Laxative designed to treat long-term, chronic constipation
Contains Macrogol 3350, to make your stool softer and easier to pass
Also contains electrolytes (salts) to help maintain your body’s normal water levels
Can also be used to treat faecal impaction
Taken as a soluble solution that's easy to digest
With a sweet and pleasant flavour

Sometimes a healthy diet of fruit and vegetables isn't enough to keep constipation at bay – and when constipation strikes, it's not a comfortable experience. Stock up with CosmoCol Half Oral Powder for when you need it. This laxative helps to ease long-term constipation symptoms while reducing the risk of straining to produce stools – which can leave you feeling in even more pain and discomfort. For an effective treatment, take between two to six sachets a day mixed into water, when you need to. The compound macrogol 3550 in CosmoCol powder softens stool, making them easier to pass, while electrolytes help maintain your bodies normal sodium, potassium and water levels to prevent dehydration. Just mix the powder into liquid and drink to return your body to its natural balance.

Ingredients

One sachet of CosmoCol Half contains the following active ingredients:

Macrogol 3350 6.563g, Sodium chloride 0.1754g, Sodium hydrogen carbonate 0.0893g, Potassium chloride 0.0233g,

Content of electrolyte ions when one sachet is dissolved in 62.5mL water: Sodium 65mmol/l, Chloride 53mmol/l, Hydrogen carbonate 17mmol/l, Potassium 5.0mmol/l.

This medicinal product contains sodium, equivalent to 93.87mg per sachet. Contains sorbitol.

Usage and Instructions

Adults, Adolescents (12 years and above) and the Elderly:

Chronic Constipation: The recommended dose is 2 to 6 sachets daily, taken in divided doses. You should not normally need to take this medicine for more than three days although in some cases treatment may need to last for up to 2 weeks.

Faecal impaction: Before you take CosmoCol® Half for faecal impaction, your doctor must check to confirm that you have this condition. The recommended dose is 16 sachets daily, all of which should be consumed within 6 hours.

A course of treatment for faecal impaction does not normally exceed 3 days.

To prevent further problems from faecal impaction, your doctor may advise that you continue taking this medicine. You should use the dose for treating chronic constipation.

How to prepare CosmoCol® Half powder for oral solution: CosmoCol® Half should be taken as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. CosmoCol® Half is easy to prepare:

Pour the contents of one sachet of CosmoCol® Half into a glass. Add 62.5mL of water (about a quarter of a glass of water). Stir the mixture until the powder has dissolved. This may take a minute or two before the powder fully dissolves in the water.

You must not take this medicine for prolonged use in treating constipation unless advised to do so by a healthcare professional. If your symptoms do not improve within this time, or get worse at any time during treatment then you must consult your doctor. If your constipation is caused by an illness such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis (MS), or if you take medicines that cause constipation, your doctor may recommend that you take this medicine for longer than 2 weeks.

CosmoCol® Half can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Warnings

If you have heart or kidney problems, swallowing difficulty or suffer from heartburn then talk to your doctor before taking CosmoCol® Half.

Do not take CosmoCol® Half:

If you are allergic or sensitive to or have had a reaction to any of the ingredients in the medicine, including flavourings
If you have severe inflammatory bowel problems such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or toxic megacolon
If you have a blockage in your intestine (gut obstruction, ileus)
If you have a perforated gut

Side Effects

Most medicines can cause some side-effects but not everyone taking the same medicine will get the same side-effects.

The following side-effects have been associated with people taking this medicine: Stop taking CosmoCol® Half and see your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:

Signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, itching, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing.
Signs of a change in your body’s fluid or electrolyte (salts) levels such as oedema (most commonly swollen ankles), shortness of breath, feeling unusually tired or increased thirst with headache (dehydration)

The following side effects are also possible:

Gastro-intestinal effects such as stomach pain and distension nausea and/or vomiting mild diarrhoea – if this occurs at the start of taking CosmoCol Half , it usually helps if you reduce the number of sachets taken each day. rumbling and gurgling of the stomach flatulence (wind)

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the information leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.