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.
Mintec Capsules
⚠ 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 Peppermint oil 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 Mintec capsules contain a naturally occurring oil extracted from the peppermint plant which is used to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Mintec relaxes spasm in the muscle of the bowel wall and helps restore normal bowel contractions. This helps to decrease the trapping of air and other bowel contents and relieves abdominal bloating, wind, discomfort and pain. 2. BEFORE YOU TAKE MINTEC Do not take Mintec if you are: • •
allergic to peppermint oil or to any of the other ingredients in Mintec (see Section 6 'Further information') allergic to aspirin or aspirin-like medicines.
Take special care with Mintec if you: • • • • • • • • •
are aged 40 years or over, and it is some time since your last attack notice your symptoms have changed have passed blood from the bowel have suffered abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge have severe constipation have difficulty or pain in passing urine are suffering from nausea or vomiting have lost your appetite, or lost weight are pale and tired
• • •
have recently had fever are pregnant or possibly pregnant have recently travelled abroad
If any of the above applies to you, please check with your pharmacist before taking Mintec. If you suffer from pre-existing heartburn, the symptoms may worsen. Taking other medicines Mintec is not known to interact with any other medicinal products. Please ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. Taking with food or drink Take Mintec preferably before food, with a little liquid. Do not take Mintec immediately after food. Skin rash, slow heartbeat, or trembling and unsteadiness are rare allergic reactions which may occur when Mintec is taken with alcohol (see Section 4 'Possible side effects').
Pregnancy and breastfeeding Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you
- are pregnant,
- think you might be pregnant,
- are thinking of becoming pregnant, before taking Mintec. Important information about some of the ingredients of Mintec Mintec contains sorbitol (E420). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
How to take it
MINTEC Swallow the capsules whole with a little liquid. Do not break or chew them. Adults and elderly:
Children:
Take one capsule three times a day, preferably before meals. Do not take the capsules immediately after food (see Section 2 'Before you take Mintec'). If your symptoms are particularly severe, the dose may be increased to two capsules three times a day. Mintec should be taken until your symptoms resolve, but may be continued for up to 3 months. Mintec is not recommended for use in children
If you experience new symptoms, worsening of your condition or notice no improvement after two weeks of treatment, please see your doctor.
If you take more than you should If you accidentally take more Mintec than you should, contact your doctor or emergency department as soon as possible. Take the packet and any remaining capsules with you. If you forget to take Mintec If you forget to take a dose, leave out that dose completely. Take your next dose when it is due. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Mintec can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Heartburn may occur. If you develop this symptom, stop taking the capsules and see your doctor. Rarely, allergic reactions to Mintec have been reported, including:
- skin rashes
- slow heartbeat
- trembling and unsteadiness. These may also occur if Mintec is taken with alcohol. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can also provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
How to store it
MINTEC Keep out of the reach and sight of children. Do not use Mintec after the expiry date ('EXP') which is printed on the pack. Store Mintec at room temperature (not above 25°C) in the original package to protect from light. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment. 6. FURTHER INFORMATION What Mintec contains Each capsule contains 0.2 ml naturally occurring peppermint oil from the peppermint plant as the active ingredient. The capsule shell contains gelatin, sorbitol (E420), glycerol, titanium dioxide (E171) and sodium copper chlorophyllin (E141). The capsule coating contains methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate-copolymer (1:1), polysorbate 80, sodium laurylsulfate, propylene glycol, glycerolmonosterate,
What Mintec looks like and contents of the pack The soft capsules are coloured half green and half white. The capsules are contained in blister strips. Each pack contains 84 capsules. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder Teofarma S.r.l., Via F.lli Cervi, 8, 27010 Valle Salimbene (PV), Italy
Manufacturer Catalent Germany Eberbach GmbH, Gammelsbacher Strasse 2, 69412 Eberbach, Germany.
This leaflet was last updated in December 2023
- Trade Mark
Frequently asked questions about Mintec Capsules
How do I take Mintec Capsules?
Mintec Capsules comes as capsule. 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 Mintec Capsules?
The active substance in Mintec Capsules is peppermint oil.
Are there equivalent medicines to Mintec Capsules?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Colpermin IBS Relief Capsules. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Mintec Capsules, 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 Mintec Capsules 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: peppermint oil
- 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
Symptomatic relief of irritable bowel or spastic colon syndrome.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Adults: one capsule orally three times a day, preferably before meals with a small quantity of water, but not immediately after food. The capsules must not be broken or chewed.
When symptoms are more severe, the dose may be increased to two capsules three times a day.
Mintec should be taken until symptoms resolve, but may be continued for up to 2 to 3 months.
Elderly: Dose as for adults.
Paediatric patients: Mintec is not recommended for children.
4.3. Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to peppermint oil, salicylates or to any other excipients of Mintec.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
If this is the first occurrence of these symptoms, a doctor should be consulted before self medication begins, to confirm the appropriateness of the treatment.
Before beginning self medication, a doctor should be consulted if:
The patient is over 40 years old and it is some time since the last attack of irritable bowel or spastic colon syndrome, or the symptoms have changed; blood has been passed from the bowel; the patient has experienced nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite or loss of weight, paleness and tiredness, severe constipation, fever, abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, difficulty or pain in passing urine.
If the patient has recently travelled abroad, or is pregnant or possibly pregnant, they should consult their doctor prior to self medication.
If there are new symptoms or worsening of the condition or failure to improve over two weeks of treatment, the patient should consult their doctor.
In patients with pre-existing heartburn, symptoms may be exacerbated.
Mintec capsules contain sorbitol (E420) therefore, patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None known.
4.6. Pregnancy and lactation
The usual precautions concerning the administration of any drug during pregnancy should be observed.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Mintec has no known influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Heartburn, and rarely allergic reactions including erythematous skin rash, bradycardia, muscle tremor and ataxia, which may also occur in association with alcohol.
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, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
4.9. Overdose
Treatment consists of gastric lavage, together with symptomatic and supportive measures.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Mintec Capsules. 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.