Docusate Sodium 12.5mg/5mL Oral Solution

a) To prevent and treat chronic constipation

b) As an adjunct in abdominal radiological procedures

For oral administration

Children: 12.5mg (5ml) to 25mg (10ml) three times daily. Dilute the medicine in a glass of flavoured drink eg fruit juice or milk. Drink the diluted medicine within 30 minutes of preparation.

Infants (Over six months): 12.5mg (5ml) three times daily. Dilute the medicine in a glass of flavoured drink eg fruit juice or milk. Drink the diluted medicine within 30 minutes of preparation.

Adults: not appropriate for adults or elderly. For administration to adults use Docusate Sodium 50mg/5ml or 100mg/5ml oral solution.

For barium meals: 75mg (30ml) to be taken with meal.

Docusate sodium solution should not be taken

• by patients with a known hypersensitivity to docusate sodium or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

• in the presence of abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, nausea or if vomiting occurs.

Docusate sodium oral solution should not be given to infants under six months. Prolonged use can precipitate the onset of an atonic nonfunctioning colon and hypokalaemia.

Docusate sodium oral solution contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate and propyl parahydroxybenzoate. May cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).

This medicine contains 840.0mg sorbitol in each 5ml dose. The additive effect of concomitantly administered products containing sorbitol (or fructose) and dietary intake of sorbitol (or fructose) should be taken into account. The content of sorbitol in medicinal products for oral use may affect the bioavailability of other medicinal products for oral use administered concomitantly. Patients with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) should not be given this medicinal product.

This medicinal product contains 29.7mg sodium per 30ml (maximum daily dose), equivalent to 1.5% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.

Docusate sodium oral solution contains propylene glycol.

This medicine contains 3.7 mg propylene glycol in each 5ml dose. If your baby is less than 4 weeks old, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before giving them this medicine, in particular if the baby is given other medicines that contain propylene glycol or alcohol.

Docusate sodium solution should not be taken concurrently with mineral oil. Anthraquinone derivatives should be taken in reduced doses, if administered with Docusate sodium as their absorption is increased.

Pregnancy

There is inadequate evidence of safety of the drug in human pregnancy, nor is there evidence from animal work that it is free from hazard, but it has been in wide use for many years without apparent ill consequence. Use in pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Lactation

Docusate sodium is excreted in breast milk and should therefore be used with caution in lactating mothers.

Fertility

Animal studies did not show an effect of docusate sodium on fertility.

There are no clinical data available about the effect of docusate sodium on fertility.

None known

Frequencies are defined as follows: Very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Gastrointestinal disorders:

Rare: diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal cramps

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

Not known: skin rash and pruritus.

There have been spontaneous reports of burning sensation in mouth and throat following the use of Docusate sodium. Patients are advised to drink plenty of water or flavoured drink after taking the solution.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reaction after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit / risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions 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.

In rare cases of overdose excessive loss of water and electrolytes should be treated by encouraging the patient to drink plenty of fluid.

ATC code: A06AA02 Laxatives, softeners, emollients

Docusate sodium acts as a faecal softener by increasing the penetration of water and fats.

Docusate sodium exerts its effects by means of its physical surfactant properties. However, there is some evidence that it is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and excreted in bile.

No relevant information additional to that contained elsewhere in the SPC.

Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218)

Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216)

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate (E339i)

Disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (E339ii)

Glycerol (E422)

Kollidon 90F (E1201)

Sorbitol 70% (E420)

Sucralose (E955)

Citric acid (E330)

Strawberry flavour (contains propylene glycol)

Purified water

None known

36 months

Once opened use within one month

None

Docusate sodium 12.5mg/5ml oral solution is available in an amber glass bottle of 300ml with a plastic screw cap. It comes with a dosing cup with 2.5 / 5 / 10 / 15 ml graduations.

Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.