Chewable Tablets
Contains the active ingredient Loperamide hydrochloride and Simethicone
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
Read this leaflet carefully before taking your medicine.
This leaflet answers some common questions about APOHEALTH Diarrhoea Relief PLUS Chewable Tablets. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the last page. More recent information on this medicine may be available.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist:
if there is anything you do not understand in this leaflet,
if you are worried about taking your medicine, or
to obtain the most up-to-date information.
You can also download the most up to date leaflet from www.apotex.com.au.
Pharmaceutical companies cannot give you medical advice or an individual diagnosis.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may want to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
APOHEALTH Diarrhoea Relief PLUS Chewable Tablets are used to treat acute diarrhoea.
APOHEALTH Diarrhoea Relief PLUS Chewable Tablets also relieve the symptoms of too much gas such as abdominal pain, bloating, cramping and flatulence (wind).
Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed or recommended for you.
How it works
Loperamide make the stools more solid and less frequent.
It does this by normalising the muscle contractions of the intestine.
This allows the bowel time to absorb water and produce a more solid stool.
Simethicone helps the body to get rid of excess gas trapped in the stomach and bowel.
Use in children
This medicine should not be used in children under 12 years.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if:
You have or have had any of the following:
you are constipated, or have to avoid becoming constipated
you have severe diarrhoea with blood in the stools or fever
you have inflammation of the lower bowels (for example, ulcerative colitis or pseudomembranous colitis as a result of using antibiotics)
You are breastfeeding.
You are hypersensitive to, or have had an allergic reaction to, loperamide, simethicone or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include: cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin; fainting; or hay fever-like symptoms.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, do not take any more of the medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at the nearest hospital.
The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
The packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering or it does not look quite right.
Before you start to take it
Before you start taking this medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if:
1. You have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
2. You have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
liver disease
kidney disease
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
glaucoma (pressure in the eye)
bladder problems
regularly drink a lot of alcohol.
3. You are currently pregnant or you plan to become pregnant. Do not take this medicine whilst pregnant until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
4. You are currently breastfeeding or you plan to breast-feed. Do not take this medicine whilst breastfeeding until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
5. You are taking or are planning to take any other medicines. This includes vitamins and supplements that are available from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interact with loperamide or simethicone. These include:
sleeping tablets or medicines to treat anxiety and nervousness
medicines to treat depression
medicines that slow down action of the stomach and intestines.
If you are taking any of these you may need a different dose or you may need to take different medicines.
Other medicines not listed above may also interact with simethicone or loperamide.
How to take this medicine
Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist. Their instructions may be different to the information in this leaflet.
How much to take
Children:
Do not give this medicine to a child under the age of 12 years.
Adults and children aged 12 years and over:
The usual adult dose is two tablets initially, followed by one tablet after each loose unformed stool as needed.
Do not take more than four tablets in one day.
The tablets should be chewed.
How to take it
This medicine should be chewed, then swallowed. No liquid intake is necessary.
If you forget to take it:
If you forget to this medicine after an unformed stool, take it when you remember or after your next unformed stool.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
This may increase the chance of you experiencing side effects.
If you are not sure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take too much (overdose)
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
If you overdose on this medicine, you may have any of the following symptoms: sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, difficulty passing urine, weak breathing, muscle stiffness, stupor, constriction of pupils, abdominal discomfort and distension, and uncoordinated movements.
Children are more sensitive than adults to medicines An accidental overdose is especially dangerous. Make sure this medicine is kept out of reach of children.
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
If you do not improve after taking this medicine for 48 hours tell your doctor or pharmacist
Drink plenty of fluids, to avoid dehydration
Tell your doctor if diarrhoea persists beyond 48 hours
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking this medicine
Tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine if:
you are about to be started on any new medicine
you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
you are breastfeeding or are planning to breast-feed
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you take this medicine.
Things you must not do
Do not:
Take more than four tablets in one day
Give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Take your medicine to treat any other condition unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
Tiredness, dizziness or drowsiness can be seen with diarrhoea. Therefore, it is advisable to use caution when driving or operating machinery.
Possible side effects
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking APOHEALTH Diarrhoea Relief PLUS Chewable Tablets or if you have any questions or concerns.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
nausea or vomiting
headache, chills, fever
constipation dry mouth or bad taste
dizziness or drowsiness cough
rash and sweat
itching
difficulty passing urine
tiredness
abdominal pain/discomfort/distension/
excessive flatulence indigestion
rapid heart rate
These side effects are usually mild.
The above list does not represent all side effects that have been reported for this medicine. If you notice side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your pharmacist or doctor.
If you experience any of the following, stop taking your medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
These are very serious side effects and you may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation:
asthma, wheezing or shortness of breath
swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
sudden or severe blisters, itching, skin rash, hives
flaking or peeling of skin.
Serious side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Allergic reactions
If you think you are having an allergic reaction to this medicine, do not take any more of this medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include some or all of the following:
cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
fainting
hay fever-like symptoms.
Storage and disposal
Storage
Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking this medicine or it has passed its expiry date, your pharmacist can dispose of the remaining medicine safely.
Product description
What APOHEALTH Diarrhoea Relief PLUS Chewable Tablets look like
White to off- white, 15.9 mm diameter round bevel edged, slightly mottled, uncoated, chewable tablets
Each pack contains 2, 4, 6, 12 or 18 tablets.
* Not all strengths, pack types and/or pack sizes may be available.
