Patient leaflet - DULCOLAX PICO PERLES 2.5 MG SOFT CAPSULES
Dulcolax
Adult Pico Perles
2.5 mg Soft Capsules sodium picosulfate
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist have told you.
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– Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
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– Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
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– If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
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– You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after five days treatment.
What is in this leaflet:
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1. What Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles are and what they are used for
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2. What you need to know before you take Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles
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3. How to take Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles
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6. Content of the pack and other information
1. What Dulcolax Pico Peres are and what they are used for
Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles are used for short term occasional relief of constipation. Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles contain sodium picosulfate and belongs to a group of medicines known as stimulant laxatives, which increase bowel movements. This medicine does 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
2. what you need to know before you take dulcolax adult pico perlesdo not take dulcolax adult pico perles if: you are allergic (hypersensitive) to sodium picosulfate or any of the other ingredients in the product (listed in section 6: further information)
- You have severe dehydration
- You have a bowel condition called “ileus” (blockage in the intestine)
- You have a serious abdominal condition such as appendicitis
- You have severe abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting and/or fever
- You have a blocked bowel (intestinal obstruction)
- You have inflammation of the bowel (small or large intestine)
Do not take Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles if any of the above applies to you. Do not use in children under the age of 18 years. If you are not sure, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking this medicine.
Does this help with weight loss?
Stimulant laxatives (including sodium picosulfate) 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 must be avoided as it may harm the intestinal function.
Other medicines and Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles
Please tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines. This is because Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles can affect the way some other medicines work. Also, some other medicines can affect the way Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles works.
In particular, tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking:
- Water tablets (diuretics) such as bendrofluazide or furosemide (frusemide)
- Steroid medicines such as prednisolone
- Antibiotics – used for infections
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
3. how to take dulcolax adult pico perles
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults (including the elderly): Take two to four capsules (5 mg to 10 mg) at night. The capsules should be swallowed with adequate fluid.
Should not be used in children or adolescents under the age of 18 years.
If you have not taken Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles before, start with two capsules and increase to three or four if necessary. When your bowel regularity has returned to normal, the dose should be reduced and stopped.
Length of treatment
This product should not be used every day for more than 5 days. If you need laxatives every day, then you should see your doctor to find the cause of your constipation. Overuse can be harmful.
If you take more Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles than you should
It may be harmful to:
- Take too many Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles
- Take Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles for too long
This is because taking too much for too long may lead to:
- Imbalance of fluid and salts in the body. This can affect the tightness of muscles such as those in the bowel. It can also affect 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 heartbeat.
- Dehydration, making you thirsty, feel faint and giving you headaches. It can also mean you cannot pass enough urine.
If you take more of this medicine than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you; this is so the doctor knows what you have taken.
If you have any questions on the use of this product, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Isolated events (some side effects are so rare that it is not known how many people may be affected)
- Syncope (feeling faint)
- Allergic reaction
- Skin reactions (rash, itching)
If you have a severe allergic reaction, stop taking this medicine and see a doctor straight away. The signs may include: a rash, swelling of your skin, mouth and face which may cause swallowing or breathing problems.
Very common side effects (affect 1 in 10 people or more)
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal discomfort, cramps or pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
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: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 dulcolax adult pico perles
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
- Keep the bottle within the outer carton
- Do not take Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles after the expiry date which is stated on the carton or and bottle label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Do not store above 25°C
- Keep the bottle within the outer carton in order to protect from light
- 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 informationwhat dulcolax adult pico perles contain each capsule contains 2.5 mg of sodium picosulfate (present as monohydrate) as the active ingredient
- The other ingredients are: propylene glycol, macrogol 400, gelatin, glycerol and purified water
What Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles look like and contents of the pack
Dulcolax Adult Pico Perles are small, pearl-shaped soft gelatin capsules. They are available in packs of 20 and 24 capsules. Not all pack sizes are marketed.
The Marketing Authorisation is held by:
Sanofi
410 Thames Valley Park Drive,
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 1PT
United Kingdom
Tel: 0845 372 7101
Email:
Batch release is carried out by:
CHINOIN Pharmaceutical and Chemical Works Private Co. Ltd
(CHINOIN Private Co. Ltd.)
Veresegyhaz site
Levai utca 5,
Veresegyhaz, 2112
Hungary
This leaflet was revised in March 2020.
® Registered trade mark
D5a/UK/PIL/20s/24s/IB/Stimulant Laxatives dated 23 March 2020