AICARDI LAXATIVE DROPS ORAL DROPS, SOLUTION 15 ML BOTTLE

Name
Aicardi Laxative Drops 7.5 mg/ml oral drops, solution
Sodium picosulfate


What is it and what is it used for?
Aicardi Laxative Drops is an oral solution containing the active ingredient sodium picosulfate.
This active ingredient belongs to the class of contact laxatives (stimulant laxatives).
Aicardi Laxative Drops are used for the short-term treatment of occasional constipation.
Talk to your doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after a few days.

Health Education Notes:
Many people think they are constipated if they are unable to have a bowel movement every day.
This is a misconception as this situation is completely normal for a large number of individuals.
Constipation, on the other hand, refers to the situation in which bowel movements are reduced compared to one's personal habits and are associated with the emission of hard stools.
In most cases, a balanced diet rich in water and fiber (bran, vegetables, and fruit) can provide lasting relief from constipation.
If episodes of constipation occur repeatedly, a doctor should be consulted.


What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not use Aicardi Laxative Drops
- if you are allergic to the active substance or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
- if you have problems with the last part of the intestine called the "rectum" (rectal bleeding of unknown origin);
- if you have abdominal pain or abdominal cramps (colic), nausea and vomiting;
- if you suffer from a blockage of the intestinal muscles (paralytic ileus);
- if you have problems with your intestines (intestinal obstruction or stenosis) or obstruction or narrowing of the bile ducts (where bile, a substance involved in some digestive processes, flows);
- if he is dehydrated (has lost too much water);
- if you suffer from acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines (e.g. appendicitis);
- if you have diarrhea or are severely emaciated (have cachexia), because the laxative effect may be excessive;
- if you suffer from gallstones (presence of small stones that obstruct the flow of bile);
- if you suffer from reduced liver function (liver failure);
- in children under 3 years of age;
- in children over 3 years of age without first consulting a doctor (see also section "Children");

Aicardi Laxative Drops are generally contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding (see section "Pregnancy and breastfeeding").


Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before using Aicardi Laxative Drops:
• if constipation is persistent. Treatment of chronic or recurrent constipation always requires medical intervention for diagnosis, medication prescription, and monitoring during therapy;
• if you have noticed a sudden change in your bowel habits (frequency and characteristics of bowel movements) that lasts for more than two weeks;
• if he is elderly;
• if his health conditions are not good.
Consult your doctor if, after a short period of treatment with this medicine, you do not obtain appreciable results.

The use of laxatives can sometimes cause symptoms such as dizziness and/or loss of consciousness, even fainting, due to a nervous mechanism in the body's response to abdominal pain or the effort to defecate, related to the constipation condition (especially in cases of severe constipation) that the drug is intended to resolve.

Do not use this medicine for long-term treatments .
Laxative abuse (frequent or prolonged use or excessive doses) can cause:
• dependence and therefore possible need to gradually increase the dose;
• chronic constipation;
• loss of normal bowel movements (intestinal atony);
• Persistent diarrhea that may lead to loss of water, mineral salts (especially potassium), and other essential nutrients. In more severe cases, dehydration or a decrease in blood potassium (hypokalemia) may occur, which can lead to dysfunction of the heart or the nerves that control the muscles. The risk is increased if you are taking heart medications (cardiac glycosides), drugs used for high blood pressure (diuretics), or drugs used for allergies and inflammation (corticosteroids).

Children
This medicine should not be used in children under 3 years of age.
In children aged between 3 and 12 years, the medicine can only be used after consulting a doctor.


Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
- allergic (hypersensitivity) immune system responses, such as excessive swelling of the mucous membranes (angioedema) or skin reactions such as rashes or itching;
- dizziness;
- fainting;
- diarrhea;
- cramps, pain or discomfort in the abdomen;
- nausea, vomiting;
- isolated abdominal pain or abdominal colic (especially in cases of severe constipation).

Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse .
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.