10 g oral powder, sachet Lactitol monohydrate
1. WHAT IMPORTAL EX-LAX IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Important Ex-Lax is a laxative.
Important Ex-Lax is used in the treatment of constipation. Important Ex-Lax can also be used as part of the treatment of patients with a condition called hepatic encephalopathy which is a consequence of severe liver disease, to reduce some of the symptoms.
Lactitol, the active ingredient in Important Ex-Lax, is a sugar that is not absorbed by the body. It reaches the large intestine in unchanged form and is broken down thereby bacteria. This produces acetic acid and other acidic substances that increase the water content and volume of the intestinal contents. In this way, the bowel movements are normalized and constipation is counteracted.
The effect of Important Ex-Lax in liver disease is considered to be related to a sharp increase in the formation of acidic substances in the large intestine when Important Ex-Lax is given in high doses. The treatment of liver disease with Important Ex-Lax only takes place in hospitals.
Important Ex-Lax does not affect blood sugar and can therefore be given to diabetics.
2. BEFORE YOU USE IMPORTAL EX-LAX
Do not use Importal Ex-Salmon
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to lactitol monohydrate.
- if you have any obstruction in the intestinal passage or organ damage in the gastrointestinal tract.
- if you have undiagnosed abdominal pain or bleeding from the rectum.
- if you have galactosemia (inability to break down galactose into glucose ).
- if you are breast-feeding a child or infant diagnosed with fructose intolerance.
- if you have disturbed fluid and salt balance.
Take special care with Importal Ex-Lax
- If you are an elderly or physically weak person and use Importal Ex-Lax for long-term treatment of constipation, you should see a regular doctor.
- if you are going to undergo any internal examination of the intestine. Then consult your doctor.
- If you suffer from nausea, you should take Importal Ex-Lax with a meal.
- When treating younger children and infants, Importal Ex-Lax should only be used if recommended by a doctor.
- Importal Ex-Lax is not recommended for patients with ileostomy or colostomy . In cases of particularly stubborn constipation, a doctor should be consulted.
- in case of gas in the intestines, treatment should be started at a lower dose , see section 3 “How to use Importal Ex-Lax”
- in more severe cases, dehydration or hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in the blood) can occur and lead to disturbances in the heart or in nerve signals to muscles, especially during concomitant treatment with certain cardiac drugs , diuretics or corticosteroids .
- if there is no improvement after a few days of treatment or if the constipation returns after the end of treatment, a doctor should be consulted.
Persistent constipation should first be treated by eating a high-fiber diet, with adequate fluid intake or physical activity. If constipation is not relieved by diet or exercise, the use of Important Ex-Lax is recommended.
Prolonged use of laxatives without interruption should be avoided.
Use of other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
If you are using Important Ex-Lax to treat hepatic encephalopathy, do not use it with antacids. These medicines may affect the effect of Important Ex-Lax. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you are taking other medicines (eg thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, carbenoxolone, amphotericin B, cardiac glycosides), consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Importal Ex-Lax.
Laxatives can reduce the time between bowel movements and the uptake of other oral drugs. Therefore, Improtal Ex-Lax should not be taken concomitantly with other medicines; after taking a medicine, you should wait at least 2 hours before taking Improtal Ex-Lax.
Intake of Importal Ex-Lax with food and drink
Important Ex-Lax should be mixed with cold or hot drinks or sprinkled on the food.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Experience with Importal Ex-Lax in pregnant women is limited. The use of Importal Ex-Lax is not recommended during the first three months of pregnancy unless your doctor has recommended it.
It is not known whether lactitol monohydrate passes into breast milk. Due to the low exposure to lactitol monohydrate, Importal Ex-Lax can be considered by women who are breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines
Importal Ex-Lax does not affect your ability to drive.
Important information about some ingredient (s) in Importal Ex-Lax
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Important Ex-Lax has no effect on insulin deficiency or blood sugar levels and is therefore suitable for diabetics.
3. HOW TO USE IMPORTAL EX-LAX
Constipation
Treatment with Importal Ex-Lax must be adapted individually to achieve a loose stool per day.
Adults
2 sachets daily for a few days. Then 1 sachet daily or as prescribed by a doctor.
Children
The use of Importal Ex-Lax in children should be supervised by an adult, and it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions. The average daily dose for treating children is 0.25 grams per kilogram of body weight, for example
1-6 years: 1/4 – 1/2 sachet daily.
7-12 years: 1/2 – 1 sachet daily.
13-16 years: 1 – 2 sachets daily.
For children under 1 year only according to a doctor’s prescription.
Gases
Adults
In case of gas in the intestine, treatment should be started with 1 sachet daily and then follow the dosage one for adults listed above.
Children
Children are treated according to the doctor’s instructions.
Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you feel that the effect of Importal Ex-Lax is too strong or too weak.
Liver disease ( hepatic encephalopathy )
Dose one should be determined by a physician who adapts it to each patient. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions. The starting dose for the treatment of adults is 0.5 to 0.7 grams per kilogram of body weight. The daily dose one should be divided into three.
Importal Ex-Lax can be mixed with cold or hot drinks or sprinkled on food.
The entire daily dose is taken at once, in the morning or in the evening with a meal. An additional 1-2 glasses of liquid are recommended. The laxative effect usually occurs within a few hours after ingestion, but can last up to two to three days.
If you use too much Importal Ex-Lax
If you have ingested too much medicine or if e.g. If a child has ingested the medicine by mistake, contact a doctor, hospital, or the Poison Information Center for risk assessment and advice.
Too high a dose can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and salt disorders; if fluid and salt loss occurs, it must be compensated.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you forget to take Importal Ex-Lax
Take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Important Ex-Lax can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
At the beginning of treatment with Importal Ex-Lax, you may experience stomach problems such as bloating, satiety, abdominal pain, or cramps and gas. These side effects usually disappear after a few days when Importal Ex-Lax is taken regularly.
Some patients may experience diarrhea at the recommended dosage. By reducing the dose one overcomes this.
Side effects are grouped according to the following frequencies:
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, vomiting.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people): Nausea, abnormal gastrointestinal sounds, anal itching.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
5. HOW TO STORE IMPORTAL EX-LAX
Keep out of sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 25 ° C.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiration date is the last day of the specified month.
Solutions prepared with oral powder should be used within 2 days and stored at 2-8 ° C
The medicine should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
Content declaration
The active substance is lactitol monohydrate. One sachet contains 10 lactitol monohydrates. The preparation does not contain any other substances.
What the medicine looks like and contents of the pack
Importal Ex-Lax is an oral white, crystalline powder with a slightly sweet taste.
Importal Ex-Lax is available in cartons containing 10, 50, 100, and 16 x 50 sachets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Aziende Chimiche Riunite Angelini Francesco ACRAFSpA
V.le Amelia, 70
00181 Rom
Italy
Information is provided by: Navamedic AB, infose@navamedic.com