Patient leaflet - Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5 mg/5 ml syrup
1. What Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg /
5ml Syrup is and what it is used for
Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup contains calcium sennosides. Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup is used for the short-term relief of occasional constipation. Constipation is a fairly common and uncomfortable complaint. It usually involves difficult or irregular bowel movements, accompanied by hard, dry motions which can be painful to pass. This medicine does not help with weight loss.
What is constipation?
Normal and regular bowel movement is important for most people. However, what is “normal and regular” varies from person to person. Some may have a bowel movement every day, others less often. Whatever it is like for you, it is best that your bowel movement has a regular pattern.
Constipation is an occasional problem for some people. For others, it may happen more often.
It happens when the normal muscle actions in the bowel (large intestine) slow down. This can mean that material is not easily eliminated from the body.
The cause of constipation is often not known. It can be associated with:
- Sudden change of diet
- A diet with not enough fibre
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Loss of ‘tone’ of the bowel muscles in older people
- Pregnancy
- Medicines such as morphine or codeine
- Having to stay in bed for a long time
- Lack of exercise
Whatever the cause, constipation can be uncomfortable. It may make you feel bloated and heavy or generally “off colour”. Sometimes it causes headaches.
It is recommended to use changes in diet and bulk forming medicines to control constipation before using this medicine. These healthy tips are recommended to try to prevent constipation happening:
- Eat a balanced diet including fresh fruit and vegetables
- Drink enough water so that you do not become dehydrated
- Keep up your exercise and stay fit
Make time to empty your bowels when your body tells you
Package leaflet: information for the patient Senease Twelve Years Plus
7.5mg / 5ml Syrup
Sennosides
2. What you need to know before you take Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup
Do not take Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup:
- if you are allergic to any of the ingredients (for a full list of ingredients, see section 6)
- if you have blockage or narrowing of the gastro-intestinal tract or bowl (ileus, intestinal obstruction or stenosis)
- if you have paralysis or a lack of muscle tone in the bowel (atony)
- if you have appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- if you have severe dehydration
- if you have persistent or undiagnosed abdominal complaints e.g. pain, nausea, or vomiting
- if you have faecal impaction or rectal bleeding for which you don’t know the cause, or blood in your stools
- if you have already taken a laxative and are still constipated
- if you have had a sudden change in bowel habit that has lasted for more than 2 weeks
if you are pregnant or breast-feeding
- if you have kidney or heart condition
- if you are under 12 years of age.
Does this help with weight loss?
Stimulant laxatives (including take Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup) do not help with weight loss. They do not reduce the absorption of calories or nutrients. They can cause watery stools (diarrhoea), abdominal cramps and dehydration. Dehydration can seem like weight loss.
Overuse of laxatives may damage your health by:
- Causing disturbances of electrolyte and mineral balances. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus are electrolytes and minerals that are present in very specific amounts necessary for proper functioning of the nerves and muscles, including those of the colon and heart. Upsetting this delicate balance can cause incorrect functioning of these vital organs.
- Severe dehydration may cause tremors, weakness, blurry vision, fainting, kidney damage, and, in extreme cases, death. Dehydration often requires medical treatment.
- Overuse of laxatives can cause the colon to stop reacting to usual doses of laxatives so that larger and larger amounts of laxatives may be needed to produce bowel movements.
- Laxative dependency occurs from overuse.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup:
- if you suffer from kidney disorders
- if you are taking medicines for a heart condition (e.g. cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmic medicines e.g. quinidine), medicines inducing QT prolongation.
- if you are taking diuretics, adrenocorticosteroids or liquorice root preparations.
Other medicines and Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including those listed above and any medicines obtained without a prescription. Further information
When administering this product to incontinent adults, pads should be changed more frequently to prevent extended skin contact with faeces.
It is recommended to use changes in diet and bulk forming medicines to control constipation before using this medicine. Information about some of the ingredients in this medicine This medicine contains maltitol liquid (E965). If you have been told by your doctor that you have intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. Caution should be taken if you are diabetic as each 5ml of syrup contains 3.2 kilocalories.
This medicine contains 0.09 mmol (or 3.51 mg) potassium per 5 ml. To be taken into consideration by patients with reduced kidney function or patients on a controlled potassium diet This medicinal product also contains:
- methyl (E218) and propyl (E216) parahydroxybenzoate, which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed)
3. How to take Senease Twelve Years Plus
7.5mg / 5ml Syrup
Always take 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.
