Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Folic acid may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for
What Lexpec looks like and contents of the pack A pale yellow liquid with an odour of strawberry. It comes in a brown glass bottle holding 150ml of solution.
The name of your medicine is Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution (called Lexpec in this leaflet). It contains folic acid. This belongs to a group of vitamins called 'B vitamins'. Lexpec is used for the following: n Anaemia which can be caused by:
- a lack of vitamins in adults and children
- pregnancy
- an addiction to alcohol
- a medicine that is used to control fits n Sickle Cell Anaemia or other anaemias caused by a lack of red blood cells n Illnesses called 'Tropical and Non-tropical Sprue'. In these illnesses parts of your food cannot be absorbed by the gut n Coeliac disease. This is an illness where your body cannot digest gluten.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Yorkdale Industrial Park, Braithwaite Street, Leeds, LS11 9XE, UK. This leaflet was last revised in 07/2020
2. What do you need to know before you take Lexpec Do not take Lexpec and tell your doctor if: n You are allergic (hypersensitive) to folic acid or any of the other ingredients in this liquid (listed in Section 6 below) Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash, itching or shortness of breath n You have a tumour or cancer If any of the above apply to you, do not take this medicine and talk to your doctor. Continued overleaf
D2PD1RBJ2
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JOB SPECIFICATION
Product Name:
Keyline Ref:
UKL412
Pharmacode:
615
Lexpec® 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution
Dimensions:
120 x 300mm
EAN Code:
N/A
APPROVALS
Folded Size:
30 x 150mm
No. of Colours: 1
Strength:
2.5mg/5ml
New Item Code:
D2PD1RBJ2
Tabbed:
NO
Page Number:
Pack Size:
150ml
Previous Item Code:
D2PD1RBJ1
MAIN BODY TEXT
150ml
Supplier Code:
N/A
Font Type:
Font Size:
Change Control No.:
1292006
Univers Roman Univers Bold
10pt
PREFLIGHT VERSION:
Bottle Size:
Date:
Date:
COLOURS
08/07/20
–
Operator:
Operator:
NH
–
–
70
JOB INFORMATION
ARTWORK VERSION:
1
60
Design Icon: N/A
Print Colours:
1 of 2
Third Party Approval Required
TICK APPLICABLE BOX
PANTONE
PANTONE
Non-print Colours:
Signature: Authority Approval Supplied
YES
N/A
Date: TICK APPLICABLE BOX
Regulatory Sign-off
KEYLINE
NO
Name:
Name: BLACK
YES
Signature:
Date:
Contents of the pack and other information
What Lexpec contains n The active substance is folic acid. n The other ingredients are mannitol (E421), glycerol (E422), methyl hydroxybenzoate (E218), ethyl hydroxybenzoate (E214), propyl hydroxybenzoate (E216), sodium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate (E339), strawberry flavour (containing propylene glycol (E1520)), di-sodiumethylenediamine tetra acetic acid and purified water
Frequently asked questions about Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution
How do I take Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution?
Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution comes as oral solution containing 2.5mg / 5ml. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution?
The active substance in Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution is folic acid.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: folic acid
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
1. Folate deficient megaloblastic anaemia
2. Folate deficient megaloblastic anaemia in infants
3. Malabsorption syndromes
3.1 Tropical sprue
3.2 Coeliac disease
3.3 Non-tropical sprue
4. Megaloblastic anaemia in pregnancy
5. Megaloblastic anaemia associated with alcoholism
6. Megaloblastic anaemia associated with anti-convulsant therapy
7. Haemolytic anaemias e.g. Sickle Cell Anaemia
4.2. Posology and method of administration
For oral administration only.
Children:
May be given 5mg to 15mg daily, in divided doses, according to the severity of the deficiency state.
Adults:
Initial dose of 10mg to 20mg daily, in divided doses, for 14 days or until a haematopoietic response has been obtained.
Maintenance dose is 2.5mg to 10mg daily.
Prophylactic dose in pregnancy 0.5mg (1ml) daily.
Elderly:
As for adults.
4.3. Contraindications
Known hypersensitivity to folic acid.
Known hypersensitivity to hydroxybenzoate esters.
Patients with folate dependent tumours.
Patients with malignant disease, unless megaloblastic anaemia due to folic acid deficiency
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
If folic acid is used indiscriminately, there is a danger that patients with pernicious anaemia and other B12 deficiency states, despite a haematological remission, may develop irreparable neurological lesions. Therefore a full clinical diagnosis should be made before initiating treatment.
Folic acid is removed by haemodialysis.
Excipients in the Formulation
- Methyl and propyl hydroxybenzoates are contained in this product which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
- Propylene glycol (E1520) 14.5 mg in each 5ml. Co-administration with any substrate for alcohol dehydrogenase such as ethanol may induce serious adverse effects in neonates.
- This medicinal product contains 10.4 mg sodium per 5ml, equivalent to 0.5% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Antiepileptics – if folic acid supplements are given to treat folate deficiency, which can be caused by the use of antiepileptics (phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone), the serum antiepileptic levels may fall, leading to decreased seizure control in some patients.
Antibacterials – chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole may interfere with folate metabolism.
Sulfasalazine - can reduce the absorption of folic acid.
Folic acid may interfere with the toxic and therapeutic effects of methotrexate.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
There are no known hazards to the use of folic acid, indeed folic acid supplements are often necessary in pregnancy.
Folic acid is excreted in breast milk.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
There are no known effects of this preparation on the ability to drive or use machines.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Allergic reactions to folic acid have been reported. Frequency not known: anaphylactic reaction.
Mild gastro-intestinal upsets are rare but may occur
4.9. Overdose
No cases of acute overdosage appear to have been reported, but even extremely high doses are unlikely to cause harm to patients.
🇷🇴 Known in Romania as
Medicines sold in Romania with the same active substance: Cunoscut în România ca
- ACIFOL 5 mg prescriptionACIDUM FOLICUM · taken by mouth
Same active substance. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Romanian medicines in the UK →
🇵🇱 Known in Poland as
Medicines sold in Poland with the same active substance: W Polsce znany jako
- Acidum folicum RichterAcidum folicum · taken by mouth
- FolikAcidum folicum · taken by mouth
- FolacidAcidum folicum hydricum · taken by mouth
- Folacid 0,4 mgAcidum folicum · taken by mouth
- Acidum folicum HascoAcidum folicum hydricum · taken by mouth
- Kwas foliowy OLIMPAcidum folicum · taken by mouth
Same active substance. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Polish medicines in the UK →
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Lexpec 2.5mg/5ml Oral Solution. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.