Covonia Throat Spray

(chlorhexidine gluconate, lidocaine hydrochloride)

Important information about Covonia Throat Spray

•    This medicine relieves the symptoms of painful, irritated sore throats in adults, the elderly and children over 12 years.

•    It is a sugar-free medicine which can be used by diabetics.

Do not use....

•    On children under 12 years.

Talk to your doctor..

•    If your sore throat has lasted for more than 2 days.

•    If you also have high temperature.

You may need another medicine in these cases. Now read the rest of the leaflet before you use this medicine. It includes other information which might be especially important for you.

•    Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

•    Ask your pharmacist if you need any more information or advice.

•    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.

1. What the medicine is for

Covonia Throat Spray contains chlorhexidine, an antiseptic and lidocaine which is a local pain killer.

It relieves the symptoms of painful, irritated sore throats.

2.Before you use this medicine

Do not take/use Covonia Throat Spray..

•    If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to chlorhexidine gluconate or any of the other ingredients of Covonia Throat Spray (see section 6).

•    If you have an allergy to any other local anaesthetics.

•    If you have difficulty in swallowing.

•    Under 12 years old.

Special warnings and precautions

Covonia Throat Spray may in rare cases cause severe allergic reactions, leading to a drop in blood pressure and even to unconsciousness. Early symptoms of a severe allergic reaction may be skin rash or asthma. If you notice these symptoms, stop using Covonia Throat Spray and contact your doctor as soon as possible (see under section 4: “possible side effects”).

A^Talk to your doctor if you have..

•A history of allergies.

•A severe sore throat.

•A sore throat which has lasted for more than 2 days or is accompanied by high temperature, headache, nausea or sickness.

A Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking.....

• Beta blockers or other medicines for heart problems (e.g. propranolol, mexiletine).

• Medicine for a stomach ulcer (e.g. cimetidine).

• Diuretics, which help remove fluids from the body.

• Medicine for epilepsy (e.g. phenytoin or other barbiturates).

Pregnant or breastfeeding..

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine if you are pregnant, might be pregnant or are breastfeeding. Covonia Throat Spray should not be used in pregnancy unless the doctor has told you to do so.

Lidocaine, one of the active ingredients, can be absorbed through the skin and pass into breast milk in small amounts.

Important information about the ingredients:

This medicinal product contains 42.5 vol% ethanol (alcohol), i.e. up to 168mg per application (5 sprays), equivalent to 0.85ml beer, 0.35ml wine per dose. Harmful to those suffering from alcoholism. To be taken into account in pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and high risk groups such as patients with liver disease or epilepsy.

3. How to use this medicine

•    Avoid contact with the eyes.

•    Turn the tube as shown in diagram 1.

•    Point the spray nozzle towards the back of your throat and press the spray button. See diagram 2.

•    /After each use turn the tube back down to close the spray.

• If after a number of applications the spray nozzle gets blocked the pump will malfunction. To correct this problem, remove the spray tube from the pump and clean it in a cup of hot water for a few minutes. Allow it to dry before fixing the tube back onto the pump.

Dosage

0 Adults, the elderly and children over 12 years

• Spray 3 to 5 times for one application.

• Apply 6 to 10 times a day.

□ Children under 12 years

Do not give to children under 12 unless your doctor tells you to.

If you take too much

If you accidentally swallow some liquid straight from the bottle, see a doctor straight away. Take the pack with you to show which medicine you have swallowed.

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4.    Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Covonia Throat Spray can have side effects, although these don’t affect everyone.

If you experience any of the following reactions stop using Covonia Throat Spray and get immediate medical help: swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat; a red itchy skin rash; wheezing or difficulty breathing; feeling faint and dizzy; a strange metallic taste in the mouth; collapse.

You may be having an allergic reaction.

Other side effects:

•    Skin sensitivity.

•    Temporary discolouration of the teeth and tongue.

•    Burning sensation on the tongue.

•    Taste disturbances.

•    Swelling of salivary glands.

If you notice these or any other side effect not included above, stop use and tell your doctor or pharmacist. They will tell you what to do.

5.    Storing this medicine

•    Keep it out of the reach and sight of children.

•    Do not store above 25°C.

•    Do not use after the expiry date shown on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

•    Medicine should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of any unused medicine. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. Further information

What is in this medicine The active ingredients are: chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% w/v, lidocaine hydrochloride 0.05% w/v.

The other ingredients are: citric acid (E330), glycerol (E422), saccharin sodium (E954), menthol, eucalyptol, ethanol and purified water. What the medicine looks like

Covonia Throat Spray is a colourless liquid which smells of menthol and alcohol.

It is supplied in 30ml bottles.

Marketing authorisation holder

Thornton and Ross Ltd., Huddersfield,

HD7 5QH, UK.

Manufacturer

Laboratoria Qualiphar N.V./S.A., Rijksweg 9,

B 2880 Bornem, Belgium.

This leaflet was revised in July 2014

Covonia is a trade mark of Thornton & Ross Ltd.

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