Slow Sodium

⚠ 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 Sodium chloride may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.

Active substance: Sodium chloride

Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc)

Official leaflet: Read the PIL on emc

What it is and what it is used for

FOR

Slow Sodium contains the active substance sodium chloride (salt) in a special slow-release form. Slow Sodium is used for the treatment and prevention of sodium chloride deficiency.

Outer Bottle Label Sodium Chloride For the treatment and prevention of sodium chloride deficiency. Dose Adults: To prevent sodium chloride deficiency: 4-8 tablets per day. For cases of severe salt loss: Up to 20 tablets per day. To control muscle cramps during haemodialysis: 10-16 tablets. Children: As directed by a doctor. Each tablet should be swallowed whole with approx. 70ml of water and not chewed.

Slow Sodium S

What you need to know before you take it

E SLOW SODIUM Do not take Slow Sodium if you:

are allergic to sodium chloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6)
have fluid retention
have heart disease or failure
have aldosteronism (a condition where too much aldosterone [a hormone] is produced)
are having treatment to produce salt and water loss, usually if you have fluid retention or heart failure or have high blood pressure.

Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Slow Sodium if you:

have a condition of the intestines, where narrowing may occur e.g. Crohn's disease, diverticulitis or stricture (band) formation (usually after major abdominal surgery).
think you may have a problem drinking enough water. Other medicines and Slow Sodium Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. In particular, sodium chloride may affect medicines (e.g. furosemide, bumetanide, metolazone) used to treat high blood pressure particularly if you also have a kidney disorder. It may still be all right for you to be given Slow Sodium and your doctor will be able to decide what is suitable for you.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines Sodium chloride should have no effect on your ability to drive and use machines.

How to take it

SLOW SODIUM Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Dosage The recommended dose is: Adults: To prevent sodium chloride deficiency: 4-8 tablets per day. For cases of severe salt loss: Up to 20 tablets per day. To control muscle cramps during haemodialysis (treatment with a kidney machine): 10-16 tablets. Use in children and adolescents: The dose will be adjusted to the child's needs. The tablets should be swallowed whole with water (about 70ml per tablet) and not chewed. If you take more Slow Sodium than you should, you may feel dizzy, weak, restless, delirious and / or thirsty, have a headache, breathing problems, high blood pressure or a rapid heartbeat. If you have taken too many tablets, tell your doctor straight away or go to the nearest casualty department immediately, taking the tablet container with you.

Outer Bottle Label – To display Braille 100 tablets Read the package leaflet before use. Keep out of the sight and reach of children. Store in the original container in order to protect from moisture. Store below 30°C. Each prolonged-release tablet contains 600mg sodium chloride equivalent to approx. 10mEq of Na+ (230mg Na).

PL 44490/0004 ALTURIX Ltd 287 Upper Fourth Street Milton Keynes, MK9 1EH UK Only

Sodium Chloride For the treatment and prevention of sodium chloride deficiency. Dose Adults: To prevent sodium chloride deficiency: 4-8 tablets per day. For cases of severe salt loss: Up to 20 tablets per day. To control muscle cramps during haemodialysis: 10-16 tablets. Children: As directed by a doctor. Each tablet should be swallowed whole with approx. 70ml of water and not chewed.

100 tablets Read the package leaflet before use. Keep out of the sight and reach of children. Store in the original container in order to protect from moisture. Store below 30°C. Each prolonged-release tablet contains 600mg sodium chloride equivalent to approx. 10mEq of Na+ (230mg Na).

PL 44490/0004 ALTURIX Ltd 287 Upper Fourth Street Milton Keynes, MK9 1EH UK Only

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
Official document: view the original leaflet →

Medical disclaimer: This page is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the leaflet supplied with your medicine.

Medicines with the same active substance: Sodium chloride (98 medicines)

See every medicine containing this substance, or browse the full A–Z of active substances.

⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+

Technical information intended for healthcare professionals (doctors and pharmacists). The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) is the official document approved by the MHRA/EMA. It does not replace the patient leaflet or a doctor’s advice.

4.1. Therapeutic indications

For the treatment and prophylaxis of sodium chloride deficiency.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adults: For prophylaxis 4-8 tablets per day. For treatment dosage should be adjusted to individual needs up to a maximum of 20 tablets per day in cases of severe salt depletion. For control of muscle cramps during routine maintenance haemodialysis usually 10-16 tablets per dialysis. In some cases of chronic renal salt-wasting up to 20 tablets per day may be required with appropriate fluid intake.

Children: Dosage should be adjusted to individual needs.

Elderly: No special dosage adjustment.

Method of administration

It is important that the tablets should be swallowed whole with water (approx. 70ml per tablet where kidney function is normal to avoid hypernatraemia), and not chewed.

4.3. Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1

• Any situation where salt retention is undesirable, such as oedema, heart disease, cardiac decompensation and primary or secondary aldosteronism; or where therapy is being given to produce salt and water loss.

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Warnings: None

Precautions: Administration of sodium chloride without adequate water supplementation can produce hypernatraemia.

The matrix (ghost) is often eliminated intact and owing to the risk of obstruction, Slow Sodium should not be given to patients suffering from Crohn's disease or any other intestinal condition where strictures or diverticula may form.

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

In hypertensive patients with chronic renal failure, sodium chloride may tend to impair the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Sodium chloride is not expected to have an adverse effect on fertility, pregnancy and lactation at therapeutic doses.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

This medicinal product has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8. Undesirable effects

No side effects have been reported with Slow Sodium at the recommended dosage.

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 or search for 'MHRA Yellow Card' in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Signs and symptoms. Excessive intake of sodium chloride can result in hypernatraemia. Symptoms of hypernatraemia include restlessness, weakness, thirst, reduced salivation and lachrymation, swollen tongue, flushing of the skin, pyrexia, dizziness, headache, oliguria, hypertension, tachycardia, delirium, hyperpnoea and respiratory arrest.

Treatment. Treatment requires the use of sodium-free liquids and the cessation of excessive sodium intake. In the event of a significant overdose serum sodium levels should be evaluated as soon as possible and appropriate steps taken to correct any abnormalities. The use of a loop diuretic e.g. frusemide (with potassium supplementation as required) may be appropriate in severe cases of hypernatraemia. Levels should be monitored until they return to normal.

💬 Ask about this leaflet

Ask anything about Slow Sodium. 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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