Active ingredient
- sodium picosulfate
Legal Category
GSL: General Sales List
GSL: General Sales List
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 53886/0026 .
Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid, 5 mg / 5 ml, oral solution
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Dulcolax® Adult Pico Liquid 5 mg/5 ml oral solution
sodium picosulfate
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. You need to take Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid as instructed in this leaflet to get the best results from it.
In this leaflet:
1. What Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid
3. How to take Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid is and what it is used for
Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid is used for the relief of short-term occasional constipation. Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid contains sodium picosulfate and belongs to a group of medicines known as stimulant laxatives, which increase bowel movements. This medicine does not help with weight loss.
What is constipation?
Normal and regular bowel movement is important for most people. However, what is “normal and regular” varies from person to person. Some may have a bowel movement every day, others less often. Whatever it is like for you, it is best that your bowel movement has a regular pattern.
Constipation is an occasional problem for some people. For others, it may happen more often.
It happens when the normal muscle actions in the bowel (large intestine) slow down. This can mean that material is not easily eliminated from the body.
The cause of constipation is often not known. It can be associated with:
Whatever the cause, constipation can be uncomfortable. It may make you feel bloated and heavy or generally “off colour”. Sometimes it causes headaches.
It is recommended to use changes in diet and bulk forming medicines to control constipation before using this medicine.
These healthy tips are recommended to try to prevent constipation happening:
2. What you need to know before you take Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid
Do not take Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid if:
Do not take Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid if any of the above applies to you. Do not use in children under the age of 18 years. If you are not sure, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking this medicine.
Does this help with weight loss?
Stimulant laxatives (including Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid) do not help with weight loss. They do not reduce the absorption of calories or nutrients. They can cause watery stools (diarrhoea), abdominal cramps and dehydration. Dehydration can seem like weight loss.
Overuse of laxatives may damage your health by:
Taking other medicines
Please tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines. This is because Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid can affect the way some other medicines work. Also, some other medicines can affect the way Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid works.
In particular, tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking:
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Important information about some of the ingredients in Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid
Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid contains 4.8 vol % ethanol (alcohol), i.e. up to 480 mg per 10 ml dose, equivalent to 10.4 ml beer or 4.3 ml of wine per 10 ml dose. This may be harmful for people with a drink problem (alcoholism). This should also be taken into account in pregnant or breast-feeding women, children and high risk groups such as those with liver disease or epilepsy.
Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid contains the preservatives methyl parahydroxybenzoate and propyl parahydroxybenzoate. These ingredients may cause allergic reactions, possibly delayed.
The signs may include: a rash, swelling of your skin, mouth and face which may cause swallowing or breathing problems.
This medicine contains 1.48 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each 5ml, that is to say essentially ‘sodium free.
3. How to take Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults (including the elderly): one to two 5 ml spoonfuls at night.
Should not be used in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years.
If you have not taken Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid before, start with one 5 ml spoonful and increase to two if necessary. When your bowel regularity has returned to normal, the dose can usually be stopped.
Length of treatment
This product should not be taken every day for more than 5 days. If you need laxatives every day, then you should see your doctor to find the cause of your constipation.
Overuse can be harmful.
If you take more Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid than you should
It may be harmful to:
This is because taking too much for too long may lead to:
If you take more of this medicine than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away.
Take the medicine pack with you; this is so the doctor knows what you have taken.
If you have any questions on the use of this product, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Isolated events (some side effects are so rare that it is not known how many people may be affected)
If you have a severe allergic reaction, stop taking this medicine and see a doctor straight away. The signs may include: a rash, swelling of your skin, mouth and face which may cause swallowing or breathing problems.
Very common side effects (affects 1 in 10 people or more)
Common side effects (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon side effects (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. 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.
5. How to store Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid contains
What Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid looks like and contents of the pack
Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid is a clear, colourless to yellowish or slightly yellowish-brown viscous fruit flavoured solution. It is available in packs of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 100 ml. Not all pack sizes are marketed.
The Marketing Authorisation is held by:
Dulcolax Adult Pico Liquid is manufactured at:
Revision date: August 2020
®Registered trade mark
439143/GB/2
410, Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1PT, UK
+44 (0)800 035 2525