Movicol
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This product is available using the above name but will be referred to as Movicol throughout the following leaflet.
Please read all of this leaflet carefully before taking your 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.
• If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What is Movicol and what is it used for?
2. Before you take Movicol
3. How to take Movicol
4. Possible side effects
5. Storing Movicol
6. Further information
1. WHAT IS MOVICOL AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
The name of this medicine is Movicol 13.8g sachet, powder for oral solution. It is a laxative for the treatment of constipation in adults, adolescents and elderly. It is not recommended for children below 12 years of age.
Movicol helps you to have a comfortable bowel movement even if you have been constipated for a long time. Movicol also works in very bad constipation called faecal impaction.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE MOVICOL
Do not take Movicol if your doctor has told you that you have:
• a blockage in your intestine (gut obstruction, ileus)
• a perforated gut wall
• severe inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or toxic megacolon
• an allergy to the active substances or any of the other ingredients of Movicol
Heart conditions
Follow the special instructions in section 3 if you are taking Movicol for faecal impaction.
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Movicol can be taken during pregnancy and whilst breast feeding. If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast feeding, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice before taking Movicol.
Driving and using machines
Movicol does not affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Taking other medicines
Some medicines, e.g. anti-epileptics, may not work as effectively during use with Movicol. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
3. HOW TO TAKE MOVICOL
This medicine can be taken at any time with or without food or drink. Constipation:
A dose of Movicol is 1 sachet.
Take this 1-3 times a day according to the severity of your constipation. Faecal impaction:
A dose of 8 sachets a day of Movicol is needed for the treatment of faecal impaction. The 8 sachets should be taken within 6 hours for up to 3 days if required. If you have a heart condition do not take more than 2 sachets in any one hour.
How to mix
Open the sachet and pour the contents into a glass. Add about 125ml or % pint of water to the glass. Stir well until all the powder has dissolved and the Movicol solution is clear or slightly hazy, then drink it. If you are taking Movicol for faecal impaction it may be easier to dissolve 8 sachets in 1 litre of water.
Duration of treatment Constipation:
Treatment with Movicol usually lasts for about 2 weeks.
If you need to take Movicol for longer, please see your doctor.
If your constipation is caused by an illness such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis (MS), or if you take medicines that cause constipation your doctor may recommend that you take Movicol for longer than 2 weeks. Usually for long term treatment the dose can be lowered to either 1 or 2 sachets a day.
Faecal impaction:
Treatment with Movicol can be for up to 3 days.
If you take more Movicol than you should
You may develop excessive diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration. If this occurs, stop taking Movicol and drink plenty of fluids. If you are worried contact your doctor or pharmacist.
If you forget to take Movicol
Take the dose as soon as you remember to take it.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Movicol can have side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately and stop taking Movicol if you:
• Get a serious allergic reaction which causes difficulty in breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.
Other side effects include:
Allergic reactions which may cause a skin rash, itching, reddening of the skin or a nettle rash, swollen hands, feet or ankles, headaches and high and low levels of potassium in the blood.
Sometimes you may have indigestion, stomach ache or rumbles. You may also feel bloated, suffer from wind, feel sick or vomit, may also experience soreness of the anus (bottom) and may have mild diarrhoea when starting to take Movicol. These side effects generally get better if you reduce the amount Movicol you take.
If any of the above are troublesome or last more than a few days or if you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any 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. STORING MOVICOL
• Do not store your Movicol above 25°C.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use Movicol after the expiry date on the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Once you have made up Movicol in water, if you cannot drink it straight away put it in the fridge (2-8°C) and keep it covered. Throw away solution not used within six-hour period. If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine, return any unused sachets to your doctor or pharmacist for safe disposal. Only keep this medicine, if your doctor tells you to.
• If the powder becomes discoloured or show any other signs of deterioration, consult your pharmacist who will tell you what to do.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
The name of this medicine is Movicol Sachets. Each 13.8g sachet contains:
Macrogol 3350 13.125 grams
Sodium chloride 0.3507 grams
Sodium bicarbonate 0.1785 grams
Potassium chloride 46.6 milligrams
When it is made into a drink with 125 millilitres of water, each sachet gives the equivalent of:
Sodium 65 millimoles/litre
Chloride 53 millimoles/litre
Bicarbonate 17 millimoles/litres
Potassium 5.4 millimoles/litres
Movicol Sachets also contain lime and lemon flavour, and potassium acesulfame as a sweetener.
There are 20 sachets in a box.
Each sachet contains 13.8 grams of Movicol white powder.
You add the powder to water to make a drink.
PL No: 15814/0432 g
Movicol is made by Norgine Ltd, New Road, Hengoed, Mid Glamorgan CF82 8SJ OR Sophartex, 21 rue du Pressoir, 28500 Vernouillet, France OR Laboratoires Macors, rue des Caillottes, ZI Plaine des Isles, 89000 Auxerre, France and procured from within the EU by the Product Licence holder: OPD Laboratories Ltd, Unit 6 Colonial Way, Watford, Herts WD24 4PR.
Leaflet revision and issue date (Ref) 29.04.2015.
Movicol is a registered trademark of Velinor AG, Switzerland.
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call 01923 332 796.