What is the difference between movicol and macrogol

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice. Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else might have taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital.

Take the container with you, even if it is empty. This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours. If you are having an operation or any dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking.

If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with your other medicines. Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you. Manufacturer's PIL, Movicol Dated May Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.

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Age Ageing. Articles from Patient preference and adherence are provided here courtesy of Dove Press. Support Center Support Center. If you do not have a 5ml medicine spoon ask a pharmacist for one, do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount. Pour this into half a glass of water ml. Stir well until all the liquid has been evenly mixed and it looks clear, then drink it. Make sure you or your child finish the whole drink.

You can drink it in one go or sip it over 30 minutes. It might help to use a straw. You can make the mixture in advance if you need to take it to work or school. If you forget a dose of macrogol, do not worry, just take the next dose at the usual time. Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If a doctor has told you to take macrogol every day and you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask a pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

Taking an extra dose of macrogol by accident is unlikely to harm you. You may get diarrhoea and stomach pain but this should ease within a day or two. If it does not, stop taking macrogol and wait for the diarrhoea and stomach pain to pass. Like all medicines, macrogol may cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. These side effects usually get better if you reduce the amount of macrogol or after you have had a poo. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or do not go away.

Call a doctor straight away if these rare but serious side effects happen to you:. These side effects might mean that there have been changes in the electrolytes in your blood. A doctor can check this with an electrolyte test. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to macrogol.

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. These are not all the side effects of macrogol. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. Macrogol is generally safe to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Constipation is common at the end of pregnancy and just after having a baby.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's always better to try to safely treat constipation without taking a medicine. A doctor or midwife will first advise you to eat more fibre like potatoes, high-fibre cereals, wholemeal bread, brown rice or wholewheat pasta, fruit and vegetables and drink plenty of fluids. You'll also be encouraged to do gentle exercise.

If dietary and lifestyle changes do not work, you may be recommended a laxative such as macrogol. Tell a pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. Some medicines, such as epilepsy medicines like phenytoin , may not work as effectively if you use macrogol at the same time. There are no known problems mixing macrogol with herbal remedies or supplements. For safety, tell a doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Macrogol is known as an "osmotic" laxative. This means it draws water from the rest of the body into your bowel to make your poo slightly bigger and softer. You can take macrogol for as long as the constipation lasts, or for as long as the doctor has recommended. This will usually be for up to 2 weeks. The doctor may recommend that you take it for many months if you or your child has serious constipation or take medicines that cause constipation.

Usually for long-term treatment, the dose can be lowered to either 1 or 2 sachets a day. For faecal impaction, you'll usually only need to take macrogol for up to 3 days, but you may be given a lower dose to take for a little longer. Ideally, you should only take macrogol occasionally and for a few days at a time.

Using laxatives like macrogol for longer can lead to prolonged diarrhoea. Attar A et al. Gut ; 44 2 : Madsen L et al. International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing ; 14 2 Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; February Accessed 7 March