Movicol 20x13g

Movicol is a laxative for the treatment of constipation in adults, adolescents and elderly. It helps you to have a comfortable bowel movement even if you have been constipated for a long time. Also used in very bad constipation called faecal impaction.

1. What Movicol is and what it is 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. What you need to know 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
(listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions
When taking Movicol you should continue to take plenty of fluids. The fluid content
of Movicol should not replace your regular liquid intake.
Heart conditions
Follow the special instructions in section 3 if you are taking Movicol for faecal
impaction.

Other medicines and Movicol
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any
other medicines.
Some medicines, e.g. anti-epileptics, may not work as effectively during use with
Movicol.

Pregnancy and breast feeding
Movicol can be taken during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. If you are pregnant,
trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding, 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.
Movicol contains sodium

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you need 3 or more sachets daily for a prolonged
period, especially if you have been advised to follow a low salt (sodium) diet.
Movicol contains 186.87 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) per
sachet. This is equivalent to 9.3% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake
of sodium for an adult.

3. How to take Movicol
This medicine can be taken at any time with or without food.
Dissolve the content of each sachet in 125ml (1/4 pint) of water and drink.

Constipation:
A dose of Movicol is 1 sachet dissolved in 125 ml (1/4 pint) of water.
Take this 1 –3 times a day according to the severity of your constipation.

Faecal impaction:
Before you take Movicol for faecal impaction, it should be confirmed that you have
this condition.

A dose of 8 sachets a day of Movicol is needed for the treatment of faecal impaction.
Each sachet dissolved in 125ml (1/4 pint) of water. 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 ¼ 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. If you need to take Movicol for longer, please see your doctor.
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, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets
them.

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.