Movicol Powder Sachets

Movicol Powder is an oral laxative for the treatment of constipation in adults, adolescents and the elderly. It is not recommended for children below the age of 12. It helps you to have a comfortable bowel movement, even if you have been constipated for a long time. Movicol can also be used to treat very bad constipation called faecal impaction. 

Directions for taking Movicol Powder Sachets:

This medicine can be taken at any time with or without food or drink.

Constipation:

• A dose of Movicol is 1 sachet.
• Take this 1 –3 times a day according to the severity of your constipation.

Faecal impaction:

• A dose is 8 sachets a day of Movicol is needed for the treatment of faecal impaction.
• The 8 sachets should be taken within 6 hours for up to 3 days if required.
• If you have a heart condition, do not take more than 2 sachets in any one hour.

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 all the powder has dissolved and the Movicol solution is clear or slightly hazy, and then drink it.
• If you are taking Movicol for faecal impaction it may be easier to dissolve 8 sachets in 1 litre of water.

Duration of treatment:

Constipation: 

Treatment with Movicol usually lasts for about 2 weeks. If you need to take Movicol for longer, please see 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 Movicol for longer than 2 weeks.

Usually for long term treatment that dose can be lowered to either 1 or 2 sachets a day.

Faecal impaction: 

Treatment with Movicol can be for up to 3 days.

If you take more Movicol than you should:

You may develop diarrhoea. Stop taking Movicol until it clears, and then start again at a lower dose. If you are worried contact your doctor or pharmacist.

If you forget to take Movicol:

Take the dose as soon as you remember to take it.

Caution before taking Movicol:

Do not take Movicol if your doctor has told you that you have:

• A blockage in your intestine (gut obstruction, ileus).
• A perforated gut wall.
• Severe inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or toxic megacolon.
• An allergy to the active substances or any of the other ingredients of Movicol.
• Heart conditions.
• Follow the special instructions in section 3 if you are taking Movicol for faecal impaction.

Pregnancy and breast feeding:

If you are pregnant or breast feeding, talk to your doctor before taking Movicol.

Driving and using machines:

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

Taking other medicines:

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

Each 13.8g sachet of Movicol contains:

Macrogol 3350: 13.125g, Sodium Chloride: 0.3507g, Sodium Bicarbonate: 0.1785g, Potassium Chloride: 0.0466g