Patient leaflet - SENNOSIDES 7.5 MG TABLETS 12 YEARS PLUS, CENLAX 7.5 MG TABLETS 12 YEARS PLUS
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 feel worse, or if there is no bowel movement after 3 days
What is in this leaflet
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1. What Sennosides Tablets are and what they are used for
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2. What you need to know before you take Sennosides Tablets
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3. How to take Sennosides Tablets
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Sennosides Tablets
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6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Sennosides Tablets are and what they are used for
Sennosides Tablets contain sennosides which work as a stimulant laxative for the short-term relief of occasional constipation. Sennosides Tablets contain calcium sennosides. 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. Laxatives do 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
2. what you need to know before you take sennosides tablets- if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
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– if you have a blockage or narrowing of the gastrointestinal tract or bowel (ileus, intestinal
obstruction or stenosis)
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– if you have paralysis or lack of muscle tone in the bowel (atony)
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– if you have appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis
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– if you have severe dehydration
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– if you have persistent or undiagnosed abdominal complaints e.g. pain, nausea or vomiting
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– if you have faecal impaction or rectal bleeding for which you don’t know the cause or blood in
your stools
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– if you have already taken a laxative and are still constipated
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– if you have had a sudden change in bowel habit that has lasted more than 2 weeks
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– if you have kidney or heart problems
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– if you are pregnant or breast feeding
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– if you are under 18 years of age
If you are not sure whether any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking CenLax.
Does this help with weight loss?
Stimulant laxatives (including Sennosides Tablets) 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 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.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine:
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– if you suffer with kidneys disorders
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– if you are taking medicines for a heart condition (eg cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmic medicines such as quinidine), medicines inducing QT prolongation, diuretics, adrenocorticosteroids, liquorice root preparation.
Sennosides Tablets contain lactose monohydrate. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
When administering this medicine to incontinent adults, pads should be changed more frequently to prevent extended skin contact with faeces.
Taking other medicines and Sennosides Tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines even those taken without a prescription. This includes medicines listed above, any prescribed by your doctor and medicines you have bought yourself, including herbal and homeopathic remedies.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
You should not use Sennosides Tablets if you are pregnant or breast-feeding because there is no evidence that it is safe to do so.
3. how to take sennosides tablets
Always take this medicine as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner has told you.
For oral use only
Adults and the elderly : Take one or two tablets at bedtime. Swallow the tablets whole, with a drink of water.
This medicine should not be used in children under 18 years old.
New users should start with the lowest dose and increase it to the maximum if necessary. Once regularity has been regained, the dose should be reduced and stopped.
Duration of use
Normally it is sufficient to take this medicine up to two to three times a week until regularity has been regained. Not to be used for more than one week.
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse
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– if you have no bowel movements after 3 days of taking this medicine
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– if symptoms worsen or persist during the use of the medicinal product
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– if you need to take laxatives every day or if abdominal pain persists.
Do not take more than the leaflet tells you to. Overuse can be harmful.
Consult your doctor and take this leaflet with you.
It may be harmful to take too much of this medicine or take this medicine for too long.
This is because taking too much for too long may lead to:
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– A ‘lazy bowel’ where the muscle becomes too relaxed. This means that bowel emptying happens less often. This can lead to long-term constipation
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– Imbalance of fluid and salts in the body. This can affect the tightness of muscles such as those in the bowel
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– 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
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– Dehydration, making you thirsty, feel faint and giving you headaches. It can also mean you cannot pass enough urine.
If you forget to take a dose
If you forget to take a dose, take the next one when it is due. 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,
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– difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, neck, tongue or throat (severe allergic reactions)
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– 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:
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– allergic reactions such as local or more widespread skin rashes, hives (skin bumps) or itchiness around the anus.
The following effects may also occur:
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– abdominal pain and spasms
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– diarrhoea, in particular in patients with irritable colon
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– yellow or red-brown discolouration of urine which is harmless and usually disappears when treatment stops
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– protein in the urine or blood in the urine (known as albuminuria and haematuria)
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– colouration of the lining of the gut which usually goes away when the medicine is no longer taken
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 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 sennosides tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. 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 protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other informationeach tablet contains calcium sennosides equivalent to 7.5mg hydroxyanthracene glycosides, calculated as sennoside b.
The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, anhydrous calcium hydrogen phosphate, maize starch and magnesium stearate.
What Sennosides 7.5mg Tablets looks like and contents of the pack
Sennosides 7.5mg Tablets are light green to brown colour, round, convex shaped uncoated tablet, plain on both sides.
The tablets are packed in blisters of 10 and 20 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
MA Holder and Manufacturer
Manx Healthcare Ltd
Taylor Group House, Wedgnock Lane, Warwick, CV34 5YA
Other formats
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call 01926 482511.
This leaflet was last revised in April 2021
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