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Acidex, Compound Alginate Oral Suspension, Heartburn and Indigestion Liquid (PL 04917/0021)

Active Ingredient:
sodium alginate, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate
Company:  
Pinewood Healthcare See contact details
About Medicine
{healthcare_pro_orange} This information is for use by healthcare professionals
Last updated on emc: 13 Aug 2024
1. Name of the medicinal product

Acidex Aniseed Flavour Oral Suspension

Asda Heartburn and Indigestion Liquid

Boots Heartburn Relief Aniseed Flavour

Galpharm Heartburn and Indigestion Relief Oral Suspension

Peptac Liquid, Heartburn and Indigestion Liquid

Tesco Health Heartburn & Indigestion Oral Suspension

Sainsbury's Healthcare Heartburn and Indigestion Oral Suspension

Superdrug Heartburn and Indigestion Oral Suspension

Essential Waitrose & Partners Heartburn and Indigestion Oral Suspension

Morrisons Heartburn and Indigestion Oral Suspension

2. Qualitative and quantitative composition

Each 5 ml contains:

sodium bicarbonate BP

133.5 mg

sodium alginate BP

250 mg

calcium carbonate BP

80 mg

Excipients with known effect: ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), butyl parahydroxybenzoate and sodium.

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1

3. Pharmaceutical form

Aniseed Flavoured Pink Suspension

4. Clinical particulars
4.1 Therapeutic indications

This medicine alleviates the painful conditions resulting from the reflux of gastric acid and bile into the oesophagus by suppressing the reflux itself. It is indicated in heartburn, including heartburn of pregnancy, dyspepsia associated with gastric reflux, hiatus hernia, reflux oesophagitis, regurgitation and all cases of epigastric and retrosternal distress where the underlying cause is gastric reflux.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

For oral administration

Adults and children over 12 years: Two to four 5 ml spoonfuls.

Doses should be taken after meals and at bedtime.

Children under 12 years: Should be given only on medical advice.

Elderly: No dosage modification is required in this age group.

Hepatic Impairment: No dose modification necessary.

Renal Insufficiency: Caution if highly restricted salt diet is necessary (see section 4.4).

4.3 Contraindications

This medicinal product is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1, including ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) and butyl parahydroxybenzoate (see section 4.4).

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

This medicine should not be taken within 1 to 2 hours of taking other medicines by mouth. If symptoms do not improve after seven days, the clinical situation should be reviewed.

This medicinal product contains 286.5 mg (12.45 mmol) sodium per 20 ml dose, equivalent to 14.3 % of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium. The maximum daily dose of this product is equivalent to 57.2 % of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium. This product is considered high in sodium. This should be particularly taken into account for those on a low salt diet (e.g. in some cases of congestive heart failure and renal impairment).

Each 10 ml dose contains 160 mg (1.6 mmol) of calcium carbonate. Care needs to be taken in treating patients with hypercalcaemia, nephrocalcinosis and recurrent calcium containing renal calculi.

This medicine should not be used by patients allergic to any of its constituents.

Ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214), propyl parahydroxybenzoates (E216) and butyl parahydroxybenzoate: may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

A time-interval of 2 hours should be considered between this medicine intake and the administration of other medicinal products, especially tetracyclines, digoxine, fluoroquinolone, iron salt, ketoconazole, neuroleptics, thyroid hormones, penicillamine, beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propanolol), glucocorticoid, chloroquine and biphosphonates (diphosphonates) and estramustine. See also 4.4.

Antacids may interact with other drugs as they alter the gastric pH which may affect dissolution, solubility or ionization of the other drug. Antacids reduce the absorption of certain drugs from the following groups: ACE Inhibitors, Analgesics, Antibacterials, Antiepileptics, Antifungals, Antimalarials, Antipsychotics, Bisphosphonates, Lithium and Penicillamine.

Antacids may increase the pH of the urine and affect the rate of drug elimination. Excretion of basic drugs is decreased whereas acidic drugs are eliminated more rapidly.

Due to effects at the renal level sodium bicarbonate may reduce plasma lithium levels and increase plasma quinidine levels.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy:

Clinical studies in more than 500 pregnant women as well as a large amount of data from postmarketing experience indicate no malformative nor feto / neonatal toxicity of the active substances. This medicine can be used during pregnancy, if clinically needed.

Breast-feeding:

No effects of the active substances have been shown in breastfed newborns/infants of treated mothers. This medicine can be used during breast-feeding.

Fertility:

Pre-clinical investigations have revealed alginate has no negative effect on parental or offspring fertility or reproduction.

Clinical data do not suggest that this medicine has an effect on human fertility.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

There are no effects on ability to drive or use machines.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Adverse reactions have been ranked under headings of frequency using the following convention: very common (1/10), common (1/100 and <1/10), uncommon (1/1000 and <1/100), rare (1/10,000 and <1/1000), very rare (< 1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

System Organ Class

Frequency

Adverse Event

Immune System Disorders

Very rare

Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions.

Hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria.

Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders

Very rare

Respiratory effects such as bronchospasm.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions 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 Website :www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store

4.9 Overdose

Symptoms

As this medicine`s mode of action is physical, overdosage in terms of the alginate content is virtually no hazard. The only consequence is abdominal discomfort which is best treated conservatively. The relatively low concentrations of sodium and calcium carbonate in this medicine would also make serious consequences from overdosage very unlikely.

Management

In the event of overdose symptomatic treatment should be given.

5. Pharmacological properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

On ingestion the product reacts rapidly with gastric acid to form a raft of alginic acid gel having a near neutral pH and which floats on the stomach contents, quickly and effectively impeding gastro-oesophageal reflux, for up to 4 hours. In severe cases the raft itself may be refluxed into the oesophagus, in preference to the stomach contents, and exert a demulcent effect.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Alginic acid is not absorbed into the systemic circulation.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

There is no Preclinical Safety Data.

6. Pharmaceutical particulars
6.1 List of excipients

Carbomer (Carbopol 974P)

Sodium Hydroxide

Saccharin Sodium

Ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214)

Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216)

Butyl parahydroxybenzoate

Isopropyl Alcohol

Erythrosine Colour (E127)

Star Anise Oil

Purified Water

6.2 Incompatibilities

None known.

6.3 Shelf life

24 months - amber glass bottles

18 months - HDPE bottles

15 months – PET bottles

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 25° C. Do not refrigerate.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Pharmaceutical Grade III amber glass bottles with pilfer proof caps and tamper evident screw caps.

High density polyethylene bottles with tamper evident screw caps.

PET bottle with tamper evident screw caps.

Pack sizes: 50ml, 100ml, 150ml, 200ml, 250ml, 300ml and 500ml.

50ml (PET)

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Not applicable.

7. Marketing authorisation holder

Pinewood Laboratories Limited,

Ballymacarbry,

Clonmel,

Co. Tipperary.

8. Marketing authorisation number(s)

PL 4917/0021

9. Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

25/03/1998

10. Date of revision of the text

08/08/2024

Pinewood Healthcare
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Address
Ballymacarby, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
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+353 52 6186000
Fax
+ 353 52 6136311
Medical Information Direct Line
+353 52 6186000
Medical Information Fax
+353 52 6136311
Medical Information e-mail
[email protected]
Drug Safety e-mail
[email protected]
Drug Safety Telephone
00 353 52 6186000