SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1    NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Gaviscon Peppermint Liquid Relief.

2    QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE    COMPOSITION

Gaviscon Peppermint Liquid Relief contains 250mg sodium alginate, 133.5mg sodium bicarbonate and 80mg calcium carbonate per 5ml.

For excipients, see Section 6.1.

3    PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Oral suspension.

An opaque, off-white to cream suspension with the odour and flavour of peppermint.

4    CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1.    Therapeutic Indications

Gastric reflux, heartburn, flatulence associated with gastric reflux, heartburn of pregnancy, all cases of epigastric and retrosternal distress where the underlying cause is gastric reflux.

4.2.    Posology and Method of Administration

For oral administration.

Adults and children over 12 years: 10-20ml after meals and at bedtime.

Elderly: No dosage modification is required in this age group.

Children 6 to 12 years: 5-10ml after meals and at bedtime.

Children under 6 years: Not recommended.

4.3    Contraindications

This medicinal product is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1, including methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) (see section 4.4).

4.4    Special warnings and precautions for use

If symptoms do not improve after seven days, the clinical situation should be reviewed.

Each 10 ml dose has a sodium content of 141 mg (6.2 mmol). This should be taken into account when a highly restricted salt diet is recommended. e.g. in some cases of congestive cardiac failure and renal impairment.

Each 10 ml dose contains 160 mg (1.6 mmol) of calcium carbonate. Care needs to be taken in treating patients with hypercalcaemia, nephrocalcinosis and recurrent calcium containing renal calculi.

Contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).

4.5    Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

A time-interval of 2 hours should be considered between Gaviscon intake and the administration of other medicinal products, especially tetracyclines, digoxine, fluoroquinolone, iron salt, ketoconazole, neuroleptics, thyroid hormones, penicillamine, beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propanolol), glucocorticoid, chloroquine and biphosphonates (diphosphonates) and estramustine. See also 4.4.

4.6    Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy:

Clinical studies in more than 500 pregnant women as well as a large amount of data from postmarketing experience indicate no malformative nor feto/ neonatal toxicity of the active substances. Gaviscon can be used during pregnancy, if clinically needed.

Breast feeding:

No effects of the active substances have been shown in breastfed newborns/infants of treated mothers. Gaviscon can be used during breast-feeding.

Fertility:

Pre-clinical investigations have revealed alginate has no negative effect on parental or offspring fertility or reproduction.

Clinical data do not suggest that Gaviscon has an effect on human fertility.

4.7. Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

None.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Adverse reactions have been ranked under headings of frequency using the following convention: very common (1/10), common (1/100 and <1/10), uncommon (1/1000 and <1/100), rare (1/10,000 and <1/1000), very rare (< 1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

System Organ Class	Frequency	Adverse Event
Immune System Disorders	Very rare	Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions.

		Hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria.
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders	Very rare	Respiratory effects such as bronchospasm.

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

In the event of overdosage symptomatic treatment should be given. The patient may notice abdominal distension.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

On ingestion the product reacts rapidly with gastric acid to form a raft of alginic acid gel having a near neutral pH and which floats on the stomach contents, quickly and effectively impeding gastro-oesophageal reflux, for up to 4 hours. In severe cases the raft itself may be refluxed into the oesophagus, in preference to the stomach contents, and exert a demulcent effect.

5.2. Pharmacokinetic Properties

The mode of action of the product is physical and does not depend on absorption into the systemic circulation.

5.3. Preclinical Safety Data

No preclinical findings relevant to the prescriber have been reported.

6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Carbomer

Methyl parahydroxybenzoate Propyl parahydroxybenzoate

Saccharin sodium Peppermint oil Sodium hydroxide Water

6.2.    Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

6.3    Shelf life

Three years for 600 ml pack size.

Two years for 100 ml, 150 ml, 200 ml, 250 ml and 300 ml pack sizes.

6.4.    Special Precautions for Storage

Do not store above 30°C. Do not refrigerate or freeze.

6.5    Nature and contents of container

Amber glass Winchester bottle with a polypropylene cap with a polyethylene tamper-evident band lined with expanded polyethylene wad containing 100 ml, 150 ml, 200 ml, 250 ml, 300 ml and 600ml.

6.6.    Instruction for Use and Handling

No special instructions.

7.    MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited

Dansom Lane

Hull

HU87DS United Kingdom

8.    MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

PL 00063/0127

DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION 03/02/2003 / 27/02/2009

DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

19/05/2014