Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
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 Macrogol 3350, Potassium chloride, Sodium chloride, Sodium hydrogen carbonate may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
for The name of this product is Movicol Chocolate 13.7g powder for oral solution. It is a laxative for the treatment of constipation in adults, adolescents and elderly. It is not recommended for children below 12 years of age. Movicol Chocolate helps you to have a comfortable bowel movement even if you have been constipated for a long time. Movicol Chocolate also works in very bad constipation known as faecal impaction.
e Movicol Chocolate Do not take Movicol Chocolate if your doctor has told you that you have:
Heart conditions Follow the special instructions in section 3 if you are taking Movicol Chocolate for faecal impaction. Other medicines and Movicol Chocolate Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines e.g. anti-epileptics may not work as effectively during use with Movicol Chocolate. You should not take any other medicines by mouth together with Movicol Chocolate and for one hour before and for one hour after taking Movicol Chocolate. If you need to thicken fluids in order to swallow them safely, Movicol Chocolate may counteract the effect of the thickener. Pregnancy and breast feeding Movicol Chocolate can be taken during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice before taking Movicol Chocolate. Driving and using machines Movicol Chocolate does not affect your ability to drive or use machines. Movicol Chocolate contains benzyl alcohol Movicol Chocolate contains 14.1 mg of benzyl alcohol per sachet. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you have a liver or kidney disease, are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because large amounts of benzyl alcohol can buildup in your body and may cause side effects (called "metabolic acidosis"). Movicol Chocolate contains sodium Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you need 3 or more sachets daily for a prolonged period, especially if you have been advised to follow a low salt (sodium) diet. Movicol Chocolate contains 186.87 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) per sachet. This is equivalent to 9.3% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.
Movicol Chocolate This medicine can be taken any time with or without food. Dissolve the content of each sachet in 125ml (1/4 pint) of water and drink. Constipation: 2
A dose of Movicol Chocolate is 1 sachet dissolved in 125 ml (1/4 pint) of water. Take this 1-3 times a day according to the severity of your constipation. Faecal Impaction: Before you take Movicol Chocolate for faecal impaction, it should be confirmed that you have this condition. A dose of 8 sachets a day of Movicol Chocolate is needed for the treatment of faecal impaction. Each sachet dissolved in 125 ml (1/4 pint) of water. The 8 sachets should be taken within 6 hours for up to 3 days if required. If you have a heart condition, do not take more than 2 sachets in any one hour. How to mix: Open the sachet and pour the contents into a glass. Add about 125 ml or 1⁄4 pint of water to the glass. Stir well until all the powder has dissolved and the Movicol Chocolate solution is clear or slightly hazy, then drink it. If you are taking Movicol Chocolate for faecal impaction it may be easier to dissolve 8 sachets in 1 litre of water. Duration of treatment Constipation: Treatment with Movicol Chocolate usually lasts for about 2 weeks. If you need to take Movicol Chocolate for longer, please see your doctor. If your constipation is caused by an illness such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis (MS), or if you take medicines that cause constipation your doctor may recommend that you take Movicol Chocolate for longer than 2 weeks. If you need to take Movicol Chocolate for longer, please see your doctor. Usually for long term treatment the dose can be lowered to either 1 or 2 sachets a day. Faecal impaction: Treatment with Movicol Chocolate can be for up to 3 days. If you take more Movicol Chocolate than you should You may develop excessive diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration. If this occurs, stop taking Movicol Chocolate and drink plenty of fluids. If you are worried contact your doctor or pharmacist. If you forget to take Movicol Chocolate Take the dose as soon as you remember to take it. 4. Possible side effects Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Tell your doctor immediately and stop taking Movicol Chocolate if you: 3
not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Movicol Chocolate Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use Movicol Chocolate after the expiry date which is stated on the sachet and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions. Once you have made up Movicol Chocolate in water, if you cannot drink it straight away, keep it covered and in the fridge (2°C – 8°C). Throw away any solution not used within a 6 hour period. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
What Movicol Chocolate contains Each sachet of Movicol Chocolate contains the following: Macrogol 3350 13.125g Sodium Chloride 0.3507g Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate 0.1785g Potassium Chloride 0.0317g 4
Movicol Chocolate also contains chocolate flavour, and acesulfame potassium E950 as a sweetener. Chocolate flavour contains the following ingredients maltodextrin (potato), gum arabic/acacia gum E414, vegetable oils and fats (coconut), propylene glycol E1520 and benzyl alcohol E1519 (see section 2 "Movicol Chocolate contains benzyl alcohol"). When it is made into a drink with 125 millilitres of water each sachet gives the equivalent of: Sodium 65 millimoles/litre Chloride 51 millimoles/litre Potassium 5.4 millimoles/litre Hydrogen Carbonate 17 millimoles/litre What Movicol Chocolate looks like and the contents of the pack Movicol Chocolate is available in rectangular sachets and tubular (stick-pack) sachets. Movicol Chocolate is a white to light brown powder. Movicol Chocolate is available in boxes of 20 or 30 sachets. Not all sachets and pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder Norgine Limited, New Road, Tir-Y-Berth, Hengoed, Wales, CF82 8SJ, UK Manufacturer: Norgine Limited, New Road, Hengoed, Mid Glamorgan, CF82 8SJ, UK. Or Norgine B.V., Antonio Vivaldistraat 150, 1083 HP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Or Meribel Pharma Höganäs AB, Sporthallsvägen 6, 263 35 Höganäs, Sweden. This leaflet was last revised in 12/2025. Other sources of information If you need the information on this leaflet in an alternative format, such as large print, or Braille please ring 0800 198 5000.
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Movicol Chocolate 13.7g powder for oral solution comes as oral solution containing 13.7g. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The active substance in Movicol Chocolate 13.7g powder for oral solution is macrogol 3350, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate.
