Benzydamine 0.15% w/v Mouthwash

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

Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, dentist or pharmacist has told you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, dentist or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
• You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 7 days.

What is in this leaflet

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

What this medicine does

Benzydamine Mouthwash is used to treat many painful conditions affecting the throat or mouth including:

• Sore throat
• Sore tongue or gums
• Mouth ulcers
• Discomfort caused by dentures
• Pain after dental surgery.

Benzydamine Mouthwash works in the throat or mouth to help stop pain and inflammation (redness, swelling and a feeling of heat). It does this by stopping the formation of prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins are natural substances made by the body when it is injured or has an infection. They cause an increase in the blood supply to the area of injury or infection. This results in pain, redness, swelling and a feeling of heat in that area. Stopping the formation of prostaglandins reduces these effects.

Do not use Benzydamine Mouthwash

If you are allergic to benzydamine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Benzydamine Mouthwash.

• If you have a history of asthma
• If you are allergic to acetylsalicylic acid or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs

Be careful not to splash the mouthwash in your eyes. If you get it in your eyes accidentally, wash them immediately with cold water.

Other medicines and Benzydamine Mouthwash

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

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Benzydamine Mouthwash has negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Benzydamine Mouthwash contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate, ethanol and propylene glycol

Some of the non-active ingredients in your medicine may cause side effects:

• Methyl parahydroxybenzoate - this may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed)
• Ethanol- This medicinal product contains 10.26 vol % ethanol (alcohol), i.e. up to 1215 mg per dose, equivalent to 100 ml beer, maximum 71 ml wine per dose. Harmful for those suffering from alcoholism. To be taken into account in pregnant or breast-feeding women, children and high-risk groups such as patients with liver disease or epilepsy
• Propylene glycol – this may cause skin irritation.

The recommended dose is:

Adults including the elderly

• The usual dose is 15ml used every 1½ to 3 hours
• Using the measuring cup provided pour out 15ml of the mouthwash (up to the top mark on the cup saying 15)
• Rinse the 15ml of mouthwash around your mouth or use it as a gargle, for 20 to 30 seconds then spit it out. Do not swallow the mouthwash
• Wash the measuring cup after use and keep it safe ready for your next dose.

Use in children and adolescents

• This mouthwash should not be used by children aged 12 years or under
• Children over 12 should follow the instructions given above for adults.

If you use more Benzydamine Mouthwash than you should

If you use too much Benzydamine Mouthwash or if you accidentally swallow it, contact your doctor, dentist or pharmacist for advice.

If you forget to use Benzydamine Mouthwash

• If you forget to use your mouthwash, do not worry. Use it as soon as you remember and then carry on using it every 1½ to 3 hours as before
• Do not use double the amount of mouthwash to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you have any of the following side effects while taking your medicine tell your doctor immediately or go to hospital straight away:

• Allergic reaction (Hypersensitivity) Serious allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock), signs of which may include difficulty breathing, chest pain or chest tightness and/ or feeling dizzy/faint, severe itching of the skin or raised lumps on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue and /or throat, and which may be potentially life-threatening
• Tightening of the throat or chest making it difficult to breathe.

Other side effects seen with Benzydamine Mouthwash, which may occur:

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• A feeling of numbness in your mouth
• A stinging feeling in your mouth – the mouthwash may be diluted with water if you experience stinging. This should help to reduce the stinging effect.

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

• Itchy rash, sometimes with pale, raised areas of skin with red edges (urticaria).
• Your skin becoming more sensitive to sunlight than normal causing an itchy, red, scaly rash, sometimes with blisters.

See section 2 (Benzydamine Mouthwash contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate, ethanol and propylene glycol) for side effects that may be caused by some of the non-active ingredients in your medicine.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, dentist 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.

What Benzydamine Mouthwash contains

• The active substance is benzydamine hydrochloride.
  Each 15ml dose contains 22.5mg benzydamine hydrochloride
• The other ingredients are glycerol, polysorbate 20, sacharrin sodium, ethanol 96%, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, quinoline yellow (E104), patent blue V (E131), aniseed flavour (contains ethanol 95%), peppermint flavour (contains propylene glycol), water. (See section 2, Benzydamine Mouthwash contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate, ethanol and propylene glycol).

What Benzydamine Mouthwash looks like and contents of the pack

Benzydamine Mouthwash is a clear green mouthwash with a smell of peppermint. It is contained in a clear glass bottle fitted with a tamper-evident, child-resistant closure. A measuring cup is also provided.

Each bottle of Benzydamine Mouthwash contains 300ml of mouthwash.

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