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Drug information

Celevac

OTC
Read time: 1 mins
Last updated: 04 Apr 2016

Summary of product characteristics


1. Name of the medicinal product

Celevac 500mg Tablets.Boots Appetite Control Aid 500 mg TabletsMethylcellulose 500 mg Tablets


2. Qualitative and quantitative composition

Each tablet contains 500 mg of methylcellulose. Excipients with known effect: Lactose fine (110.467 mg per tablet)For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.


3. Pharmaceutical form

Pink, biconvex tablet marked with a breakline on one face and CELEVAC on the other. ORPink, biconvex tablet marked with a breakline on one face and “METHYLC” on the other.The score line is only to facilitate breaking for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses.


4.1. Therapeutic indications

Methylcellulose is a hydrophilic colloid which absorbs water causing it to swell to a soft gel of uniform consistency.

Recommended clinical use

- In the control of colostomy, ileostomy and simple diarrhoea.- In the management of diverticular disease and ulcerative colitis.- In the management of simple constipation.- As an aid to appetite control and the treatment of obesity..


4.2. Posology and method of administration

PosologyColostomy and ileostomy control and for simple diarrhoea: 3-6 tablets twice daily with the minimum of liquid. Liquids should be avoided for 30 minutes before and after each dose. Dosage should be adjusted to give stools of the required consistency.Diverticular disease and ulcerative colitis: 3-6 tablets twice daily adjusted according to the degree of constipation (with 300 ml of liquid), diarrhoea (with a little liquid) or spastic pain.Simple constipation: 3-6 tablets twice daily to be taken with at least 300 ml of liquid. The dose may be reduced as normal bowel function is restored.As an aid to appetite control and the treatment of obesity: 3 tablets with at least 300 ml of warm liquid, half an hour before each meal and between meals when hunger pangs are severe.Method of administrationIt is recommended that the tablets should be broken in the mouth before swallowing. Celevac Tablets swell in contact with water and should therefore be swallowed carefully. It is not recommended that these tablets be taken before going to bed.


4.3. Contraindications

Celevac Tablets are contraindicated in patients:- hypersensitive to methylcellulose or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1- with imminent or threatened intestinal obstruction- with faecal impaction- who have difficulty in swallowing- with colonic atony- with infective bowel disease- with severe dehydration


4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Adequate fluid intake should be maintained to avoid intestinal obstruction. Guidance on fluid intake is stated in section 4.2.Methylcellulose should be taken with sufficient fluid to prevent faecal impaction or oesophageal obstruction (see section 4.2).Supervision may be necessary for patients who:- are elderly- are debilitated- have intestinal narrowing- have decreased intestinal motilityBowel obstruction is a rare complication of treatment with any bulk-forming hydrophilic colloid (refer also to section 4.8).Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.


4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Bulk laxatives such as oral methylcellulose lower the transit time through the gut and could affect the absorption of other drugs.


4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Although Celevac Tablets have been in wide general use for many years there is no evidence of ill consequence during human pregnancy. Medicines should not be used in pregnancy, especially the first trimester, unless the expected benefit is thought to outweigh any possible risk to the foetus.


4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not relevant.


4.8. Undesirable effects

The most commonly reported reactions with methylcellulose are of a gastrointestinal nature and include flatulence and abdominal distention.Reactions not already stated, which are attributable to bulk-forming laxatives include gastrointestinal obstruction, faecal impaction and hypersensitivity.Reporting of suspected adverse reactionsReporting of suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme, website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.


4.9. Overdose

SymptomsMethylcellulose is not absorbed. The features to be expected would be abdominal distension which may be followed by intestinal obstruction.ManagementGastric lavage should be employed where appropriate. The patient should be observed and fluid given. If obstruction develops, appropriate measures such as rectal washout must be taken.


5.1. Pharmacodynamic properties

ATC Code: A06AC06Pharmacotherapeutic group: Bulk-forming laxativeThe active ingredient is a simple bulking agent.


