If you are taking Movicol for faecal impaction, it may be easier to dissolve 8 sachets in 1 litre of water. Drink plenty of water. Increase the fibre in your diet. Prolonged use of laxatives is undesirable and may lead to dependence.
It is recommended that you drink a glass of water or other fluid after you take Movicol Ready To Take. When taking Movicol Ready To Take you should continue to take plenty of fluids. The fluid content of Movicol should not replace your regular liquid intake. Constipation: The recommended dose is one sachet daily.
Drink Ready To Take directly from the sachet. There is no need to dilute it with water. It is recommended you drink a glass of water or other liquid after drinking the sachet.
(Movicol, CosmoCol and Laxido are all names of macrogols)
Macrogol laxatives work by 'binding with' water and delivering it to the large bowel. It is therefore essential to mix it with the correct amount of water or it will not work!
There's no gain or loss in either water or electrolytes, because when it's mixed with water, MOVICOL® forms an 'iso-osmotic' solution - which is less likely to dehydrate the body.
If your child does not drink enough water with it, the medicine will not work properly and your child may become dehydrated. Open the sachet and pour the contents into the water. Stir well until all the powder has dissolved and the mixture is clear or slightly hazy.
Like all medicines, Movicol Lemon- Lime can have side effects. Sometimes people have indigestion, stomach ache or rumbles. You may also feel bloated, suffer from wind, feel sick or vomit, may also experience soreness of the anus (bottom) and may have mild diarrhoea when starting to take Movicol Lemon-Lime.
You can take MOVICOL® at any time of day that is convenient.
Are there any issues with long term use of MOVICOL? MOVICOL has been shown to be generally well tolerated in studies of up to 2 years duration. MOVICOL works in harmony by using water and the body's own processes to facilitate regular bowel movement.
While taking bulk-forming or osmotic laxatives it's particularly important to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. This is because these laxatives can cause dehydration.
Don't worry – soft stools mean MOVICOL has started to work. However, if the poo becomes very runny or diarrhoea (see Stool Type 7 on the chart in this leaflet), you should stop taking your medicine until the runny poo stops. Then start again using fewer sachets.
HOW LONG WILL MOVICOL® TAKE TO WORK? Don't be concerned if MOVICOL® does not work immediately. MOVICOL® usually takes 1 to 2 days to trigger the first bowel movement.
Faecal impaction: Treatment with Movicol can be for up to 3 days. If you take more Movicol than you should: You may develop excessive diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration.
There is no cure for slow transit constipation. Treatment options may include: medication to improve bowel motility. regular enemas to flush the rectum of faeces.
Movicol won't make you have a bowel movement immediately; it can take one to two days of taking Movicol for it to work.
MOVICOL® can be used by patients with renal insufficiency with no need to adjust the dose. The MOVICOL® range contains no sucrose (sugar). (Some varieties contain acesulfame potassium and/or sucralose, which are sweeteners not known to affect blood sugar).
Chronic constipation
A course of treatment for constipation with Movicol does not normally exceed 2 weeks, although this can be repeated if required. As for all laxatives, prolonged use is not usually recommended.
Don't worry – soft stools mean MOVICOL® has started to work. However, if the poo becomes very runny or diarrhoea (see Stool Type 7 on the chart overleaf), you should stop taking your MOVICOL® until the runny poo stops. Then start again at a reduced dose.
Movicol is usually well tolerated although side effects such as abdominal pain & diarrhoea may occur either because of over treatment or because of overflow (see above). Other side effects include a rumbly tummy (borborygmi), nausea and vomiting. Abdominal distension,flatulence and ano-rectal pain may also occur.
The daily number of sachets should be taken in divided doses, all taken within 12 hours (e.g. 8am – 8pm). Each sachet dissolved in 62.5 ml (1/4 of a glass) of water. Treatment can be stopped when the medicine has worked.
Powder sachets
Dissolve each sachet in 125ml (one-quarter of a pint) of water, or 62.5ml (one-eighth of a pint) of water if you're giving paediatric sachets to a child. Stir well, then drink.
Usually people find that Movicol takes effect around one to two days after taking it. The duration of the treatment for constipation may continue for up to two weeks.