Patient leaflet - MICROCAT 50 MG / ML ORAL SUSPENSION
1. what microcat is and what it is used for
This medicine is for diagnostic use only.
Microcat is an X-ray contrast media used to highlight areas of your body. It is most commonly used in Computerised axial Tomography (CT scans) or similar medical examinations to help the doctor diagnose problems in your digestive system (throat, stomach and bowels).
This medicine is for the use of children, adults and the elderly.
2. what you need to know before you use microcat
Do not use Microcat
- if you are allergic to barium sulfate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
- if you suffer from stomach ulcers, or any other stomach or bowel problem (perforation, obstruction, etc);
- if you have had a surgery or an examination (endoscopy) of the digestive tract within the 7 previous days;
- if you have had a radiotherapy of the digestive tract within the 4 previous weeks.
Tell your doctor if you are suffering from any of these problems.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Microcat.
This medicinal product must not be injected.
Like with all products containing barium sulfate, there is a risk of side effects; they are usually minor but can also be life-threatening. Possible allergic-like reactions may occur in the hours following administration, up to 7 days after administration. They are unforeseeable but the risk of occurrence is increased if you have already had a reaction following previous administration of product containing barium sulfate (see section 4 “Possible side effects”). If this is the case, you should inform your doctor.
Inform your doctor:
- if you have already experienced a reaction following the administration of the same type of medicinal product;
- if you suffer from asthma;
- in case of constipation or any other problem of the digestive system;
- if you have any difficulty to swallow or to breath;
- if your kidneys do not work properly;
- in case of Hirschsprung’s disease (very rare bowel problem affecting the children);
- if you are to undergo other radiological examination in the next few days.
Other medicines and Microcat
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor of pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Microcat contains sorbitol, sodium, potassium and parahydroxybenzoate
This medicinal product contains:
- Sorbitol. This medicine contains 5 g sorbitol per 150 mL suspension. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor has told you that you (or your child) have an intolerance to some sugars or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you (or your child) take or receive this medicine.
- Sodium. This medicine contains 208.5 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) per 150 mL suspension. This is equivalent to 10% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult. Please take this into consideration if you are on a low salt diet.
- Potassium. This medicine contains 55 mg potassium per 150 mL suspension. Please take this into consideration if you have a reduced kidney function or are on a controlled potassium diet.
- ”Parahydroxybenzoate” and may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
3. how to use microcat
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor if you are not sure.
Dosage
The dose will be decided by the doctor depending on the type of examination.
Method of administration
The doctor will usually give you this medicine orally (by mouth) as a drink.
This medicine will be diluted for you and you will be given about half a litre (one pint) to drink.
It is particularly important to take this medicine exactly as told to do so. You should finish all that you have been given.
Adults :
The usual recommended dose is 150 mL of Microcat diluted to 500 mL (about 1 pint) with water and swallowed at the beginning of the examination. Your doctor may adjust this dose or volume to suit the examination.
In the Elderly :
No special dosage regimen is required, but care should be taken to observe the contra-indications and warnings.
Children :
No particular children’s dose is recommended as such investigations in children are rare and specialised. The dosage will therefore be tailored by the radiologist to suit the special requirements in each case.
If you use more Microcat than you should Although you will be given Microcat in a hospital, and there will be little chance of an overdose, if you think a child or anyone else has swallowed any of it, let the emergency department or hospital staff know immediately.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Side effects can occur at some frequencies which are detailed below:
- very common: affects more than 1 user in 10
- common: affects 1 to 10 users in 100
- uncommon: affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000
- rare: affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000
- very rare: affects less than 1 user in 10,000
- not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
Most side effects are not serious. Side effects reported for Microcat are mentioned below. Their frequency is not known.
- sudden skin rash, breathing difficulties and fainting (within minutes or days) due to allergic reactions;
- vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, constipation, feeling bloated, flatulence;
- breathing difficulties;
- dizziness and feeling of imminent loss of consciousness (pre-syncope);
- urticaria (patches of red skin, severely itching), rash.
In very rare cases the administration of this type of medicinal product can cause the formation of a plug of faeces and barium in the bowel.
In case of perforation of the bowel, barium could leak into the abdomen, and cause potentially abscesses, inflammation or peritonitis. This could require surgery; however, it is an extremely rare complication.
The passage of barium into the blood may be responsible for blockage of blood vessels, shock, important difficulties to breathe and multiple formation of clots in the blood vessels.
If you get any of the side effects, talk to your doctor or health professional. This includes any side effects not listed in this leaflet.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, website: 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 microcat
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
This medicine should be stored below 25°C. Do not freeze it.
The suspension should be used within 2 hours of dilution.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. If you have any medicines that are out of date, return them to your pharmacist or hospital for safe disposal.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
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6. Content of the pack and other information
What Microcat contains– The active substance is barium sulfate (50 mg/mL) – The other ingredients are sorbitol (E420), xanthan gum (E415), citric acid anhydrous (E330), sodium citrate (E331), simeticone emulsion, potassium sorbate (E202), sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E219), saccharin sodium (E954), apricot flavour and purified water.
What Microcat looks like and contents of the pack
Microcat is a white, thick liquid with an apricot smell. Microcat is available in bottles of 150 mL or 500 mL. Each contains 150 mL of Microcat, for dilution.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer:
Guerbet
B.P. 57400
95943 Roissy CdG Cedex
FRANCE
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Guerbet Laboratories Ltd
Avon House
435 Stratford road
Shirley, Solihull
Birmingham B90 4AA
Phone: + 44 1217 338 542
This leaflet was last revised in December 2020.
5047575
Guerbet I E:°