Movicol is a medicine available as a white powder for oral solution and is prescribed for the treatment of constipation. It is a laxative used in adults, adolescents and elderly, who have problems with their bowel movements. Movicol helps in having a comfortable bowel movement even if the person has been suffering from constipation for a long time. It is also helpful in treating very bad constipation known as faecal impaction.
Movicol should be avoided in case you are allergic to any of the above ingredients. It should also be avoided if you have a blockage in your intestine, a perforated gut wall, or have a severe inflammatory bowel disease. Your doctor may be consulted if you have doubts about taking this medicine, are pregnant or are breastfeeding, have any heart conditions or are taking any alternate medication.
When the following side effects are experienced, stop taking the drug and contact your doctor immediately - Allergic reactions causing swelling of face, lips and throat - Difficulty in breathing
The doctor must be consulted if any of the following side-effects become severe. - Reddening of skin - Swollen hands - Headaches - Indigestion - Soreness of anus - Itching - Diarrhoea - Skin rashes - Vomitings
Movicol can be taken with or without food at any convenient time.
The contents of the Movicol sachet must be dissolved in 125 ml of water for making one dose. One to three doses a day can be taken depending on the severity of your constipation.
For the treatment of faecal impaction, 8 doses per day are usually needed. These 8 doses have to be taken within 6 hours each day and can be taken for up to 3 days if required. In the case of a heart condition, taking more than 2 sachets in any one hour is not recommended.
If you take more sachets than that is required, it can lead to excessive diarrhoea, which can develop severe dehydration. Taking Movicol must be immediately stopped and a lot of fluids must be taken. If a dose is forgotten, take it immediately after you remember it and continue the treatment as before.
Movicol is a laxative that is to be taken in the form of oral solution. Movicol being an inert substance passes through the gut without getting absorbed by the body. It prevents the water it is taken with from being absorbed into the body, thereby increasing the water content in the bowels. This increases the volume of the stools in the bowel, also making them softer at the same time to pass through.