5.2. Pharmacokinetic properties

The active ingredient is not absorbed and hence the product cannot be described in terms of pharmacokinetics.


5.3. Preclinical safety data

None listed.


6.1. List of excipients

Lactose monohydrate

Saccharin sodium

Povidone

Erythrosine (E127)

Strawberry flavour 52.318 AP

Talc

Magnesium stearate


6.2. Incompatibilities

None listed.


6.3. Shelf life

3 years.


6.4. Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 25°C.


6.5. Nature and contents of container

Polypropylene securitainer containing 112 or 250 tablets with polyethylene cap.Not all pack sizes may be marketed.


6.6. Special precautions for disposal and other handling

No special requirements.


7. Marketing authorisation holder

Amdipharm UK LimitedCapital House, 85 King William Street,London EC4N 7BL, UK


8. Marketing authorisation number(s)

PL 20072/0045


9. Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

Date of first authorisation: 11 November 1992Date of latest renewal: 21 September 2010


10. Date of revision of the text

30/03/2016

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Methylcellulose is a hydrophilic colloid which absorbs water causing it to swell to a soft gel of uniform consistency.

Recommended clinical use

- In the control of colostomy, ileostomy and simple diarrhoea.- In the management of diverticular disease and ulcerative colitis.- In the management of simple constipation.- As an aid to appetite control and the treatment of obesity..

4.2 Posology and method of administration

PosologyColostomy and ileostomy control and for simple diarrhoea: 3-6 tablets twice daily with the minimum of liquid. Liquids should be avoided for 30 minutes before and after each dose. Dosage should be adjusted to give stools of the required consistency.Diverticular disease and ulcerative colitis: 3-6 tablets twice daily adjusted according to the degree of constipation (with 300 ml of liquid), diarrhoea (with a little liquid) or spastic pain.Simple constipation: 3-6 tablets twice daily to be taken with at least 300 ml of liquid. The dose may be reduced as normal bowel function is restored.As an aid to appetite control and the treatment of obesity: 3 tablets with at least 300 ml of warm liquid, half an hour before each meal and between meals when hunger pangs are severe.Method of administrationIt is recommended that the tablets should be broken in the mouth before swallowing. Celevac Tablets swell in contact with water and should therefore be swallowed carefully. It is not recommended that these tablets be taken before going to bed.

4.3 Contraindications

Celevac Tablets are contraindicated in patients:- hypersensitive to methylcellulose or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1- with imminent or threatened intestinal obstruction- with faecal impaction- who have difficulty in swallowing- with colonic atony- with infective bowel disease- with severe dehydration

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Adequate fluid intake should be maintained to avoid intestinal obstruction. Guidance on fluid intake is stated in section 4.2.Methylcellulose should be taken with sufficient fluid to prevent faecal impaction or oesophageal obstruction (see section 4.2).Supervision may be necessary for patients who:- are elderly- are debilitated- have intestinal narrowing- have decreased intestinal motilityBowel obstruction is a rare complication of treatment with any bulk-forming hydrophilic colloid (refer also to section 4.8).Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Bulk laxatives such as oral methylcellulose lower the transit time through the gut and could affect the absorption of other drugs.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Although Celevac Tablets have been in wide general use for many years there is no evidence of ill consequence during human pregnancy. Medicines should not be used in pregnancy, especially the first trimester, unless the expected benefit is thought to outweigh any possible risk to the foetus.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not relevant.

4.8 Undesirable effects

The most commonly reported reactions with methylcellulose are of a gastrointestinal nature and include flatulence and abdominal distention.Reactions not already stated, which are attributable to bulk-forming laxatives include gastrointestinal obstruction, faecal impaction and hypersensitivity.Reporting of suspected adverse reactionsReporting of suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme, website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

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The drug SPC information (indications, contra-indications, interactions, etc), has been developed in collaboration with eMC (www.medicines.org.uk/emc/). Medthority offers the whole library of SPC documents from eMC.

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Reporting of suspected adverse reactions 

Drug Licencing

Drugs appearing in this section are approved by UK Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), & the European Medicines Agency (EMA).