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: MOVICOL Plain 13.7g, powder for oral solution. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Movicol Chocolate 13.7g powder for 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.
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.
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
For the treatment of chronic constipation in adults and children above the age of 12.
Movicol Chocolate is also effective in resolving faecal impaction, defined as refractory constipation with faecal loading of the rectum and/or colon.
Posology
Chronic Constipation
A course of treatment for constipation with Movicol Chocolate does not normally exceed two weeks, although this can be repeated if required.
As for all laxatives, prolonged use is not usually recommended. Extended use may be necessary in the care of patients with severe chronic or resistant constipation, secondary to multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's Disease, or induced by regular constipating medication, in particular opioids and antimuscarinics.
Adults, adolescents and older people: 1-3 sachets daily in divided doses, according to individual response.
For extended use, the dose can be adjusted down to 1 or 2 sachets daily.
Children under 12 years of age: Not recommended. Alternative Movicol products are available for children.
Faecal impaction
A course of treatment for faecal impaction with Movicol Chocolate does not normally exceed 3 days.
Adults, adolescents and older people: 8 sachets daily, all of which should be consumed within a 6 hour period.
Children under 12 years of age: Not recommended. Alternative Movicol products are available for children.
Patients with impaired cardiovascular function: For the treatment of faecal impaction the dose should be divided so that no more than two sachets are taken in any one hour.
Patients with renal insufficiency: No dosage change is necessary for treatment of either constipation or faecal impaction (see section 4.4 for warning about excipients)
Method of administration
Each sachet should be dissolved in 125ml water. For use in faecal impaction 8 sachets may be dissolved in 1 litre of water.
Intestinal perforation or obstruction due to structural or functional disorder of the gut wall, ileus, severe inflammatory conditions of the intestinal tract, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and toxic megacolon.
Hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
The fluid content of Movicol Chocolate when re-constituted with water does not replace regular fluid intake and adequate fluid intake must be maintained.
Diagnosis of impaction/ faecal loading of the rectum should be confirmed by physical or radiological examination of the abdomen and rectum.
If patients develop any symptoms indicating shifts of fluid/electrolytes (e.g. oedema, shortness of breath, increasing fatigue, dehydration, cardiac failure) Movicol Chocolate should be stopped immediately and electrolytes measured, and any abnormality should be treated appropriately.
The absorption of other medicinal products could transiently be reduced due to an increase in gastro-intestinal transit rate induced by Movicol Chocolate (see section 4.5).
Movicol Chocolate contains 14.1 mg benzyl alcohol per sachet. Benzyl alcohol may cause anaphylactoid reactions.
High volumes of benzyl alcohol should be used with caution and only if necessary, especially in subjects with kidney or liver impairment and during pregnancy/ breast feeding because of the risk of accumulation and toxicity (metabolic acidosis) of benzyl alcohol.
This medicinal product contains 8.125 mmol sodium per dose, equivalent to 9.3% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium. When used long term for constipation, the maximum daily dose of this product is equivalent to 28% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake for sodium. Movicol Chocolate is considered high in sodium. This should be particularly taken into account for those on a low salt diet.
In patients with swallowing problems, who need the addition of a thickener to solutions to enhance an appropriate intake, interactions should be considered, see section 4.5.
Clinical interactions with other drugs have been reported extremely rarely. No specific reactions with individual drugs or classes of drugs have been observed.
Macrogol raises the solubility of medicinal products that are soluble in alcohol and relatively insoluble in water (i.e. substances that have a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic pole in their molecular structure).
There is a possibility that the absorption of other medicinal products could be transiently reduced during use with Movicol Chocolate (see section 4.4). There have been isolated reports of decreased efficacy with some concomitantly administered medicinal products, e.g. anti-epileptics. Therefore, other medicines should not be taken orally for one hour before, during and for one hour after taking Movicol Chocolate.
Movicol Chocolate may result in a potential interactive effect if used with starch-based food thickeners. The Macrogol ingredient counteracts the thickening effect of starch, effectively liquefying preparations that need to remain thick for people with swallowing problems.
Pregnancy
There are limited amount of data from the use of Movicol in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown indirect reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). Clinically, no effects during pregnancy are anticipated, since systemic exposure to macrogol 3350 is negligible.
Movicol can be used during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
No effects on the breastfed newborn/infant are anticipated since the systemic exposure of the breast-feeding woman to Macrogol 3350 is negligible.
Movicol can be used during breast-feeding.
Fertility
There are no data on the effects of Movicol on fertility in humans. There were no effects on fertility in studies in male and female rats (see section 5.3).
Movicol Chocolate has no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
Reactions related to the gastrointestinal tract occur most commonly.
These reactions may occur as a consequence of expansion of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract, and an increase in motility due to the pharmacologic effects of Movicol. Mild diarrhoea usually responds to dose reduction.
The frequency of the adverse effects is not known as it cannot be estimated from the available data.
System Organ Class
Adverse Event
Immune system disorders
Allergic reactions, including anaphylactic reaction, dyspnoea, and skin reactions (see below).
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Allergic skin reactions including angioedema, urticaria, pruritus, rash, erythema.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Electrolyte disturbances, particularly hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia.
Nervous system disorders
Headache.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, dyspepsia, abdominal distension, borborygmi, flatulence and anorectal discomfort.
General disorders and administration site conditions
Peripheral oedema.
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 Yellow Card Scheme Website www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Severe abdominal pain or distension can be treated by nasogastric aspiration. Extensive fluid loss by diarrhoea or vomiting may require correction of electrolyte disturbances.
Ask anything about Movicol Chocolate 13.7g powder for 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.
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