A nurse cares for a patient who is prescribed lactulose (Heptalac). The patient states, "I do not want to take this medication because it causes diarrhea." How would the nurse respond?

Diarrhea is expected; that's how your body gets rid of ammonia.

You may take Kaopectate liquid daily for loose stools.

Do not take any more of the medication until your stools firm up.

We will need to send a stool specimen to the laboratory.