4.1. Therapeutic indications

Indicated for the relief of nasal, sinus and upper respiratory congestion.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

For oral administration.

Adults and children over 12 years:

Two 5ml spoonfuls three times daily.

Elderly:

Adult dose is appropriate.

4.3. Contraindications

Care Decongestant Oral Liquid should not be used in patients hypersensitive to pseudoephedrine, or any of the other ingredients.

Patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors or who have received these agents in the last two weeks. Patients using other sympathomimetic decongestants or beta-blockers. (See Section 4.5).

Patients with cardiovascular disease including ischaemic heart disease, occlusive vascular disease and hypertension.

Children under 12 years of age.

Patients with:

• Severe renal impairment

• Phaeochromocytoma

• Diabetes

• Hyperthyroidism

• Closed angle glaucoma.

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Caution should be used in prescribing Care Decongestant Oral Liquid for patients with prostatic enlargement or bladder dysfunction.

Also use with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment, or with mild to moderate renal impairment.

If any of the following occur, Care Decongestant Oral Liquid should be stopped

• Hallucinations

• Restlessness

• Sleep disturbances.

Do not exceed the stated dose.

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not take with other cough and cold medicines.

Do not give to children under 12 years.

Severe Skin reactions

Severe skin reactions such as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) may occur with pseudoephedrine-containing products. This acute pustular eruption may occur within the first 2 days of treatment, with fever, and numerous, small, mostly non-follicular pustules arising on a widespread oedematous erythema and mainly localized on the skin folds, trunk, and upper extremities. Patients should be carefully monitored. If signs and symptoms such as pyrexia, erythema, or many small pustules are observed, administration of this product should be discontinued and appropriate measures taken if needed.

Ischaemic colitis

Some cases of ischaemic colitis have been reported with pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine should be discontinued and medical advice sought if sudden abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or other symptoms of ischaemic colitis develop.

Ischaemic optic neuropathy

Cases of ischaemic optic neuropathy have been reported with pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine should be discontinued if sudden loss of vision or decreased visual acuity such as scotoma occurs.

Excipient warnings:

Care Decongestant Oral Liquid contains Amaranth (E123) and Sunset Yellow (E110) which may cause allergic reactions. Sodium Hydroxybenzoates (E215, E217 & E219) may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).

This medicine contains 154mg of alcohol (ethanol) in each 10ml dose, which is equivalent to 1.9% v/v. The amount in 10ml of this medicine is equivalent to 4ml beer or 2ml wine. The small amount of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.

This medicine contains less then 1mmol sodium (23mg) per 10ml dose, that is to say essentially “sodium free”.

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

Caution should be exercised with patients receiving other sympathomimetic agents (e.g. avoid use with apraclonidine), appetite suppressants or amphetamine –like psychostimulants, as there is risk of hypertension.

Pseudoephedrine may antagonise the pressor effects of antihypertensive agents, such as adrenergic neurone blockers, and severe hypertension may occur in patients receiving beta-blockers. Hypertensive crisis may occur if pseudoephedrine is co-administered with MAOIs. Concomitant use of pseudoephedrine should be avoided with MAOIs including rasagiline and selegiline, or RIMAs such as moclobemide.

There may be an increased risk of arrhythmias if pseudoephedrine is given to patients receiving cardiac glycosides, quinidine, volatile anaesthetics such as cyclopropane or halothane, or anticholinergic drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants. Pseudoephedrine also increases the risk of ergotism if used with ergot alkaloids, ergotamine and methysergide.

The effects of pseudoephedrine may be antagonised by antipsychotics and its absorption rate may be reduced by kaolin.

The effects of pseudoephedrine may be increased by doxapram and oxytocin (as there is a risk of hypertension) and its absorption may be increased by aluminium hydroxide.

The antibacterial agent furazolidone is known to cause progressive inhibition of monoamine oxidase (a metabolite of furazolidone is a MAOI). Although there have been no reports of hypertensive crisis, it may not be administered concurrently with Care Decongestant Oral Liquid.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

There are limited data from the use of pseudoephedrine in pregnant women. It is advised that pseudoephedrine should be avoided during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester, as defective closure of the abdominal wall (gastroschisis) has been reported very rarely in new-borns after first trimester exposure.

Pseudoephedrine has been detected in human milk with a small percentage of the total maternal dose potentially administered to the suckling infant. The use of pseudoephedrine should be avoided during breast feeding as lactation may be suppressed, and irritability and disturbed sleep have been reported in breast fed infants.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

None stated.

4.8. Undesirable effects

The following side effects may be associated with the use of pseudoephedrine:

(frequencies not known: cannot be estimated from the available data).

Immune system disorders:

Hypersensitivity reactions – cross-sensitivity may occur with other sympathomimetics.

Psychiatric disorders:

Hallucinations (particularly in children), insomnia, sleep disturbances, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, excitability, psychotic disorder has occurred rarely following misuse of pseudoephedrine.

Nervous system disorders:

Headache, tremor, dry mouth.

Eye disorders:

Angle-closure glaucoma, ischaemic optic neuropathy.

Cardiac disorders:

Tachycardia, palpitations, arrhythmia.

Vascular disorders:

Hypertension, impaired circulation to the extremities.

Gastrointestinal disorders:

Nausea, vomiting, ischaemic colitis.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

Severe skin reactions, including acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). Fixed drug eruption in the form of erythematous nodular patches, rash.

Renal and urinary disorders:

Urinary retention.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting 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 at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for 'MHRA Yellow Card' in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

The symptoms of overdose include irritability, nervousness, tremor, palpitations, convulsions, urinary retention, hypertension, restlessness, dry mouth, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias and possible tolerance to pseudoephedrine.

Overdose should be treated by general supportive measures. Respiratory and circulatory function should be maintained by supportive measures. Catheterisation of the bladder may be required.

The benefit of gastric decontamination is uncertain. Consider activated charcoal (charcoal dose: 50 g for adults; 1g/kg for children). Optimal effects are within 1 hour of ingestion of more than a toxic dose. Volunteer studies suggest that there is reduced absorption within 2 hours and efficacy declines thereafter. Alternatively consider gastric lavage in adults within 1 hour of a potentially life-threatening overdose. Monitor pulse, blood pressure and cardiac rhythm. Treat any hypertension or convulsions as necessary.

Asymptomatic patients should be observed for 4 hours or 8 hours if a slow release product has been taken.