Patient Information Leaflet

Alu-cap™ Capsules

(Aluminium Hydroxide)

Read this entire leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.

•    Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

•    If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

•    This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

In this leaflet:

1. What Alu-cap is for    3. How to take Alu-cap    5. How to store Alu-cap

2. Before you use Alu-cap    4. Possible side effects    6. Further information

1. What Alu-cap is for

Alu-cap belongs to a group of medicines called antacids.

Alu-cap can be used for the relief of indigestion. It neutralises the acid in the stomach and helps to protect the stomach lining from acid irritation.

Alu-cap may also be used to reduce the amount of phosphate ions absorbed by the body from the diet.

This helps to reduce the levels of phosphate in the blood which is important in patients with certain kidney diseases.

2. Before you use Alu-cap

Do not take Alu-cap:

•    if you are allergic to aluminium hydroxide

•    if you are allergic to other ingredients of Alu-cap (listed in section 6)

•    if you have low levels of phosphate in your body (hypophosphataemia)

•    if you have a blood disorder called porphyria.

This medicine should not be used as an antacid in children under 12 years of age.

Check with your doctor before taking Alu-cap:

•    if you have kidney failure or are on dialysis.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

Alu-cap may affect how much of these medicines get into your body.

•    if you are taking antibiotics, e.g. tetracycline, ampicillin, co-trimoxaxole

•    if you are taking iron supplements, e.g. ferrous sulphate

•    if you are taking heart medications, e.g. digoxin, quinidine

•    if you are taking pain relief medicines, e.g. indometacin, phenybutazone

•    if you are taking anti-arthritis medicines, e.g. naproxen

•    if you are taking vitamins

•    Any other medicine, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant of breast feeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking Alu-cap.

3. How to take Alu-cap

Always take Alu-cap exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Important:

Your doctor will choose the dose that is right for you. Your dose will be shown clearly on the label that your pharmacist puts on your medicine. If it does not, or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Remember: The capsules should be taken with meals with a glass of water.

To reduce phosphate levels:

Adults and children (over 12 years age)

The usual dose is one capsule taken four times per day. This maybe increased by your doctor to five capsules taken four times a day (a total of 20 capsules per day).

If you are taking Alu-cap for a long time, your doctor may regularly check the phosphate or aluminium level in your blood.

For indigestion:

Adults

The usual dose is one capsule four times during the day and one at bedtime.

If you take more Alu-cap than you should

Do not take more Alu-cap than you should. If you accidentally take too much immediately go to the nearest hospital casualty department or your doctor. Your doctor may wash out your stomach and give you a mild laxative.

If you forget to take Alu-cap

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Simply take the next dose as planned. If you have further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Like all medicines, Alu-cap can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

These may include:

•    Constipation

•    Phosphate depletion if you take Alu-cap for a long time. This may make you tired, weak and cause you to lose weight.

•    The ingredient E110 (Sunset Yellow FCF), in Alu-cap may cause allergic reactions.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Alu-cap

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Do not use Alu-cap after the expiry date on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store Alu-cap below 30 °C.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Return any medicine you no longer need to your pharmacist.

What Alu-cap contains

The active substance in Alu-cap is dried aluminium hydroxide gel. Each Alu-cap contains 475 mg aluminium hydroxide gel.

The other ingredients are polyethylene glycol, purified talc and Solka Floc BW 100. The capsule shell contains Quinoline Yellow (E104), Sunset Yellow fCf (E110), Erythrosine (E127) and Patent Blue V (E131).

What Alu-cap looks like

Alu-cap is a green and red coloured capsule marked with “3M"

Contents of the pack

Each pack contains 120 capsules.

Marketing Authorisation Holder:

Meda Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Skyway House, Parsonage Road, Takeley, Bishop‘s Stortford, CM22 6PU,

United Kingdom.

Manufacturer:

3M Health Care Ltd, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 1EP, United Kingdom.

This leaflet was last revised in 11/2013.

If this leaflet is difficult to see or read and you would like it in a different format, please contact Meda Pharmaceuticals, Skyway House, Parsonage Road, Takeley,

Bishop‘s Stortford, CM22 6PU, United Kingdom.

6204 2216 8 56UK1818310-01

Alu-Cap is a trademark of MEDA AB. The Triangle Logo on the packaging is a trademark of 3M and is used under license.

Studio Oberlander GmbH • Rubensstr. 33 • 60596 Frankfurt a. M. • Germany Phone: +49 69 631520-85 • Fax: -87 • E-Mail: info@studio-oberlaender.de

MANUFACTURER:	Meda Pharma GmbH & Co. KG	COLOURS USED:
PRODUCT:	Alu-cap Capsules	1 Black
MEDA-NO.:	56UK1818310-01
MFS-NO.:	620422168
LAETUS-CODE:	419 mini
DRAWING REF:	PE00256	COUNTRY: United Kingdom UK
LANGUAGE: english
PACK SIZE:	127 x 191 mm	CORRECTION: 2.
FONT SIZE:	8 pt / 8 pt	DATE: 15. 11. 2013

419_mini

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