New users should start with the lowest dose and increase it to the maximum dose if necessary by one half of the initial dose each day.
Once regularity has been regained, the dosage should be reduced and then stopped.
For oral use only
Adults, the elderly and children over 12 years: Using the measuring spoon provided, take one to two 5 ml spoonfuls at night, unless otherwise advised by a medical practitioner. This medicine should not be taken by children under 12 years old.
Do not exceed the stated dose
Duration of use
Not to be used for more than one week. It is normally sufficient to take this medicine up to two to three times during that week.
Tell a doctor or nurse if:
- the symptoms worsen or persist during the use of the medicinal product
- there is no bowel movement within 3 days of use
- you need to take laxatives every day or if abdominal pain persists.
Do not take more than the leaflet tells you. Overuse can be harmful
If you take more Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup than you should:
Consult your doctor and take this leaflet with you. It may be harmful to take too much of this medicine or take it for too long. This is because it may lead to:
- A ‘lazy bowel’, where the muscle in the bowel becomes too relaxed. This means that bowel emptying happens less often. This can lead to long-term constipation.
- Imbalance of fluids and salts in the body. This can affect the tightness of muscles such as those in the bowel. It can also affect the salts in the blood.
- Low levels of potassium in the blood (called hypokalaemia). This can make you tired, dizzy, make your muscles weak and cause an uneven heart-beat.
- Dehydration, making you thirsty, feel faint and giving you headaches. It can also mean that you cannot pass enough urine.
If you forget to take Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup:
If you miss a dose, take your next dose at the usual time. 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, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you notice any of the following side effects, stop taking this medicine and immediately contact a doctor or the nearest hospital accident and emergency department:
difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, neck, tongue or throat (severe allergic reactions)
- severe raised, red, itchy skin that may affect part or all of the body.
If any of the following or any other side effects occur, stop taking this medicine and consult a doctor or pharmacist:
- low potassium levels in the blood leading to muscle weakness and/or cramps
- severe weight loss
- changes in the shape of the finger and fingernail, muscular spasms and inflammation of bones and joints.
- can make you more likely to catch infections.
- hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions, hives (skin bumps), skin itchiness or local or more widespread rash, or asthma. The following effects may also occur:
- abdominal pain, spasms and diarrhoea, in particular these effects may be experienced by patients with irritable colon. In these cases, a reduction in dose may be necessary.
- albuminuria and haematuria with chronic use which is albumin or red blood cells in the urine.
- Yellow or red-brown discolouration of urine which is harmless.
- pigmentation of the gastrointestinal tract with chronic use which usually recedes when the product is no longer taken. The frequency of these effects occurring is not known. 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 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 Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not refrigerate or freeze.
Store in the original container.
Use within 6 months of opening the bottle.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and bottle label.
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 protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup Contains
Each 5 ml of oral syrup contains sennosides, as calcium salts, equivalent to 7.5 mg hydroxyanthracene glycosides, calculated as sennoside B. The other ingredients are maltitol liquid (E965), methyl parahydroxy benzoate (E218), potassium sorbate (E202), xanthan gum, simeticone, citric acid monohydrate, mixed fruit flavour, propyl parahydroxy benzoate (E216), purified water.
What Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup looks like and contents of the pack
Senease Twelve Years Plus 7.5mg / 5ml Syrup is an amber colour syrupy clear liquid available in 100ml, 150ml, 200ml and 500ml glass bottles. Each pack includes a 5 ml CE marked measuring spoon.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder: RxFarma, Colonial Way, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD24 4YR
Manufacturer: Rx Farma Limited, Unit 3, Colonial Way, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD24 4YR, United Kingdom PL 36722/0130
If you would like this leaflet in different format or want to report any side effects please contact marketing authorisation holder listed above.
This leaflet was last revised in December 2025.
Continued, please turn over.
Colours (Printed)
Title:
Senna 7.5mg/5ml Syrup PIL
Ref:
RX/SENNA/PIL
Date:
06/02/19 (Modified) 10/12/2025
Size (mm):
210(W) x 297(H) (A4)
20pt Helvetica Neue Black Condensed
13pt Helvetica Neue Medium
9.5pt Helvetica Neue Medium
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