Summary of medicine characteristics - GAVISCON LIQUID SACHETS
Gaviscon Liquid Sachets.
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Gaviscon contains 500 mg sodium alginate, 267 mg sodium bicarbonate and 160 mg calcium carbonate per 10 ml dose.
Excipients: methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) 40 mg/10 ml and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) 6 mg/10 ml.
For a full list of excipients, see Section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Oral suspension in sachets.
An off-white suspension with the odour and flavour of peppermint.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Treatment of symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux such as acid regurgitation, heartburn and indigestion related to reflux, for example, following meals, or during pregnancy, or in patients with symptoms related to reflux oesophagitis.
4.2. Posology and method of administrationPosology
Adults and children 12 years and over: One to two sachets after meals and at bedtime (up to four times a day).
Children under 12 years: Should be given only on medical advice.
Duration of treatment: If symptoms do not improve after seven days, the clinical situation should be reviewed.
Elderly: No dose modifications necessary for this age group.
Hepatic impairment: No modifications necessary.
Renal Insufficiency: Caution if highly restricted salt diet is necessary (see section 4.4).
For oral administration
4.3. Contraindications
This medicinal product is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium carbonate, or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1, including methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) (see section 4.4).
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
If symptoms do not improve after seven days, the clinical situation should be reviewed.
This medicinal product contains 285.2 mg sodium (12.4 mmol) per two sachet dose, equivalent to 14.62% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium.
The maximum daily dose of this product is equivalent to 57.04% 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 10 ml, one sachet dose contains 160 mg (1.6 mmol) of calcium carbonate.
Care needs to be taken in treating patients with hypercalcaemia, nephrocalcinosis and recurrent calcium containing renal calculi.
Contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate
(E216) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
For children below 12 years, please see section 4.2
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
A time-interval of 2 hours should be considered between Gaviscon intake and the administration of other medicinal products, especially tetracyclines, digoxine, fluoroquinolone, iron salt, ketoconazole, neuroleptics, thyroid hormones, penicillamine, beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propanolol), glucocorticoid, chloroquine, estramustine and bisphosphonates (diphosphonates). See section 4.4.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactationPregnancy:
Clinical studies in more than 500 pregnant women as well as a large amount of data from post-marketing experience indicate no malformative nor feto/ neonatal toxicity of the active substances. Gaviscon can be used during pregnancy, if clinically needed.
No effects of the active substances have been shown in breastfed newborns/infants of treated mothers. Gaviscon can be used during breastfeeding.
Pre-clinical 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
Gaviscon has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Adverse reactions have been ranked under headings of frequency using the following convention: Very rare: <1/10,000
| System Organ Class | Frequency | Adverse Event |
| Immune System Disorders | Very rare | Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria |
| Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders | Very rare | Respiratory effects such as broncospasm. |
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorization 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
The patient may experience abdominal discomfort and may notice abdominal distension.
In the event of overdosage, symptomatic treatment should be given.
5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1. Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic classification: A02BX13. Other drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
On ingestion the medicinal product reacts rapidly with gastric acid to form a raft of alginic acid gel having a near neutral pH and which floats on the stomach contents in 3 minutes, effectively impeding gastro-oesophageal reflux 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.
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 dataNo pre-clinical findings of any relevance to the prescriber have been reported.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Carbomer 974P
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218)
Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216)
Saccharin sodium
Natural mint 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 25°C and store in the original package. Do not freeze or refrigerate.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
A cardboard outer carton containing unit dose stick pack style sachets.
Pack sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 36.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
The sachets are composed of polyester, aluminium and polyethylene.
Each sachet contains 10 ml of Gaviscon.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
6.6 Special precautions for disposalNo special requirement.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited,
Dansom Lane,
Hull,
HU8 7DS.
United Kingdom.