Lemsip Cold + Flu Headcold

As an analgesic and antipyretic for the relief of the symptoms associated with the common cold and influenza.

Adults and children aged 12 years and over: one sachet to be taken every 4 hours, if necessary, up to the maximum of six sachets in any period of 24 hours. Not to be given to children under 12 years of age.

Elderly: the normal adult dosage can be used.

Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.

Hepatic or renal impairment.

Paracetamol-containing products should be given with caution to patients with impaired kidney and liver function, or if they are taking other drugs that affect their liver.

Use with caution in patients with diabetes. Each sachet contains approximately 3g of carbohydrate.

Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.

This medicinal product contains 94mg sodium per dose. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.

Sweetened with aspartame (E951), a source of phenylalanine. May be harmful for people with phenylketonuria.

Paracetamol is reported to increase the half-life of chloramphenicol.

Large doses of paracetamol may potentiate the effects of coumarin anticoagulants.

The hepatotoxicity of paracetamol may be potentiated by other drugs that affect the liver.

There is epidemiological evidence of safety in human pregnancy. However, as with all medicines, caution should be exercised during pregnancy and lactation.

None.

Side-effects are rare when the product is used correctly.

Skin rashes and other allergic reactions occur occasionally with paracetamol.

The main cause for concern in overdose with this product is paracetamol intake.

Paracetamol overdosage initially causes nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Ingestion of 7.5-10 g of paracetamol (over twelve sachets) can cause liver damage, though symptoms may not appear for two to three days. Treatment is by gastric lavage and using a specific antidote such as acetylcysteine or methionine if treatment can be started within 10 hours of ingestion. If more than 10 hours have elapsed since ingestion of paracetamol, haemo-perfusion may be necessary.

Paracetamol has both analgesic and antipyretic activity which is believed to be mediated principally through its inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis within the central nervous system.

Paracetamol is absorbed rapidly and completely mainly from the small intestine producing peak plasma levels after 15-20 minutes following oral dosing. The systemic availability is subject to first-pass metabolism and varies with dose between 70% and 90%. The drug is rapidly and widely distributed throughout the body, and is eliminated from plasma at a T½ of approximately 2 hours. The major metabolites are glucuronide and sulphate conjugates (>80%) which is excreted in urine.

No preclinical findings of relevance have been reported.

Sucrose, citric acid anhydrous, sodium citrate, saccharin sodium, lemon flavour no. 1, menthol flavour, aspartame (E951), ascorbic acid and curcumin WD.

Not applicable.

Three years.

Store at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.

A heat-sealed sachet of paper/polyethylene/aluminium foil/polyethylene laminate in an outer cardboard carton. Pack sizes: five or ten sachets.

The contents of each sachet are to be dissolved in hot water before administration.