Cenlax 7.5 mg/5 ml syrup 12 Years Plus – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

1. What CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus is and what it is used for

CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus contains Sennosides which work as a stimulant laxative for the short-term relief of occasional constipation. CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus contains calcium sennosides. Constipation is a fairly common and uncomfortable complaint.

It usually involves difficult or irregular bowel movements, accompanied by hard, dry motions which can be painful to pass. Laxatives do not help with weight loss.

What is constipation?

Normal and regular bowel movement is important for most people. However, what is “normal and regular” varies from person to person. Some may have a bowel movement every day, others less often. Whatever it is like for you, it is best that your bowel movement has a regular pattern. Constipation is an occasional problem for some people. For others, it may happen more often. It happens when the normal muscle actions in the bowel (large intestine) slow down. This can mean that material is not easily eliminated from the body. The cause of constipation is often not known. It can be associated with:

Sudden change of diet

A diet with not enough fibre

Not drinking enough fluids

Loss of ‘tone’ of the bowel muscles in older people

Pregnancy

Medicines such as morphine or codeine

Having to stay in bed for a long time

Lack of exercise

Whatever the cause, constipation can be uncomfortable.

It may make you feel bloated and heavy or generally “off colour”. Sometimes it causes headaches. It is recommended to use changes in diet and bulk forming medicines to control constipation before using this medicine. These healthy tips are recommended to try to prevent constipation happening: Eat a balanced diet including fresh fruit and vegetables Drink enough water so that you do not become dehydrated Keep up your exercise and stay fit

Make time to empty your bowels when your body tells you This medicine does not help with weight loss.

2. What you need to know before you take CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus

Do not take if you:

are allergic to any of the ingredients (for a full list of ingredients, see section 6)

have a blockage or narrowing of the gastro-intestinal tract or bowel (ileus, intestinal obstruction or stenosis)

have paralysis or a lack of muscle tone in the bowel (atony) have appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

have severe dehydration

have persistent or undiagnosed abdominal complaints e.g pain, nausea, or vomiting

have faecal impaction or rectal bleeding for which you don’t know the cause, or blood in your stools

have already taken a laxative and are still constipated

have had a sudden change in bowel habit that has lasted for more than 2 weeks

are pregnant or breast-feeding

have kidney or heart problems

are under 12 years of age

If you are not sure whether any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Does this help with weight loss?

Stimulant laxatives (CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus) do not help with weight loss. They do not reduce the absorption of calories or nutrients. They can cause watery stools (diarrhoea), abdominal cramps and dehydration. Dehydration can seem like weight loss. Overuse of laxatives may damage your health by:

Causing disturbances of electrolyte and mineral balances. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus are electrolytes and minerals that are present in very specific amounts necessary for proper functioning of the nerves and muscles, including those of the colon and heart. Upsetting this delicate balance can cause incorrect functioning of these vital organs.

Severe dehydration may cause tremors, weakness, blurry vision, fainting, kidney damage, and, in extreme cases, death. Dehydration often requires medical treatment.

Overuse of laxatives can cause the colon to stop reacting to usual doses of laxatives so that larger amounts of laxatives may be needed to produce bowel movements.

Laxative dependency occurs from overuse.

Warnings and precautions

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking this medicine if: you suffer from kidney disorders

you are taking medicines for a heart condition (e.g. cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmic medicines e.g quinidine), medicines inducing QT elongation, diuretics, adrenocorticosteroids or liquorice root preparations. When administering this product to incontinent adults, pads should be changed more frequently to prevent extended skin contact with faeces. It is recommended to use changes in diet and bulk forming medicines to control constipation before using this medicine. continued overleaf CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus contains:

This medicine contains maltitol liquid (E965). If you have been told by your doctor that you have intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. Caution should be taken if you are diabetic as each 5ml contains 3.5 kilocalories.

This medicinal product also contains: methyl (E218) and propyl (E216) parahydroxybenzoate, which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed). Pregnancy and breast-feeding

You should not take this product if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Taking other medicines

You should consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including those listed above and any medicines obtained without a prescription.

