Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg / 5 ml solution
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
5ml of the solution contains 50mg docusate sodium
Excipient(s) with known effect:
Aspartame (E951) 15 mg per dose of syrup (5 mL)
Sodium benzoate (E 211) 5 mg per dose of syrup (5 mL)
Sorbitol 70% (E420) 1290 mg per dose of syrup (5 mL)
Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (E218) 5 mg per dose of syrup (5 mL)
Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (E216) 2.5 mg per dose of syrup (5 mL)
Sodium < 23 mg per dose of syrup (5 mL)
For full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Oral solution.
Liquid syrupy, clear, nearly colourless and with homogeneous appearance.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Prevention and treatment of chronic constipation. Prevention of hard dry stools and reduction of straining at stools in the presence of conditions like haemorrhoids and anal fissures.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults: 10 mL three times a day. Take as a single dose followed by plenty of water or flavoured drink e.g. milk or orange juice. Maximum daily dose 30 mL.
Treatment should be commenced with large doses which should be decreased as the condition of the patient improves.
Elderly: There is no evidence to suggest that an adjustment of the dosage is necessary in the elderly.
Paediatric population
Children aged 6 months to 12 years: use Docusol Paediatric 12.5 mg/5 ml Solution.
Duration of treatment
The patient should be advised to consult a physician when constipation persists or worsens during treatment or when laxatives are needed for a long period of time.
Method of administration
Oral use.
4.3 Contraindications
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution should not be taken:
- by patients with a known hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
- in the presence of abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, nausea or if vomiting occurs.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Paediatric population
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution is not recommended for children aged 12 years and under.
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution contains sorbitol. This medicine contains 1290 mg sorbitol in each 5 mL dose. Sorbitol is a source of fructose so should not be given to patients who have an intolerance to some sugars or have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose. Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect.
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution contains 5 mg of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate in each 5 mL dose and 2.5 mg of propyl p-hydroxybenzoate in each 5 mL dose. May cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution contains aspartame. This medicine contains 15 mg aspartame in each dose (5 mL) . Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder in which phenylalanine builds up because the body cannot remove it properly.
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution contains sodium benzoate. This medicine contains 5 mg sodium benzoate in each dose (5 mL).
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution contains sodium. This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 5 mL dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution should not be taken concurrently with mineral oil. Anthraquinone derivatives should be taken in reduced doses, if administered with Docusol Constipation Relief 50 mg/5 ml Solution as their absorption is increased.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
There is inadequate evidence of safety of the drug in human pregnancy, nor is there evidence from animal work that it is free from hazard, but it has been in wide use for many years without apparent ill consequence. Use in pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Breastfeeding
Docusate sodium is excreted in breast milk and should therefore be used with caution in lactating mothers.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None known.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Frequencies are defined as follows: Very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to ≤ 1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to ≤ 1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to ≤ 1/1,00); very rare (≤ 1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Gastrointestinal disorders:
Rare: diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal cramps.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
Not known: skin rash and pruritus.
There have been spontaneous reports of burning sensation in mouth and throat following the use of docusate sodium. Patients are advised to drink plenty of water or flavoured drink after taking the solution.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reaction after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit / risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9 Overdose
In rare cases of overdose excessive loss of water and electrolytes should be treated by encouraging the patient to drink plenty of fluid.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Laxatives, softeners, emollients, ATC code: A06AA02.
Docusate sodium acts as a faecal softener by increasing the penetration of water and fats.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
Docusate sodium exerts its effects by means of its physical surfactant properties. However there is some evidence that it is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and excreted in bile.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
None stated.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Sorbitol 70% (E420)
Glycerol (E422)
Povidone
Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (E218)
Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (E216)
Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate
Disodium phosphate dodecahydrate
Sodium benzoate
Citric acid anhydrous
Aspartame (E591)
Strawberry flavour
Purified water
6.2 Incompatibilities
None known.
6.3 Shelf life
3 years.
6.4 Special precautions for storage
This product does not require any special storage conditions.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
Glass bottle with a plastic screw cap with a transparent seal. Each bottle contains 125ml or 300ml.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
No special requirements.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Typharm Ltd.
Unit 1
39 Mahoney Green
Rackheath
Norwich
NR13 6JY
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 00551/0236
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE
AUTHORISATION
15/04/2025
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
15/04/2025