MAXIMUM FLU STRENGTH HOT LEMON POWDER - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

What is in this leaflet:

• 1. What Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder is and what it is used for

• 2. What you need to know before you take Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder

• 3. How to take Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. what maximum flu strength hot lemon powder is and what it is used for

The name of your medicine is Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder. This powder contains a combination of paracetamol (a painkiller) and phenylephrine hydrochloride (a decongestant).

Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder is used to relieve the symptoms of the common cold and flu; including, headaches, sore throat and nasal congestion (blocked nose and sinus).

2. what you need to know before you take maximum flu strength hot lemon powder

Do not take Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid or to any of the other ingredients (listed in section 6).
• have kidney or liver problems, overactive thyroid, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart or circular disease
• have phaeochromocytoma or glaucoma
• are taking tricyclic anti-depressants (e.g. imipramine or amitriptyline) or if you are taking or have taken within the last two weeks monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (e.g. moclobemide) prescribed for depression
• are taking beta blockers

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder if you:

• suffer from kidney disease or liver disease, particularly if caused by alcohol
• have a blood vessel disease such as Raynaud’s Phe­nomenon
• have an enlarged prostate

Do not take anything else containing paracetamol while taking this medicine.

Do not take with any other flu, cold or decongestant product.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

The following medicines can affect or be affected by Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder:

• medicines used to treat epilepsy (fits) (e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and lamotrigine)
• medicines used to treat depression (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as moclobemide)
• metoclopramide and domperidone (used to treat sickness and nausea)
• warfarin and other coumarin medicines (used to thin the blood) due to increased risk of bleeding
• colestyramine (used to treat high cholesterol and in diseases of the intestine and liver)
• alpha-blockers (used in high blood pressure and problems associated with enlarged prostate)
• ergot alkaloids or methylsergide (used in the treatment of migraines)
• oxytocin (used to induce childbirth)
• sympathomimetics (used to maintain blood pressure in critically ill patients).
• medicine used to treat heart disease (digoxin)
• beta-blockers and other antihypertensives used in the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular side effects.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If necessary, Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon powder can be used during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. You should use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or your fever and use it for the shortest time possible. Contact your doctor if the pain and/or fever are not reduced or if you need to take the medicine more often.

Driving and using machines

It is possible that Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder may cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery if affected.

Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon powder contains phenylalanine and sodium

This medicine contains phenylalanine. May be harmful for people with phenylketonuria.

This medicinal product contains 5.3mmol sodium per dose. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.

Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon powder contains sucrose

If you have diabetes mellitus or if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

3. how to take maximum flu strength hot lemon powder

Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist or nurse has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Adults over 16 years of age:

• 1 sachet, dissolved in hot water every 4 hours as required
• do not take more than 4 sachets in 24 hours
• do not exceed the recommended dose
• if symptoms persist see your doctor
• do not take for more than 3 days unless you have been told to do so by your doctor.

Children under 16 years of age:

• do not give to children under 16 years unless your doctor tells you to.

Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine even if you feel well. This is because too much paracetamol can cause delayed, serious liver damage.

If you forget to take Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder

If you forget a dose, take another as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then do not take the missed dose at all. NEVER take a double dose to make up for the one missed.

4. possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. A small number of people have had side effects.

Stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you experience:

• Allergic reactions which may be severe such as skin rash, itching sometimes with swelling of the mouth or face or shortness of breath
• skin rash or peeling or mouth ulcers
• Breathing problems. These are more likely if you have experienced them before when taking other painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin
• Unexplained bruising or bleeding
• Reoccuring fevers or infections
• Nausea, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite and yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Visual disturbances. This is rare but is more likely in those with glaucoma
• Unusually fast pulse rate or a sensation of an unusually fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Difficulty passing water. This is more likely to occur in men with an enlarged prostate gland.

The following side effects may occur. Tell your doctor if you get them:

• Raised blood pressure, headache, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, nervousness or sickness.
• Irritability, restlessness, and excitability

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 maximum flu strength hot lemon powder

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

• Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder should be stored in a dry place below 25°C
• Store in the original container to protect from light; do not transfer to another container
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

6. contents of the pack and other information

What Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder contains

The active ingredients are: paracetamol 1000mg and phenylephrine hydrochloride 10mg.

The other ingredients are: caster sugar, sodium citrate, citric acid, tartaric acid, maize starch, lemon juice, ascorbic acid, aspartame, natural colour (E100) and lemon flavour.

What Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder looks like and contents of the pack

Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder is a powder for oral solutions.

Maximum Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powder is available on general sale in pack sizes of 5 or 10 sachets.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder: Wockhardt UK Ltd, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK.

Manufacturer: CP Pharmaceuticals Limited, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK.

Other formats:

To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge: 0800 198 5000 (UK Only).

Please be ready to give the following information:

This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

This leaflet was last revised in: July 2019.

GSL