ZETALAX PHOSPHATE ENEMA 133 ML BOTTLE

Name
ZETALAX PHOSPHATE ENEMA
Monosodium phosphate monohydrate and disodium phosphate heptahydrate


What is it and what is it used for?
ZETALAX PHOSPHATE ENEMA contains the active ingredients monosodium phosphate monohydrate and disodium phosphate heptahydrate, which belong to the group of medicines called osmotic laxatives. These medicines are used to facilitate the elimination of stool.
ZETALAX PHOSPHATE ENEMA is indicated in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age for the short-term treatment of occasional constipation and to empty the bowel in case of certain clinical examinations, such as radiological or proctoscopy examinations.

Contact your doctor if you notice no improvement or if you feel worse after 7 days.


What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not use ZETALAX PHOSPHATE ENEMATIC
- if you are allergic to monosodium phosphate monohydrate, disodium phosphate heptahydrate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
- if you experience abdominal pain in the acute phase or of unknown origin;
- if you have nausea or vomiting;
- if you suffer from obstruction or narrowing of the intestine or anorectum (intestinal stenosis or anorectal stenosis);
- if you have intestinal blockage due to a real obstacle (mechanical ileus) or only partial (intestinal sub-occlusion);
- if you have intestinal blockage or failure to empty your bowels normally (paralytic ileus);
- if you suffer from inflammatory intestinal disorders and other conditions that may increase the absorption of the medicine;
- if you have a perforation of the anal wall;
- if you suffer from particular intestinal problems (colon abnormalities such as Hirschsprung's disease or congenital or acquired megacolon);
- if you have blood loss from the rectum (rectal bleeding) of unknown origin;
- if you have an acute haemorrhoidal crisis with pain and bleeding;
- if you are severely dehydrated;
- if you suffer from heart disorders or problems;
- if you have severe kidney problems (severe renal failure) or have high levels of phosphate in your blood (hyperphosphatemia);
- in children under 12 years of age;
- if you are taking other medicines containing sodium phosphate (such as oral solutions or tablets).


Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using ZETALAX PHOSPHATE ENEMA:

- if you have been constipated for more than 2 weeks;
- if you notice changes in your usual bowel movements or stool characteristics;
- if you do not experience any improvement after using these medicines;
- if he is elderly;
- if he is not in good health;
- if you suffer from high blood pressure, heart problems, an increase in the volume of abdominal fluid (ascites) or ulcers and cracks in the rectal mucosa;
- if you often have problems with bowel movements or if you suffer from chronic constipation.

What you need to know about laxatives:
- prolonged use of a laxative to treat constipation is not recommended;
- to treat constipation, medications should only be an aid to hygienic-dietary treatment (e.g., increasing vegetable fiber and fluids in the diet, regular physical activity);
- you must drink at least 6-8 glasses of water, or other liquids during treatment with laxatives to help soften the stool;
It is advisable to correct your eating habits by integrating your diet with more fiber and water during episodes of constipation.

Use this medicine only if necessary or when advised by your doctor.
If you abuse laxatives by using this medicine excessively, frequently, or incorrectly, you may experience long-lasting diarrhea, resulting in a loss of water, minerals (especially potassium), and other essential nutrients.
In more serious cases, you may experience dehydration and low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia), with possible problems with your heart, nerves and muscles, especially if you are taking medicines to stimulate heart function (digitalis/cardiac glycosides), to increase urine production (diuretics) or medicines called corticosteroids (anti-inflammatories) at the same time.
You may experience dehydration, especially if you are simultaneously taking medications that affect renal filtration, such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and sartans (drugs to reduce hypertension that act on angiotensin) or NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs). You may also experience changes in the levels of certain mineral salts in your blood, which can lead to serious kidney problems (renal failure) and muscle stiffness (tetany).

If you use this medicine excessively or incorrectly, you may develop dependence (resulting in the need to gradually increase the dose), long-lasting (chronic) constipation and loss of normal intestinal function (intestinal atony).

Use this medicine only occasionally.

Treatment of chronic or recurrent constipation always requires medical intervention for diagnosis, prescription of medications, and monitoring during therapy.

Health education notes
First of all, it must be kept in mind that in most cases, a balanced diet rich in water and fiber (bran, vegetables, and fruit) can permanently solve the problem of constipation.
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, however, occurs when bowel movements are less frequent than usual and are associated with the emission of hard stools.
Consult your doctor if episodes of constipation occur repeatedly.

Children
This medicine cannot be used in children under 12 years of age.

Elderly people
If you are elderly, talk to your doctor before using this medicine.


Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The side effects that may occur with the use of ZETALAX PHOSPHATE ENEMA are:
- crampy abdominal pain (isolated);
- non-continuous abdominal pain (abdominal colic);
- diarrhea with loss of fluids and salts, more frequent in cases of severe constipation (difficulty in going to the toilet);
- redness with burning or pain (irritation) in the rectum;
- nausea and vomiting;
- hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. urticaria);
- blisters, itching and burning on the skin.

The following side effects occur rarely:
- high levels of phosphate in the blood (hyperphosphatemia);
- high sodium levels in the blood (hypernatremia);
- low blood calcium levels (hypocalcemia);
- low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia);
- calcium accumulation (calcification) of the tissues.

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.