PATIENT
INFORMATION LEAFLET
What
you should know about Colomycin Syrup and Colomycin
Tablets
Please read this leaflet
carefully before starting to take the medicine
because it provides important information for the
patient. Do not throw the leaflet away, but keep it
until you have finished the course, you may need to
look at it again. If there is anything in the
leaflet you do not understand, ask your doctor or
pharmacist (chemist) to explain it to you. Remember!
This medicine is for you and should not be given to
anyone else.
What is
in this medicine and what it does
Colomycin
Syrup and Tablets contain colistin sulphate, which is a
type of medicine called an antibiotic.
Colomycin
Powder for Syrup is supplied in bottles. When dissolved
in 58ml water, the powder produces 80ml of syrup. Each
5ml spoonful contains 250,000 units of colistin
sulphate. It also contains sucrose, benzoic acid (E210),
sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E219) and sodium
citrate.
Colomycin
Tablets are supplied in containers of 50 tablets and
each tablet contains 1,500,000 units of colistin
sulphate. The tablets also contain microcrystalline
cellulose, maize starch, colloidal silicon dioxide and
hydrogenated castor oil.
Antibiotics
are used to kill bacteria ('germs'). Colistin will
destroy bacteria that cause infections of the gut.
Colomycin Syrup and Tablets are also used for bowel
preparation before surgical operations. Colistin will
kill some bacteria that may cause infections after
surgery.
Before
you take the medicine
- Are
you, or do you think you may be pregnant?
- Are
you breast feeding?
- Have
you reacted badly to any medicine containing
colistin or any of the other ingredients listed, in
the past?
-
Colomycin Syrup contains sucrose. Have you been told
by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some
sugars?
- Are
you taking other antibiotics?
- Are
you suffering from kidney problems?
- Are
you likely to be having an operation where
curariform (muscle relaxing) drugs may be used?
If the
answer to any of these questions is yes, then your
doctor will not normally prescribe Colomycin Syrup or
Tablets. If there is anything listed which your doctor
did not know, then you should contact your doctor before
taking the medicine.
Each 5ml
spoonful of Colomycin Syrup contains 2.2g sucrose. This
should be taken into account in patients with diabetes
mellitus. Colomycin Syrup also contains sodium methyl
hydroxybenzoate (E219); this may cause allergic
reactions (possibly delayed).
Look
at the label
The
label should say who the medicine is for, what dose
to use and how often to take it. If these details
are not correct or if you are not sure of anything,
contact your doctor.
How to
take your medicine
Colomycin
Syrup is taken by mouth using a 5ml medicine spoon
supplied by the pharmacist. Shake the bottle before use.
Colomycin
Tablets should be swallowed with a small amount of water
or they may be crushed and dissolved in a small amount
of liquid before swallowing.
How
much you should take
The best
dose for you will have been chosen by your doctor.
Follow the doctor's instructions. For guidance
typical doses are as follows:
-
Gut infections:
-
Children up to 15 Kg weight: One or two
spoonfuls of syrup (5-10ml) every 8 hours
-
Children between 15 and 30 Kg: half to 1
tablet or
three to six 5ml spoonfuls taken every 8
hours
-
Adults, the elderly and children over 30Kg:
1-2 tablets taken every 8 hours
-
Bowel surgery:
-
Daily dosage as described for gut
infections.
For
how long do you take your medicine
Your
doctor should usually indicate how long a course of
treatment will be. (Usually for gut infections, it
will be at least five days).
For
bowel preparation, you will be given a 24-hour
course of treatment which should finish twelve hours
before your operation/procedure.
What
you should do if you miss a dose
If you
forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you
remember, and then take your next dose at the usual
time.
What
to do if you take too much
It is
important to keep to the dose on the label of your
medicine. In the event that you take too much, or
anyone else takes your medicine, especially a child,
take the bottle to your doctor and ask for advice.
Alternatively, contact the accident and emergency
department of your nearest hospital.
Side
effects
Side effects
are unlikely with this medicine, and most people taking
this medicine find it causes no problems. If you think
that Colomycin Syrup or Tablets have upset you, contact
your doctor or pharmacist. It is possible that side
effects may occur in young babies (below 6 months) but
your doctor will be aware of this.
Storing
your medicine
As with all
medicines keep Colomycin Syrup and Tablets out of the
sight and reach of children. Do not store above 25°C. In
order to protect from light store in the original
container. Do not use after the expiry date printed on
the container label. Discard any unused Colomycin Syrup
14 days after reconstitution.
What
to do with your unused medicine
Return
any unused medicine to your pharmacy for safe
disposal.
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