If you've experienced chronic constipation, you'll know it can be so uncomfortable – leaving you feeling bloated and sluggish. Thankfully, CosmoCol Orange flavour is a tasty and effective remedy. Each sachet provides a powdered laxative to be mixed into water, designed to help treat long-term, chronic constipation and faecal impaction. The compound macrogol 3550 softens stool, making them easier to pass, while electrolytes help to maintain your bodies normal sodium, potassium and water levels and prevent dehydration. Just mix it into your drink to help restore your body's natural wellness.

Patient information leaflet

Ingredients

Each sachet contains the following quantitative composition of active ingredients: Macrogol 3350 13.125g, Sodium Chloride 0.3507g, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate 0.1785g, Potassium Chloride 0.0466g.

The content of electrolyte ions per sachet following reconstitution in 125ml of water is equivalent to: Sodium 65mmol/l, Chloride 53mmol/l, Hydrogen Carbonate (Bicarbonate) 17mmol/l, Potassium 5mmol/l.

It also contains 0.63mmol (25mg) of potassium per sachet. This should be taken into consideration if you take more than one sachet daily and you have reduced kidney function, or if you are on a controlled potassium diet.

CosmoCol Orange Flavour contains 8.1mmol (187mg) of sodium per sachet. This should be taken into consideration if you are on a controlled sodium diet.

Usage and Instructions

Not recommended for children below 12 years of age.

Treatment of chronic constipation in adults, children (aged 12 years and above) and the elderly:

The recommended dose for constipation is one sachet taken one to three times daily.

Duration of treatment: This course of treatment for constipation should not normally last longer than 2 weeks.

Treatment of faecal impaction in adults, children (aged 12 years and above) and the elderly:

Before you take CosmoCol Orange Flavour for faecal impaction, your doctor must check to confirm that you have this condition. The recommended dose is 8 sachets daily, all of which should be consumed within 6 hours.

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.

The course of treatment for faecal impaction should be stopped when a large volume of stools is passed and does not normally last longer than 3 days.

How to mix: Open the sachet and pour the contents into a glass. Add about 125ml or a quarter pint of water to the glass.

Stir well until the powder has dissolved and then drink it.

If you take more CosmoCol Orange Flavour than you should

This can cause severe pain and swelling in your abdomen (stomach), or vomiting (sickness) or diarrhoea. If this happens, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then continue on as before. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

To get the most benefit from CosmoCol Orange Flavour, always finish the course of treatment according to the directions in this package leaflet. This will make sure that your constipation is cleared, otherwise the symptoms you are suffering from may persist.

You must contact a doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve after 14 days.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist

CosmoCol Orange Flavour can be taken at any time with or without food or drink.

Warnings

Do not take CosmoCol Orange Flavour if you are:

Allergic (hypersensitive) to macrogol 3350, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium chloride, or any of the other ingredients in CosmoCol Orange Flavour.

If you have a perforated gut (bowel) wall if you have a blockage in your intestine (gut obstruction, ileus)

If you have severe inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or toxic megacolon If any of these applies to you, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

Some medicines, e.g. anti-epileptics, may not work as effectively during use with CosmoCol Orange Flavour.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding talk to your doctor before taking CosmoCol Orange Flavour.

CosmoCol Orange Flavour has no effect on the ability to drive or use machinery.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and sachet. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not store above 25°C.

Do not use this medicine if you notice that any of the sachets is damaged.

Reconstituted CosmoCol Orange Flavour solution can be covered and stored in the refrigerator (2°C to 8°C), and should be used within 24 hours. After 24 hours, any unused solution should be discarded.

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.

Side Effects

Like all medicines, CosmoCol Orange Flavour can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

If you experience any of the following side effects, stop taking CosmoCol Orange Flavour and see your doctor immediately:

Signs of an allergy, such as a rash, itching, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing.
signs of a change in your body’s fluid or electrolyte levels (salts levels), such as swelling (mainly in the ankles), feeling weak, increasingly tired or increased thirst with headache.

The following side effects are also possible:

Abdominal (stomach) pain
Mild diarrhoea (when starting to take CosmoCol Orange Flavour, this usually stops if you reduce the number of sachets you take)
Nausea (feeling sick)
vomiting
Swelling of your abdomen (feeling bloated)
Stomach rumbling
Flatulence (wind)
Soreness of the anus (bottom)

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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

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