Dulcobalance 10g Powder For Oral Solution In Sachet
SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Dulcobalance 10g, powder for oral solution in sachet
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Each sachet contains 10g of macrogol 4000
Macrogol 4000 10.00g
Flavour (orange-grapefruit)* 0.15g
Saccharin sodium 0.017g
Per sachet of 10.17g
*Sorbitol and sulphur dioxide are constituents of orange-grapefruit flavour: Sorbitol (E420) 1.8mg per sachet
Sulphur dioxide (E220) 0.24x10"2mg per sachet
For full list of excipients: see section 6.1
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Powder for oral solution in sachet.
Single dose sachet containing an almost white powder with an odour and taste of orange-grapefruit.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Symptomatic treatment of constipation in adults and children aged 8 years and above.
An organic disorder should have been ruled out before initiation of treatment.
Dulcobalance should remain a temporary adjuvant treatment to appropriate lifestyle and dietary management of constipation, with a maximum 3 month treatment course in children. If symptoms persist despite associated dietary measures, an underlying cause should be suspected and treated.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Oral use.
Posology
1 to 2 sachets (10-20 g) per day, preferably taken as a single dose in the morning.
The daily dose should be adjusted according to the clinical response and may range from one sachet every other day (especially in children) up to 2 sachets a day. The effect of Dulcobalance becomes apparent within 24 to 48 hours after its administration.
Paediatric population
In children, treatment should not exceed 3 months due to a lack of clinical data for treatment lasting longer than 3 months. Treatment-induced restoration of bowel movements will be maintained by lifestyle and dietary measures.
Method of administration
Each sachet should be dissolved in a glass of water just before use.
4.3
Contraindications
- severe inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease) or toxic megacolon,
- digestive perforation or risk of digestive perforation,
- ileus or suspicion of intestinal obstruction or symptomatic stenosis,
- painful abdominal syndromes of indeterminate cause,
- hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Special Warnings
The treatment of constipation with any medicinal product is only an adjuvant to a healthy lifestyle and diet, for example:
- increased intake of liquids and dietary fibre,
- appropriate physical activity and rehabilitation of the bowel reflex.
An organic disorder should have been ruled out before initiation of treatment.
This medicine contains macrogol (polyethylene glycol). Hypersensitivity (anaphylactic shock, angioedema, urticaria, rash, pruritus, erythema) to drugs containing macrogol (polyethylene glycol) have been reported, see section 4.8.
This medicine contains sulphur dioxide, which may rarely cause severe hypersensitivity reactions and bronchospasm.
Patients with hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take this medicinal product.
In case of diarrhoea, caution should be exercised in patients prone for disturbances of water-electrolyte balance (e.g. the elderly, patients with impaired hepatic or renal function or patients taking diuretics) and electrolyte control considered.
Cases of aspiration have been reported when extensive volumes of polyethylene glycol and electrolytes were administered with nasogastric tube. Neurologically impaired children who have oromotor dysfunction are particularly at risk of aspiration.
Precautions for use
Dulcobalance does not contain a significant quantity of sugar or polyol and can be prescribed to diabetic patients or patients on a galactose-free diet.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Not applicable
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).
There are limited amount of data (less than 300 pregnancy outcomes) for the use of Dulcobalance in pregnant women.
No effects during pregnancy are anticipated, since systemic exposure to Dulcobalance is negligible. Dulcobalance can be used during pregnancy.
Lactation
There are no data on the excretion of Dulcobalance in breast milk. No effects on the breast-fed newborn/infant are anticipated since the systemic exposure of the breastfeeding woman to macrogol 4000 is negligible. Dulcobalance can be used during breast-feeding.
Fertility
No fertility studies were conducted with Dulcobalance, however since macrogol 4000 is not significantly absorbed no effect on fertility is anticipated.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Not relevant.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Adverse Drug Reactions are listed under headings of frequency using the following categories:
Very common (>1/10); common (>1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Adult population:
The undesirable effects listed in the table below have been reported during clinical trials (including 600 adult patients) and post-marketing use. Generally, adverse reactions have been minor and transitory and have mainly concerned the gastrointestinal system:
|
System Organ Class |
Adverse Reactions |
|
Gastrointestinal Disorders | |
|
Common |
Abdominal pain Abdominal distension Diarrhoea Nausea |
|
Uncommon |
Vomiting Defaecation urgency Faecal incontinence |
|
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders | |
|
Not known |
Electrolytes disorders (hyponatremia, hypokalaemia) and or dehydration, especially in elderly patients |
|
Immune System Disorders | |
|
Not known |
Hypersensitivity (anaphylactic shock, angioedema, urticaria, rash, pruritus, erythema) |
Paediatric population:
The undesirable effects listed in the table below have been reported during clinical trials including 147 children aged from 6 months to 15 years and post-marketing use. As in adult population, adverse reactions have generally been minor and transitory and have mainly concerned the gastrointestinal system:
|
System Organ Class |
Adverse Reactions |
|
Gastrointestinal Disorders | |
|
Common |
Abdominal pain Diarrhoea* |
|
Uncommon |
Vomiting Abdominal distension Nausea |
|
Immune System Disorders | |
|
Not known |
Hypersensitivity (anaphylactic shock, angioedema, urticaria, rash, pruritus) |
* Diarrhoea may cause perianal soreness
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 at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
4.9 Overdose
Diarrhoea, abdominal pain and vomiting have been reported. Diarrhoea due to excessive dosing disappears when treatment is temporarily interrupted or the dosage is reduced.
Excessive fluid loss by diarrhoea or vomiting may require correction of electrolyte disturbances.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Osmotically acting laxatives ATC code: A06AD15
High molecular weight (4000) macrogols are long linear polymers which retain water molecules by means of hydrogen bonds. When administered by the oral route, they lead to an increase in volume of intestinal fluids.
The volume of unabsorbed intestinal fluid accounts for the laxative properties of the solution.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
The pharmacokinetic data confirm that macrogol 4000 undergoes neither gastrointestinal resorption nor biotransformation following oral ingestion.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
Toxicological studies in different species of animals did not reveal any signs of systemic or local gastrointestinal toxicity of macrogol 4000. Macrogol 4000 had no teratogenic or mutagenic effect. Potential drug interactions studies performed in rats on some NSAIDs, anticoagulants, gastric antisecretory agents, or on a hypoglycaemic sulfamide showed that Dulcobalance did not interfere with gastrointestinal absorption of these compounds. No carcinogenicity studies have been performed.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Saccharin sodium (E954)
Orange-grapefruit flavour**
** Composition of the orange-grapefruit flavour:
Orange and grapefruit oils, concentrated orange juice, citral, acetaldehyde, linalol, ethyl butyrate, alpha terpineol, octanal, beta gamma hexenol, maltodextrine, gum arabic, sorbitol, BHA (E320) and sulphur dioxide (E220)
6.2 Incompatibilities
Not applicable
6.3 Shelf life
3 years
6.4 Special precautions for storage
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
(Paper /Aluminium /PE) sachet
Single dose sachets presented in pack sizes of l0, 20, 50 and 100 sachets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
No special requirements
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Boehringer Ingelheim Limited
Consumer Healthcare
Ellesfield Avenue
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 8YS
United Kingdom
MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 00015/0318
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10
DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
18/01/2002 / 05/05/2010
DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
18/08/2014