Patient leaflet - Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough syrup
1. What this product is and what it is used for
Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup is a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve chesty coughs associated with the common cold, based on traditional use only.
2. What you need to know before you take this product
Do not take Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup:
- if you are allergic to ivy leaf, to other plants of the Araliaceae (ivy) family or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- if you are under 12 years of age
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before taking Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup:
- if you suffer from gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) or if you have a gastric ulcer (stomach ulcer).
- if you are taking other medicines to help stop you coughing such as codeine or dextromethorphan.
Contact your doctor immediately if your symptoms worsen, you experience shortness of breath, fever or purulent mucus (yellowish phlegm) during the use of the medicinal product.
If you do not feel better after one week, consult your doctor or qualified healthcare practitioner,
Use in patients with impaired renal and/or liver function
If you suffer from kidney or liver problems, please talk to your doctor or qualified healthcare practitioner before taking Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup.
Children
This medicine must not be used by children under 12-years of age.
Other medicines and Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup
Tell your doctor or qualified healthcare practitioner if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines including any bought without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines
No studies on the effect on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.
Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup contains sorbitol
This medicine contains up to 2974 mg sorbitol in 6 ml syrup. 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 this medicine.
Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect.
Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup syrup contains propylene glycol
This medicine contains 50.4 mg propylene glycol in each 6 ml which is equivalent to 8.4 mg/ml.
Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup syrup contains benzyl alcohol
This medicine contains 0.0114 mg benzyl alcohol in each 6 ml which is equivalent to 0.0019 mg/ml.
Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you have a liver or kidney disease. This is because large amounts of benzyl alcohol can build-up in your body and may cause side effects (called “metabolic acidosis”).
3. How to take this product
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner if you are not sure.
Method of adminstration
For oral use only.
Always use the enclosed measuring spoon with graduations of 2 ml and 4 ml.
Shake the bottle well before every use. After each use, wash the measuring spoon and dry it.
The recommended dose is:
Adults, the elderly and children aged 12 years and over:
Using the measuring spoon provided, take 6 ml of syrup two times a day.
It is recommended that the dose of 6 ml is administered with a full measuring spoon (4 ml) plus half a measuring spoon (2 ml).
Do not take more than the recommended dose.
Use in children
Not for use in children under 12 years of age.
Duration of use
You must talk to a doctor if you feel worse, or if you do not feel better after 7 days.
If you take more Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup than you should
If you take more than the recommended dose, you should consult a doctor. You may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or agitation.
If you forget to take Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Continue to take your next dose at the usual time.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or qualified healthcare practitioner.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any of the following serious allergic reactions occur, you should stop taking this medicine and seek medical advice immediately:
- Anaphylactic reaction - severe and potentially life threatening reaction with symptoms that may include feeling lightheaded or faint, breathing difficulties or wheezing, a fast heartbeat, skin rash, confusion, anxiety or loss of consciousness.
- Difficulty breathing including shortness of breath.
If other allergic skin reactions such as skin rash or urticaria (red bumps) occur, medical advice should be sought as soon as possible.
The following side effects may also occur:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as feeling sick (nausea), vomiting and diarrhoea
The frequency of these effects occurring is not known.
If other adverse reactions not mentioned above occur, a doctor or qualified healthcare practitioner should be consulted.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or qualified healthcare practitioner. 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 this product
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
A sediment may occur during storage and the bottle should be shaken well before each use. This does not affect the quality of the product.
Store in the original container.
This medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage conditions before opening the bottle for the first time. Store below 25°C after first opening.
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.
Any unused medicine must be discarded 3 months after first opening of the bottle.
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 Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup contains
Each 6 ml dose of the product contains 49.5 mg of extract (as dry extract) of Ivy leaf (Hedera helix L.,) (DER 4-8:1). Extraction solvent: ethanol 30% m/m
The excipients are: sorbitol liquid (non-crystallising) (E420), potassium sorbate (E202), xanthan gum (E415), citric acid (E330), natural honey thyme flavour (benzyl alcohol, propylene glycol, flavouring preparations, natural flavouring substances), purified water.
What Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup looks like and contents of the pack
Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup is a brown, slightly cloudy liquid with a sweet taste and possible slight sediment which is easily dispersed on shaking.
The syrup is contained in a brown glass bottle with a white plastic (polyethylene) screw cap. The bottle is packed in a carton together with a measuring spoon made of polypropylene with graduations of 2 ml and 4 ml.
This medicine is available in pack sizes of 100 mL, 200 mL.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Traditional Herbal Registration Holder
Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited
103 – 105 Bath Road
Slough
SL1 3UH
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Phytopharm Klęka S.A.
Klęka 1
63-040 Nowe Miasto nad Wartą
Poland
This leaflet was last revised in December 2025.
Other formats:
To request a copy of this leaflet in large print please call:
0333 2005 345 (UK only)
Please be ready to give the following information
Product name: Strepsils Herbal Chesty Cough Syrup
Reference Number: THR 00063/0557
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