Summary of medicine characteristics - GAVISCON DOUBLE ACTION PEPPERMINT FLAVOUR ORAL SUSPENSION SACHETS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Gaviscon Double Action Peppermint Flavour Oral Suspension Sachets
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Each 10 ml dose (sachet) contains sodium alginate 500 mg, sodium hydrogen carbonate 213 mg and calcium carbonate 325 mg.
Excipients with known effect:
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) 40mg
Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) 6mg
Sodium 127.88mg
For a full list of excipients, see Section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Oral suspension in sachet.
An off -white suspension with the odour and flavour of peppermint
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Treatment of acid related symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux such as acid regurgitation, heartburn and indigestion, for example following meals or during pregnancy.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Posology:
Adults and children 12 years and over: 10–20 ml (1 to 2 sachets) after meals and at bedtime, up to four times per day.
Children under 12 years: Should be given only on medical advice.
Elderly: No dose modifications necessary for this age group.
Hepatic Impairment: No dose modification necessary.
Renal Insufficiency: Caution if highly restricted salt diet is necessary (see section 4.4).
Method of administration:
For oral administration.
4.3 Contraindications
This medicinal product is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
This medicinal product contains 127.88 mg sodium per dose, equivalent to 6.4 % of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium.
The maximum daily dose of this product is equivalent to 51.15% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium.
This product is considered high in sodium. This should be particularly taken into account for those on a low salt diet (e.g. in some cases of congestive heart failure and renal impairment).
Each 2 sachets/20 ml dose contains 260 mg (6.5 mmol) of calcium. Care needs to be taken in treating patients with hypercalcaemia, nephrocalcinosis and recurrent calcium containing renal calculi.
If symptoms do not improve after 7 days, the clinical situation should be reviewed.
Contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
Prolonged use should be avoided.
As with other antacid products, taking Gaviscon Double Action Peppermint Flavour Oral Suspension Sachets can mask the symptoms of other more serious, underlying medical conditions.
Gaviscon Double Action Peppermint Flavour Oral Suspension Sachets should not be used in the following cases:
Patients with severe/impaired renal function/-insufficiency
Patients with hypophosphatemia
There is a possibility of reduced efficacy in patients with very low levels of gastric acid.
There is increased risk for hypernatremia in children with gastroenteritis or suspected renal insufficiency.
Treatment of children younger than 12 years of age is not generally recommended, except on medical advice.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Due to the presence of calcium and carbonates which act as an antacid, a timeinterval of 2 hours should be considered between Gaviscon intake and the administration of other medicinal products, especially H2-antihistaminics, tetracyclines, digoxin fluoroquinolone, iron salts, thyroid hormones, ketoconazole, neuroleptics, thyroxine, penicillamine, beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol), glucocorticoid, chloroquine, estramustine and diphosphonates. See also section 4.4.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
A moderate amount of data on pregnant women (between 300–1000 pregnancy outcomes) indicate no malformative or feto/neonatal toxicity of the active substances.
Based on this and previous experience the medicinal product may be used during pregnancy if clinically needed.
Nevertheless, taking into account the presence of calcium carbonate it is recommended to limit the treatment duration as much as possible.
Breast-feeding
No effects of the active substances have been shown in breastfed newborns/infants of treated mothers. This product can be used during breast-feeding if clinically needed.
Fertility
Pre-clinical animal investigations have revealed alginate has no negative effect on parental or offspring fertility or reproduction. Clinical data do not suggest that Gaviscon has an effect on human fertility.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
This product has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Adverse events which have been associated with sodium alginate, sodium hydrogen carbonate and calcium carbonate are given below, tabulated by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: Very common (>1/10); Common (>1/100 and <1/10); Uncommon (>1/1000 and <1/100); Rare (>1/10,000 and <1/1000); Very rare (< 1/10,000); Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, adverse events are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
| System Organ Class | Frequency | Adverse Events |
| Immune System Disorders | Very Rare | Anaphylactic reaction, anaphylactoid reaction. Hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria. |
| Metabolism and Nutritional Disorders | Not Known | Alkalosis1, Hypercalcaemia1, Milk-alkali Syndrome1 |
| Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders | Not known | Respiratory effects such as bronchospasm. |
| Gastrointestinal Disorders | Very Rare | Abdominal pain, acid rebound, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
| Not Known | Constipation1 | |
| Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders | Very Rare | Rash Pruritic |
Description of Selected Adverse Reactions
1 Usually occurs following larger than recommended dosages.
Reporting of Suspected Adverse Reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions 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
Symptoms
Some abdominal distension may be noticed.
Management
In the event of overdosage symptomatic treatment should be given.
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: A02BX, Other drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
The medicinal product is a combination of two antacids (calcium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate) and an alginate.
On ingestion, the medicinal product reacts rapidly with gastric acid to form a protective barrier (raft) of alginic acid gel having a near neutral pH and which floats on the stomach contents. Effective impediment of gastro-oesophageal reflux may last for up to 4 hours. In severe cases the raft itself may be refluxed into the oesophagus, in preference to the stomach contents and exert a demulcent effect.
Calcium carbonate neutralises gastric acid to provide fast relief from indigestion and heartburn. This effect is increased by the addition of sodium hydrogen carbonate which also has a neutralising action. The total neutralising capacity of the product at the lowest dose of 10 ml is approximately 10 mEqH+.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
The mode of action of the medicinal product is physical and does not depend on absorption into the systemic circulation.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
5.3 Preclinical safety dataThere are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber, which are additional to those already included in other sections of the SmPC
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Carbomer 974P
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218)
Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) Saccharin sodium,
Peppermint flavour
Sodium hydroxide
Purified water.
6.2 Incompatibilities
Not applicable.
6.3 Shelf life
Two years.
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 30°C. Do not refrigerate or freeze.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
A cardboard outer carton containing unit dose stick pack style sachets.
Pack sizes: 4, 12 and 24 sachets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
The sachets are composed of heat sealable laminate composed of polyester/aluminium foil/polyethylene/ polyester/polyethylene.