Pholipeg 13,72 g Oral Solution

PHOLIPEG is a laxative for the treatment of constipation in adults, adolescents and elderly. It is not recommended for children below 12 years of age. PHOLIPEG helps you to have a bowel movement.

Do not take PHOLIPEG :

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to macrogol, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, potassium chloride or any of the other ingredients of PHOLIPEG (listed in section 6).
• if you have a blockage in your intestine (gut obstruction, ileus).
• if you have a perforated gut wall.
• if you have severe inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or toxic megacolon.
• if your child is below 12 years.

Warnings and precautions

Take special care with PHOLIPEG:

• if you have stomach ache, feel nauseous or are vomiting. Consult your doctor before taking PHOLIPEG if you notice a sudden change in your bowel habits that persists for a period longer than 2 weeks.
• Consult your doctor if you experience rectal bleeding or do not have a bowel movement after taking PHOLIPEG.
• Do not use PHOLIPEG frequently or for long periods as this may cause dependence and a loss of normal bowel function.
• If you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, swelling, tiredness, you should stop taking PHOLIPEG and consult with your doctor.

When taking PHOLIPEG you should continue to take plenty of fluids. The fluid content of PHOLIPEG should not replace your regular liquid intake.

Other medicines and PHOLIPEG

Always tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicine. (This includes all complementary or traditional medicines.) Some medicines, e.g. anti-epileptics, may not work as effectively during use with PHOLIPEG.

PHOLIPEG with, food, drink and alcohol

PHOLIPEG can be taken at any time with or without food or drink. It is recommended to take PHOLIPEG before a meal.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other health care provider for advice before taking this medicine. PHOLIPEG can be taken during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

PHOLIPEG does not affect your ability to drive or use machines.

PHOLIPEG contains sodium. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you need 3 or more sachets daily for a prolonged period, especially if you have been advised to follow a low salt (sodium) diet. PHOLIPEG contains 186,87 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) per sachet. This is equivalent to 9,3 % of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.

Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person. Always take PHOLIPEG exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

A dose of PHOLIPEG is 1 sachet. Take this 1-3 times a day according to the severity of your constipation. The dose may be adjusted up or down, according to how hard or soft your stool is. When PHOLIPEG is first started, it may take a few days to start working. This is because PHOLIPEG works in the colon (large intestine). PHOLIPEG has to travel from the mouth to the colon (on average this takes about one and a half days) and then about another day for the stools to travel from the end of the colon out of the body.

The usual dose is:

• Adults: 1 sachet 1 to 3 times a day. For extended use, 1 or 2 sachets a day.
• Elderly: Initially, 1 sachet a day.

If you have the impression that the effect of PHOLIPEG is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Instructions for use:

1. Open one sachet and pour the contents of one sachet of PHOLIPEG into a glass.
2. Add 125 ml (half a glass) of water.
3. Stir the mixture well until all the powder has dissolved and the PHOLIPEG solution is clear or slightly hazy.
4. Drink the solution.
5. If you like you can add a flavour such as orange squash to the drink.

Duration of treatment: Treatment with PHOLIPEG usually lasts for about 2 weeks. 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 PHOLIPEG for longer than 2 weeks.

If you take more PHOLIPEG than you should: You may develop diarrhoea. Stop taking PHOLIPEG until the diarrhoea clears. In the event of overdosage, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison centre.

If you forget to take PHOLIPEG: Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten individual doses.

PHOLIPEG can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for PHOLIPEG are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking PHOLIPEG, please consult your health care provider for advice.

If any of the following happens, stop taking PHOLIPEG and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:

• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, tongue and mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious reaction to PHOLIPEG. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

• if you feel weak, breathless, very thirsty with a headache or get puffy ankles. These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

Frequency unknown:

• allergic reactions which may cause a skin rash, itching, reddening of the skin or a nettle rash,
• swollen hands, feet or ankles,
• headaches,
• high and low levels of potassium in the blood,
• indigestion, stomach ache or rumbles.
• feel bloated,
• suffer from wind,
• feel sick or vomit,
• soreness of the anus (bottom),
• mild diarrhoea.

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects

If you get side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: https://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of PHOLIPEG.

Store all medicines out of reach of children.

• Store at or below 25 °C.
• Do not use after the expiry date stated on the sachet or carton.
• Once you have made up PHOLIPEG in water to form the reconstituted solution, and if you cannot drink it straight away, keep it covered and store it in the fridge (2 - 8 °C).
• Throw away any solution not used within a 24 hour period.

Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist. Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains or sewerage systems (e.g. toilets).