Maalox Plus Suspension

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

This medicine is available without prescription. However, you still need to use Maalox Plus carefully to get the best results from it.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice
• You must contact a doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Maalox Plus is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Maalox Plus
3. How to take Maalox Plus
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Maalox Plus
6. Contents of the pack and other information

Do not take Maalox Plus if:

• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to dried aluminium hydroxide gel, magnesium hydroxide, simeticone or any of the other ingredients in Maalox Plus (listed in section 6).
  Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
• You are feeling very weak and have no energy (debilitated)
• You have kidney disease
• You have low levels of phosphate (called ‘hypophosphataemia’). This is shown up in blood tests.

Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Maalox Plus.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Maalox Plus if:

• You are on a low-phosphorous diet

Children

In small children use of magnesium hydroxide may cause hypermagnesemia particularly if they have renal impairment or dehydration.

Other medicines and Maalox Plus

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines.

This includes medicines you buy without a prescription including herbal medicines.

Maalox Plus should not be taken at the same time as other medicines. This is because Maalox Plus can affect the way other medicines work. If Maalox Plus is taken within one hour of any other medicine, it can affect the uptake of that medicine into the blood.

Some medicines may be affected by magnesium hydroxide or they may affect how well magnesium hydroxide will work. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are already taking: - salicylates .

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if:

• You are pregnant, might become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant.
• You are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed

Important information about some of the ingredients of Maalox Plus

Maalox Plus contains sorbitol (E420). If you have been told by your doctor that you cannot tolerate or digest some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.

Taking this medicine

• Shake well before use
• Take this medicine by mouth

Adults including the elderly

• Take one to two 5 ml spoonfuls 4 times each day
• Take 20 minutes to 1 hour after meals and at bedtime
• Alternatively, take as directed by your doctor

Children aged 12 to 18 years

• Give your child one to two 5 ml spoonfuls 4 times each day
• Give this medicine 20 minutes to 1 hour after meals and at bedtime
• Alternatively, give as directed by your doctor

Children aged 5 to 12 years

• Give your child a maximum of one 5 ml spoonful 3 to 4 times each day
• Give this medicine 20 minutes to 1 hour after meals or at bedtime
• Alternatively, give as directed by your doctor

Children 2 to 5 years old

• Do not give your child more than one 5 ml spoonful three times each day
• Give this medicine 20 minutes to 1 hour after meals and at bedtime
• Alternatively, give as directed by your doctor

If the symptoms do not go away, talk to your doctor.

If you take more Maalox Plus than you should

Talk to your doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Remember to take any medicine that is left with you so the doctor knows what you have taken.

The following effects may happen; diarrhoea, stomach pain or you may get a bloated feeling and cramping pain in the abdomen (stomach), be sick (vomit), have indigestion, heartburn, upset stomach, constipation, loss of appetite, dry mouth. This could be caused by an obstruction or blockage of the bowel (ileus).

Stop taking Maalox Plus and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away if:

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

• You have a red and lumpy skin rash, swollen eyelids, face, lips, mouth or tongue, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing. This could be an allergic reaction.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get serious or lasts longer than a few days. Also tell them if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet:

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Hypermagnesemia, including observations after prolonged administration to patients with renal impairment.

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

• Hypophosphatemia, this may occur at high doses of the product or even at normal doses especially in patients with low phosphorus diets
• Hyperaluminemia is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is an abnormally elevated level of aluminium in the body
• Abdominal pain

Reporting of side effects

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 or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

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

What Maalox Plus contains

• Each bottle contains the following active substances in each 5ml of suspension: 230mg of dried aluminium hydroxide gel, 200mg of magnesium hydroxide and 25mg of simeticone
• The other ingredients are: domiphen bromide, microcrystalline cellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydrogen peroxide, citric acid monohydrate, sodium saccharin, sorbitol (E420), carmellose sodium, lemon flavour, swiss cream flavour and water

What Maalox Plus looks like and contents of the pack

Maalox Plus is a white suspension, homogenous after shaking and is available in a plastic bottle. Each bottle contains 250ml or 355ml with polypropylene closure. Not all pack sizes may be available.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Manufacturer