3. How to take CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus

Always take this medicine as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner has told you. For oral use only

Adults, the elderly and children 12 years and over: Using the measuring spoon provided, take one to two 5 ml spoonfuls at night.

This medicine should not be used in children under 12 years old. New users should start with the lowest dose and increase it to the maximum dose if necessary, by one half of the initial dose each day. Once regularity has been regained dosage should be reduced and stopped.

Duration of use

Not to be used for more than one week. Normally it is sufficient to take this medicinal product up to two to three times during that week. Tell a doctor, pharmacist or nurse if:

the symptoms worsen or persist during the use of the medicinal product there is no bowel movement after 3 days of use

you need to take laxatives every day or if abdominal pain persists. Do not take more than the leaflet tells you.

Overuse can be harmful. If you take too much syrup:

Consult your doctor and take this leaflet with you.

It may be harmful to take too much of this medicine or take it for too long. This is because it may lead to:

a ‘lazy bowel’, where the muscle in the bowel becomes too relaxed. This means that bowel emptying happens less often. This can lead to long-term constipation.

imbalance of fluids and salts in the body. This can affect the tightness of muscles such as those in the bowel.

an effect on the salts in the blood. Low levels of potassium in the blood (called hypo-kalaemia). This can make you tired, dizzy, make your muscles weak and cause an uneven heart-beat.

dehydration, making you thirsty, feel faint and giving you headaches. It can also mean that you cannot pass enough urine.

If you forget to take CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus If you miss a dose, take your next dose at the usual time.

Do not take or give a double dose, just carry on with the recommended dose when it is due. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Always consult your doctor if you need further advice.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

If you notice any of the following side effects, stop taking CenLax7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus and immediately contact a doctor or the nearest hospital accident and emergency department:

difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, neck, tongue or throat (severe allergic reactions)

asthma or worsening of asthma symptoms

severe raised, red, itchy skin that may affect part or all of the body. If any of the following or any other side effects occur, stop taking this medicine and consult a doctor or pharmacist:

allergic reactions such as local or more widespread skin rashes, hives (skin bumps) or itchiness around the anus.

The following effects may also occur:

abdominal pain, spasms and diarrhoea, in particular these effects may be experienced by patients with irritable colon. In these cases, a reduction in dose may be necessary.

can make you more likely to catch infections.

chronic use may lead to albuminuria and haematuria which is albumin or red blood cells in the urine.

yellow or red-brown discolouration of urine, which is harmless and usually disappears when treatment is stopped.

colouration of the lining of the gut which usually go away when the product is no longer taken.

low potassium levels in the blood leading to muscle weakness and/or cramps. severe weight loss.

changes in the shape of the finger and fingernail, muscular spasms and inflammation of bones and joints.

The frequency of these effects occurring is not known.

Reporting of side effects

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

5. How to store CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus

Store in the original container. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Do not use after the expiry date shown on the pack (EXP month/year). Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus contains

Each 5ml of CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus contains sennosides, as calcium salts, equivalent to 7.5mg hydroxyanthracen glycosides, calculated as sennoside B.

The other ingredients are: maltitol liquid (E965), methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), potassium sorbate (E202), xanthan gum, simeticone, citric acid monohydrate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), prune flavour (propylene glycol (E1520), amyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, vanillin), and purified water. What CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus looks like and contents of the pack

CenLax 7.5mg/5ml Syrup 12 Years Plus is an amber coloured liquid available in 100 ml, 150 ml or 200 ml glass bottles with a child resistant cap. Each pack contains one bottle and one measuring spoon marked for doses of 2.5 ml and 5 ml.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Manx Healthcare Limited, Unit 2, Bosworth Avenue, Tournament Fields, Warwick, CV34 6UQ, United Kingdom

Other formats

To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio, please call 01926 482511.

This leaflet was last revised in June 2025

URN: GSE07-PIL-3