CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20

Each sachet of CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 contains Macrogol 3350, an active ingredient that acts as an osmotic laxative. This means it draws water into the bowel, hydrating and softening the faeces to make them easier to pass naturally. The added electrolytes (salts) help maintain your body's essential fluid and salt balance, which is crucial during treatment.

How CosmoCol Orange Helps

• Targeted Relief: Specifically formulated for chronic constipation and persistent faecal impaction.
• Gentle Action: Works with your body for a more natural and comfortable bowel movement aid.
• Replenishes Electrolytes: Helps maintain your body's normal levels of sodium, potassium, and water.
• Convenient Sachets: Easy to mix and drink, offering a simple solution for managing your symptoms.

CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 is suitable for adults and children aged 12 years and above. Always follow the directions for use carefully to ensure the best results and to manage your constipation effectively. For further support, explore our wide range of medicine management products or learn more about constipation on our dedicated condition page.

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

The recommended dose is one sachet taken one to three times daily. This course of treatment for constipation should not normally last longer than 2 weeks. If you need to take CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 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 CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 for longer than 2 weeks. Usually for long-term treatment, the dose can be lowered to either 1 or 2 sachets a day.

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

Before you take CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 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 for up to 3 days if required. If you have a heart condition, do not take more than 2 sachets in any 1 hour.

How to mix:

Open the sachet and pour the contents into a glass. Add about 125 ml (or a quarter pint) of water to the glass. Stir well until the powder has dissolved and then drink it. If you are taking CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 for faecal impaction, it may be easier to dissolve 8 sachets in 1 litre of water.

If you take more CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 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 Pack of 20, 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.

CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 can be taken at any time with or without food or drink.

Do not take CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 if you:

• Are allergic (hypersensitive) to macrogol 3350, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium chloride, or any of the other ingredients in CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20.
• Have a perforated gut (bowel) wall.
• Have a blockage in your intestine (gut obstruction, ileus).
• Have severe inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or toxic megacolon.

If any of these apply to you, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

Warnings and precautions:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 if you have heart or kidney problems, an impaired gag reflex, difficulty swallowing or suffer from heartburn.

When taking CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20, you should continue to take plenty of fluids. The fluid content of CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 should not replace your regular liquid intake.

Some medicines, e.g. anti-epileptics, may not work as effectively during use with CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20. If you need to thicken fluids in order to swallow them safely, CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 may counteract the effect of the thickener.

CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 can be taken during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice before taking CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20.

CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 has no effect on the ability to drive or use machinery.

CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 contains 0.63 mmol (25 mg) of potassium per sachet. This should be taken into consideration by patients with reduced kidney function, or if you are on a controlled potassium diet.

CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 contains 8.1 mmol (187 mg) of sodium per sachet. This is equivalent to 9.35% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult. When used to treat chronic constipation, the maximum recommended daily dose of this medicinal product contains 561 mg sodium. This is equivalent to 28.05% of the adult recommended maximum daily dietary intake for sodium.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you need CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 on a daily basis for a prolonged period of time, especially if you have been advised to have a low salt diet.

Possible side effects:

Like all medicines, CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop taking CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 and tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:

• 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 (salt 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 Pack of 20, 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, 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.

How to store CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20:

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 Pack of 20 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.

One sachet of CosmoCol Orange Pack of 20 contains the following active ingredients:

• Macrogol 3350: 13.125g
• Sodium chloride: 0.3507g
• Sodium hydrogen carbonate: 0.1785g
• Potassium chloride: 0.0466g

When the sachet contents are dissolved in 125 ml (¼ pint) of water, each sachet gives the equivalent of:

• Sodium: 65 millimoles/litre
• Chloride: 53 millimoles/litre
• Hydrogen carbonate: 17 millimoles/litre
• Potassium: 5.0 millimoles/litre

The other ingredients are colloidal anhydrous silica, saccharin sodium and orange flavour (Orange flavour contains: flavouring substances and flavouring preparations, maltodextrin, acacia gum, alpha-tocopherol).

This medicinal product contains potassium and sodium. Please see the warnings section for further information on these ingredients.