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Drug Details

Gaviscon Double Action Aniseed

• Presentation
  Oral suspension. Opaque, off-white to cream viscous suspension.
• Description
  Each 10 ml dose contains sodium alginate 500 mg, sodium bicarbonate 213 mg and calcium carbonate 325 mg. Excipients : Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216).
• Indications
  

  Treatment of symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux such as acid regurgitation, heartburn and indigestion, for example following meals or during pregnancy, and for symptoms of excess stomach acid (hyperacidity).

• Adult Dosage
  

  For oral administration.

  Adults and children 12 years and over: 10-20 ml after meals and at bedtime, up to four times per day.

  Children under 12 years: Should be given only on medical advice.

  Elderly: No dose modifications necessary for this age group.

• Contra Indications
  

  Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients, including the esters of hydroxybenzoates (parabens).

• Special Precautions
  

  Each 20 ml dose has a sodium content of 254.5 mg (11.06 mmol). This should be taken into account when a highly restricted salt diet is recommended, e.g. in some cases of congestive cardiac failure and renal impairment.

  Each 20 ml contains 260 mg (6.5 mmol) of calcium. Care needs to be taken in treating patients with hypercalcaemia, nephrocalcinosis and recurrent calcium containing renal calculi.

  Treatment of children younger than 12 years of age is not generally recommended, except on medical advice.

  If symptoms do not improve after seven days, the clinical situation should be reviewed.

• Interactions
  

  Due to the presence of calcium carbonate which act as an antacid, a time-interval of 2 hours should be considered between Gaviscon intake an the administration of other medicinal products, especially H2-antihistaminics tetracyclines, digoxine, fluoroquinolone, iron salt, ketoconazole, neuroleptics, thyroxine, penicilamine, beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propanolol), glucocorticoid, chloroquine, and diphosphonates.

• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  Very rarely (<1/10,000) patients sensitive to the ingredients may develop allergic manifestations such as urticaria or bronchospasm, anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions.

  Ingestion of large quantities of calcium carbonate may cause alkalosis, hypercalcaemia, acid rebound, milk alkali syndrome or constipation. These usually occur following larger than recommended dosages.