Patient leaflet - ECHINAFLU SOFT CAPSULES
5: how to store this product
Healthspan Echinacea Cold & Flu Relief Capsules
Dried Juice of Echinacea purpurea Herb 176mg
Please read this leaflet carefully before you start taking these capsules.
It contains some important information about Healthspan Echinacea Cold & Flu Relief.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner. You must contact a qualified healthcare practitioner if your symptoms worsen, if they do not improve after 10 days, if any of the side-effects get serious, or if you notice any side-effects not listed in this leaflet.
Keep this leaflet with the capsules.
You may want to read it again or show it to your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner.
What is in this leaflet
1: what this product is and what it is used for
This product is a traditional herbal medicinal product containing the juice of Echinacea purpurea herb. Each soft capsule of this product contains 176mg of dried pressed juice from fresh flowering Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench herb (20–28:1) (equivalent to 3,520mg-4,925mg of fresh flowering Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench herb).
This product is a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the relief of symptoms of the common cold and influenza type infections, based on traditional use only.
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2: Before you take this product
Do not take this product if you:
- are allergic to any of the ingredients or to plants of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family such as daisies, marigolds or artichokes (see section 6)
- have a tendency to allergies such as hives, allergic eczema or asthma
- are allergic to peanut, soya or their oils. This product contains soya oil.
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
- suffer from the infection tuberculosis
- suffer from connective tissue disease with formation of clumps of cells (sarcoidosis), mainly occurring in the lymph nodes, lungs and liver
- suffer from autoimmune diseases such as inflammation of the connective tissue (collagenoses) or multiple sclerosis
- suffer from conditions which decrease your resistance to infection (e.g. HIV infection or AIDS) or
- are on therapy to reduce your natural response to infection (immunosuppression e.g. chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer; history of organ or bone marrow transplant)
- suffer from blood disorders involving the white blood cell system such as low white blood cell count due to bone marrow disorders (agranulocytosis) or blood cell cancer (leukemias)
- are under 12 years of age
- are taking immunosuppressant medicines such as ciclosporin and methotrexate
Do not exceed the stated dose. You must contact your doctor or qualified healthcare practitioner if:
- you have a high fever or your condition worsens
- symptoms persist for more than 10 days
- adverse effects not mentioned in the package leaflet occur
Consult your doctor before taking this product
If you are prone to develop allergic reactions. Echinacea can trigger severe and life threatening allergic reactions in patients who have a tendency to allergic reactions.
This product contains sorbitol. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this product.
Taking other medicines
Healthspan Echinacea Cold & Flu Relief must not be used together with immunosuppressant medications such as ciclosporin and methotrexate. Always remember to tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking including those obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
The safety of this product has not been sufficiently established in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Do not take this product if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.
3: how to take this product
You should speak to your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner if you are not sure if this product is suitable for you.
Adults, elderly and children over 12 years
Take one or two capsules daily.
This product is not suitable for children under the age of 12 years.
Do not exceed the stated dose.
Start taking at the first signs of common cold. Do not take Healthspan
Echinacea Cold & Flu Relief for more than 10 days.
If your symptoms worsen during the use of Healthspan Echinacea
Cold & Flu Relief or persist for more than 10 days, or if you experience a high fever, you should speak to your doctor or a qualified healthcare practitioner.
Continue to take your usual dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.
If you have any questions, or are unsure about anything, please ask your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner.
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4: Possible side-effects
Healthspan Echinacea Cold & Flu Relief can cause side-effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop taking Healthspan Echinacea Cold & Flu Relief and check with your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner immediately if any of the following side-effects occur:
Side-effects
Allergic (hypersensitive) reactions such as: rash, hives, inflammatory disorder of the skin (Stevens-Johnson-Syndrome), swelling of the skin due to fluid, swelling of the facial area (Quincke’s oedema), shrinking of the airways in the lungs with obstruction (bronchospasm), asthma and life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock).
Echinacea can trigger allergic reactions in patients who have a tendency to develop allergic conditions.
Association with autoimmune diseases has been reported such as:
- inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (disseminated encephalitis)