INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS
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This leaflet answers some common questions about DE-NOL. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking this medicine against the expected benefits.
Use DE-NOL as instructed. If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
This medicine is used to treat digestive disorders such as:
Your doctor may have prescribed DE-NOL for another reason. Ask your doctor why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take this medicine if you have, or have had, any severe kidney disease. If you are unsure if this applies to you, ask your doctor.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you have a known allergy to DE-NOL or any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Tell your doctor if:
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking this medicine.
This medicine is not addictive
Do not take any other medicines half an hour before or after taking DE-NOL tablets. Other medicines could interfere with the action of DE-NOL or their uptake could be reduced if taken at the same time as DE-NOL.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with DE-NOL.
These medicines may be affected by DE-NOL or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
Take:
Two tablets half an hour before breakfast and two tablets half an hour before dinner or at bedtime.
One tablet half an hour before each of your three main meals and one tablet before going to bed.
Swallow the tablets with some water. Do not consume any food or drink for half an hour after taking DE-NOL.
Take your medicine at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
Take DE-NOL half an hour before food.
Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor and the pharmacist. These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
Do not take this medicine for longer than your doctor tells you. If you use this medicine for longer than your doctor or pharmacist tells you, the chance of side effects may increase.
When necessary, 2 months is the maximum recommended course of DE-NOL. Before another course of DE-NOL treatment be given, a 2 month period free of bismuth- containing medications is essential. If you are unsure how long to use DE-NOL, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist for some hints.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking this medicine.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Do not take this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use any other bismuth-containing medicines whilst using DE-NOL.
Do not take large amounts of this medicine for a long time. If you take large amounts of this medicine for a long time the chance of side effects increases.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are concerned about the length of time you have been using this medicine.
Like all medicines, DE-NOL can cause some side effects. Side effects not listed in this leaflet may occur in some patients.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any unpleasant effects while you are taking DE-NOL even if you do not think the effect is connected with the medicine or is not listed in this leaflet.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
The above list includes serious side effects, which may require medical attention.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention
Take DE-NOL as advised by your doctor.
A large overdose may damage the kidneys. This may not be obvious for 10 days.
Large amounts of this medicine taken for a long time may cause brain problems. Symptoms include headache, high fever, hallucinations, confusion, paralysis of part or all of the body, behaviour disturbances, speech disturbances, irregular eye movements, stiff neck and sensitivity to light.
Keep DE-NOL in pack until required.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place at normal room temperature (not more than 25°C).
Do not store this medicine or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep DE-NOL where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Do not use DE-NOL after the expiry date on the package.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
DE-NOL tablets are creamy white, round, convex tablets imprinted with 'gbr 152'.
Each DE-NOL tablet contains colloidal bismuth subcitrate equivalent to 120 mg bismuth trioxide as the active ingredient.
This medicine does not contain gluten, lactose, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
This is not all the information available on DE-NOL. If you have any more questions or are unsure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
DE-NOL is supplied in New Zealand by:
CSL (New Zealand) Limited
666 Great South Road
Penrose
Auckland 6
NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: 09 579 8105
And manufactured by:
Astellas Pharma Europe B.V.
The Netherlands
This leaflet was prepared in June 2006.
DE-NOL® is a registered trademark of Astellas Pharma Europe BV.