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.

For oral administration.

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

Children under 12 years: Should be given only on medical advice.

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

Hepatic Impairment: No dose modification necessary.

Renal Insufficiency: Caution if highly restricted salt diet is necessary (see section 4.4).

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).

If symptoms do not improve after 7 days, the clinical situation should be reviewed.

This medicinal product contains 142.6 mg sodium per 10 ml, equivalent to 7.1 % of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium.

The maximum daily dose of this product is equivalent to 57% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium.

This product is considered high in sodium. This should be particularly taken into account for those on a low salt diet (e.g. in some cases of congestive heart 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).

This medicine contains 1.1 mg benzyl alcohol (from Fennel flavour) per 10 ml dose. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. This is because large amounts of benzyl alcohol can build-up in your body and may cause side effects (called “ metabolic acidosis” ).

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you have a liver or kidney disease. This is because large amounts of benzyl alcohol can build-up in your body and may cause side effects (called “ metabolic acidosis” ).

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.

Pregnancy:

Clinical studies in more than 500 pregnant women as well as a large amount of data from post-marketing 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.

None.

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).

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 or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Symptoms

Symptoms are likely to be minor; some abdominal discomfort may be experienced.

Management

In the event of overdose symptomatic treatment should be given.

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.

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

No preclinical findings relevant to the prescriber have been reported.

Carbomer

Methyl parahydroxybenzoate

Propyl parahydroxybenzoate

Saccharin sodium

Fennel flavour

Erythrosine

Sodium hydroxide

Water

Not applicable.

Three years for 600ml pack size.

Two years for 100ml, 150ml, 200ml, 250ml, 300ml and 500ml pack sizes.

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

Amber glass Winchester bottle with a polypropylene cap with a polyethylene tamper-evident band lined with expanded polyethylene wad containing 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 500 and 600 ml.

No special instructions.