patients taking daily prescription or over-the-counter laxatives.
Patients with possible bowel obstruction, gastric retention, bowel perforation, toxic colitis, toxic megacolon, ileus or previous colonic surgery.
Patients on lactulose therapy or receiving any treatment for chronic constipation.
Be pregnant or nursing.
Patients with known large polyps or flat polyps (i.e. polyps requiring electrocautery or argon plasma coagulation).
Patients less than 18 years of age.
Inability to understand the requirements of the study or be unwilling to provide written informed consent (as evidenced by signature on an informed consent document approved by an Institutional Review Board [IRB]) and agree to abide by the study restrictions.
Be otherwise unsuitable for the study, in the opinion of the Investigator.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Full dose preparation; AM colonoscopy	Full dose preparation	Four hourly doses of lactulose for oral solution are taken in the evening. The colonoscopy is initiated prior to noon on the following day.
Full dose preparation; PM colonoscopy	Full dose preparation	Four hourly doses of lactulose for oral solution are taken in the evening. The colonoscopy is initiated after noon on the following day.
Split dose preparation; PM colonoscopy	Split dose preparation	Three hourly doses of lactulose for oral solution are taken in the evening prior to the day of the colonoscopy procedure; one dose is taken on the morning of the procedure. The colonoscopy is initiated after noon.
Split dose preparation; AM colonoscopy	Split dose preparation	Three hourly doses of lactulose for oral solution are taken in the evening prior to the day of the colonoscopy procedure; one dose is taken on the morning of the procedure. The colonoscopy is initiated prior to noon.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Efficacy of Lactulose as a Preparation for Colonoscopy.	at least 3 hours post last consumption	Efficacy assessed by the physician's determination of the cleanliness of the colon using the cumulative Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) score. The cumulative score is derived from three segmental scores assessed from the following three colonic segments: right colon, transverse colon, and left colon. Segment scores range from 0 to 3 with the following abbreviated definitions: 0=mucosa not visible; 1=a portion of the mucosa is visible; 2=minor residue, but mucosa is seen well; 3=entire mucosa is seen well with no residue. The cumulative BBPS score is the sum of the three segment scores such that a cumulative score of 9 represents a colon with maximum mucosa visible and a score of 0 represents minimal visibility.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Tolerability of and Preference for Lactulose as a Bowel Evacuant-Likert 3	3 - 15 hours post last consumption	Tolerability assessed by a patient questionnaire - Likert response to "The dosing instructions were easy to understand and follow" Range of responses allowed include whole numbers between 1 and 7. The following guide was given to the patients: 1 = Strongly Disagree; 4 = Neutral; 7 = Strongly Agree
Colonic Methane Gas Levels	3 - 15 hours post last consumption
Incidence of Treatment Failure	at least 3 hours post last consumption	A treatment failure is defined in the protocol as a bowel preparation that receives a cumulative Boston Bowel Preparation Score less than 5, or has one or more of the segments scored as a 0.
Tolerability of and Preference for Lactulose as a Bowel Evacuant-Likert 1	3-15 hours post last consumption	Tolerability assessed by a patient questionnaire - Likert response to "was regimen a tolerable bowel prep?" Range of responses allowed include whole numbers between 1 and 7. The following guide was given to the patients: 1 = Strongly Disagree; 4 = Neutral; 7 = Strongly Agree
Colonic Hydrogen Gas Levels	3 - 15 hours post last consumption
Tolerability of and Preference for Lactulose as a Bowel Evacuant-Patient Visual Analog Scale (VAS)	3 - 15 hours post last consumption	A paper questionnaire contained a horizontal line 100 mm long with the right end labeled "Best Possible Experience" and the left end labeled "Worst Possible Experience". The patients were asked to use a pen to place a mark on the line at the point that best described their overall tolerability for the bowel preparation. Scores were determined by measuring the distance of the mark from the left end of the line. So, a lower number would indicate a poor experience and a high number would reflect a positive experience, with 100 being the maximum score and one that describes the best possible experience with the preparation.
Tolerability of and Preference for Lactulose as a Bowel Evacuant-Likert 2	3-15 hours post last consumption	Tolerability assessed by a patient questionnaire - Likert response to "I did not experience too much discomfort during the bowel prep" Range of responses allowed include whole numbers between 1 and 7. The following guide was given to the patients: 1 = Strongly Disagree; 4 = Neutral; 7 = Strongly Agree
Tolerability of and Preference for Lactulose as a Bowel Evacuant	3 to 15 hours post last consumption	Survey response to question: "if you had a previous colonoscopy, please indicate your preference for the crystalline lactulose or the previous medications.