Patient leaflet - Hills Balsam Chesty Cough liquid
1. WHAT HILL’S CHESTY COUGH IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
The name of your medicine is Hill’s Balsam Chesty
Cough Liquid, referred to as Hill’s Chesty Cough
throughout this leaflet. It contains the active
ingredient guaifenesin, which belongs to a group of
medicines called expectorants.
It is used to help relieve chesty coughs by
loosening mucus and making it easier to cough up.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE HILL’S CHESTY COUGH
Do not use Hill’s Chesty Cough
if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to guaifenesin
or any of the other ingredients of Hill’s Chesty
Cough (see section 6)
for a child under 12 years of age.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you:
- bring up a lot of mucus with your cough
- have asthma
have had a cough for a few weeks or one that
keeps coming back
- have liver or kidney problems
suffer from alcoholism
have been told by your doctor that you have an
intolerance to some sugars.
Effects on laboratory tests:
If you are asked to give a urine sample, please tell your doctor you are taking this medicinal product, as guaifenesin may interfere with the results of certain diagnostic tests.
Other medicines and Hill’s Chesty Cough
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription. This includes any other medicines to treat a cough or cold.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or if you are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
Hill’s Chesty Cough contains alcohol, but the amount is unlikely to cause drowsiness or affect your ability to drive and use machines. However please ensure that you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Hill’s Chesty Cough
This medicinal product contains:
- Sodium methyl hydroxybenzoate (E219) and sodium propyl hydroxybenzoate (E217), which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed). • 5.9 vol % ethanol (alcohol), i.e. up to 234 mg per 5 ml, equivalent to 6 ml beer or 2.5 ml wine. This can be harmful for those suffering from alcoholism. It should also be taken into account in pregnant or breast-feeding women, children and high-risk groups such as patients with liver disease, or epilepsy.
- Sucrose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product. Hill’s Chesty Cough contains 3.7 g sucrose per 5 ml. This should be taken into account in patients with diabetes mellitus.
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 has told you. • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice. • 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.
You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse.
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
HILL’S BALSAM CHESTY COUGH LIQUID
Guaifenesin 100 mg in 5 ml
SPECIFICATION DETAILS
Origination
Dimensions 250 x 180 mm
Border 10 mm
Font details Main title:
Univers LT Std - Bold - 19pt
Sub-titles:
Univers LT Std - Bold - 11pt
Body copy:
Univers LT Std - 9pt
Colours Black - K
3. HOW TO TAKE HILL’S CHESTY COUGH
Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Dosage
For oral use only.
Do not take more than the amount recommended below.
Do not give this medicine to children under 12 years of age.
Adults and children over 12 years:
Take one or two 5 ml spoonfuls every 2 to 4 hours. Do not take more than 12 (twelve) 5 ml spoonfuls in any 24 hours.
This medicine can be taken, if preferred, diluted in a little warm water.
If you take more Hill’s Chesty Cough than you should: contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Take the bottle with you.
If you forget to take Hill’s Chesty Cough: take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Hill’s Chesty Cough can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following stop using Hill’s Chesty Cough and get immediate medical help: swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat; a red itchy skin rash; sudden wheezing or difficulty breathing; feeling faint. You may be having an allergic reaction.
Other possible side effects:
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), pain in the abdomen
- Dizziness, drowsiness
- Headache
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: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE HILL’S CHESTY COUGH
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not store above 25°C.
Do not use Hill’s Chesty Cough after the expiry date shown on the pack. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
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 to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Hill’s Chesty Cough contains:
The active substance is guiafenesin. Each 5 ml contains 100 mg Guaifenesin.
The other ingredients are acetic acid, sodium methyl hydroxybenzoate (E219), sodium propyl hydroxybenzoate (E217), xanthan gum, treacle, capsicum tincture, compound benzoin tincture, ethanol, mint/liquorice flavour, anise oil, sucrose, caramel (E150), saccharin sodium, special flavour (NI225892) and water.
What Hill’s Chesty Cough looks like and contents of the pack:
Hill’s Chesty Cough is a brown, viscous, oral solution with an aromatic odour, available in bottles of 100 ml and 200 ml. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation holder:
Infohealth Ltd, 28 Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 2RA, UK.
Manufacturer:
Laleham Health and Beauty Ltd, Fairfield, Bradshaw Lane, Greenhalgh, Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire PR4 3JA, UK.
This leaflet was last revised in October 2019
‘Hill’s Balsam’ is a registered trade mark