Beechams Flu-Plus Caplets GSL

This medicine is available without prescription, but you still need to use Beechams Flu-Plus Caplets carefully to get the best results from it.

• Keep this leaflet you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, ask your pharmacist.

1. What Beechams Flu-Plus Caplets do
2. Check before you take Beechams Flu-Plus Caplets
3. How to take Beechams Flu-Plus Caplets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Beechams Flu-Plus Caplets
6. Further information

• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride, caffeine or any of the other ingredients (listed in Section 6).
  Colour sunset yellow (E 110) can cause allergic type reactions including asthma.
• if you have kidney or liver problems, overactive thyroid, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.
• if you have phaeochromocytoma or glaucoma
• if you are taking tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. imipramine or amitriptyline) or if you are taking or have taken within the last 2 weeks monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (e.g. moclobemide) prescribed for depression
• if you are taking beta-blockers (e.g. atenolol).

Do not take anything else containing paracetamol while taking this medicine.

Do not take with any other flu, cold or decongestant product.

• Contains paracetamol. Taking too much paracetamol can cause serious harm to your liver.
• This product may cause dizziness.
  If affected do not drive or operate machinery.

• if you have a blood vessel disease such as Raynaud’s Phenomenon
• if you have an enlarged prostate
• if you have heart or circulation disease.

Contact a doctor immediately if you get a combination of these symptoms.

During treatment with this medicine, tell your doctor straight away if:

You have severe infection or severe illnesses, including severe renal impairment or sepsis (when bacteria and their toxins circulate in the blood leading to organ damage), or you suffer from malnutrition, chronic alcoholism or if you are also taking flucloxacillin (an antibiotic). A serious condition called metabolic acidosis (a blood and fluid abnormality) has been reported in patients in these situations when paracetamol is used at regular doses for a prolonged period or when paracetamol is taken together with flucloxacillin. Symptoms of metabolic acidosis may include: serious breathing difficulties with deep rapid breathing, drowsiness, feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and loss of appetite.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Beechams Flu-Plus Caplets if you are taking any prescribed medicines; particularly metoclopramide or domperidone (for nausea [feeling sick or vomiting [being sick]); ergotamine and methlysergide (for migraine) or colestyramine (to lower blood cholesterol) or drugs to lower blood pressure; appetite suppressants or stimulants; drugs to treat depression such as tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline) or heart disease (e.g. digoxin) or if you take blood thinning drugs (anticoagulants e.g. warfarin). Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking: flucloxacillin (an antibiotic), due to a serious risk of blood and fluid abnormality (called metabolic acidosis) that must have urgent treatment (see section 2).

Due to the phenylephrine and caffeine content of this product it should not be used if you are pregnant or breast feeding unless advised by a doctor.

Two caplets every 4 to 6 hours as required. Do not take more than 8 caplets (4 doses) in any 24 hour period. Do not give to children under 16 years of age.

• Do not take more frequently than every 4 hours.
• Do not take more than the recommended dose.
• Always use the lowest effective dose to relieve your symptoms.
• Do not take for more than 7 days without asking your doctor.
• Avoid too much caffeine in drinks like coffee and tea. High caffeine intake can cause difficulty sleeping, shaking and an uncomfortable feeling in the chest.

Seek immediate medical advice if you take too much of this medicine even if you feel well. This is because too much paracetamol can cause delayed, serious liver damage.

If your symptoms persist, see your doctor.

• Allergic reactions which may be severe such as skin rash and itching sometimes with swelling of the mouth or face or shortness of breath. Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.
• Skin rash or peeling, or mouth ulcers.
• Breathing problems. These are more likely if you have experienced them before when taking other painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
• Unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Reoccuring fevers or infections.
• Nausea, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
• Visual disturbances. This is rare but is more likely in those with glaucoma.
• Unusually fast pulse rate or a sensation of an unusually fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Difficulty passing water. This is more likely to occur in men with an enlarged prostate gland.

These reactions are rare.

The following side effects may occur.

Tell your doctor if you get them.

• Raised blood pressure, headache, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, nervousness, anxiety, diarrhoea, sickness or a serious condition that can make blood more acidic (called metabolic acidosis) in patients with severe illness using paracetamol (see section 2).

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.