CosmoCol

What is CosmoCol Used For?

CosmoCol is an osmotic laxative powder used to treat constipation. It contains macrogol and the electrolytes sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate, and potassium chloride, which soften stools if you are constipated or have a faecal impaction caused by chronic constipation.

CosmoCol sachets are available in several flavours, including plain and lemon and lime. Dissolve the sachets in water and drink.

How Does CosmoCol Work?

CosmoCol contains macrogol, an osmotic laxative, and electrolyte salts. Macrogol works by binding with water to prevent your bowel wall from absorbing it. This helps to break up hard lumps in the bowel and keep your stools soft, making them easier to pass.

Adding electrolyte salts helps keep your body's sodium, potassium, and water levels within a normal range while you are being treated for constipation.

How Long Does CosmoCol Take to Work?

CosmoCol usually takes 1 to 3 days to start working, but it can take up to 2 weeks to establish a regular bowel routine.

How Effective are CosmoCol Sachets for Constipation?

CosmoCol sachets are an effective first-line osmotic laxative for treating chronic constipation. In people with constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a combination of macrogol and electrolytes was superior to a placebo for constipation relief within 4 weeks.

Further research has shown that when people take CosmoCol for chronic constipation, the dose needed to form normal stools decreases over time, with most people responding to 1 to 2 sachets per day. For faecal impaction, CosmoCol cleared impaction in 89% of people after 3 days, 85% after 2 days, and 44% after 1 day.

How to Take CosmoCol Laxatives

Ensure that you always take CosmoCol sachets as prescribed and consult your clinician or doctor if you're unsure. To take the medication, open the sachet and pour its contents into a glass. Add about 125 ml of water to the glass and stir until the powder dissolves, then drink it. If you're taking CosmoCol for faecal impaction, it may be easier to dissolve 8 sachets in 1 litre of water.

CosmoCol Dosage and Treatment Duration

How many CosmoCol sachets you should take, and how long you should use them, depends on whether you are taking them for constipation or faecal impaction. If you're unsure which rules apply to you, speak to your clinician or doctor before starting treatment.

When taking CosmoCol sachets, keep drinking plenty of fluids. The fluid content of this medication should not replace your regular liquid intake.

CosmoCol Sachets for Constipation

The recommended dose of CosmoCol laxatives for constipation is 1 sachet to be taken 1-3 times daily. You typically should not need to take the medication for longer than 2 weeks, though your doctor or clinician can assess this. For long-term treatment, you may lower the dose to 1 or 2 sachets per day.

CosmoCol Sachets for Faecal Impaction

Before you take CosmoCol laxatives to treat faecal impaction, first check with your clinician or doctor to confirm you have this condition. The recommended dose is 8 sachets daily, all consumed within 6 hours, for up to 3 days. If you have a heart condition, do not take more than 2 sachets in any 1 hour.

Stop the course of treatment for faecal impaction when you pass a large volume of stools. To prevent further complications from the condition, your clinician may advise that you continue taking it for longer than the usual timeframe. If so, you should follow the dosage regimen for constipation.

If You Forget to Take CosmoCol

If you forget to take a dose of CosmoCol, take it as soon as you remember and continue to follow the schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for one you have forgotten.

If You Take Too Much CosmoCol

Taking too many CosmoCol sachets can cause severe pain and swelling in your stomach, sickness, or diarrhoea. If this occurs, contact your clinician or doctor for advice.

If You Stop Taking CosmoCol Laxatives

To get the most benefit from CosmoCol, always finish the course of treatment you were advised to take. This will help clear your constipation; otherwise, your symptoms may continue.

CosmoCol Side Effects and Cautions

As with all medications, CosmoCol laxatives can cause side effects, though not everyone will experience them. For example, you may experience indigestion, stomach ache or rumbling. You could also feel bloated, suffer from wind, feel sick or vomit, or experience soreness of the anus and have mild diarrhoea. In addition, the treatment might cause an allergic reaction that manifests as a skin rash, itching, skin reddening, or a nettle rash.

You should stop taking CosmoCol and seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• A serious allergic reaction that causes difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Signs of a change in your body's fluid or electrolyte levels, such as swelling (mainly in the ankles), shortness of breath, feeling weak, increasingly tired, or increased thirst with a headache

CosmoCol Warnings and Interactions

Although CosmoCol laxatives are effective for constipation and faecal impaction, they may not be suitable for everyone. The medication could interact with other treatments you are taking, or be unsafe to take if you have certain medical conditions.

Do not use CosmoCol sachets if you:

• Are allergic to macrogol 3350, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium chloride, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• Have a perforated gut
• Have a blockage in your intestine
• Have severe inflammatory bowel disease

If any of these apply to you, speak to your clinician or doctor for advice.

Precautions Before Using CosmoCol

Seek medical advice from your clinician before starting treatment if you have heart or kidney problems, an impaired gag reflex, difficulty swallowing, or suffer from heartburn. They may recommend an alternative medication.

CosmoCol and Other Medicines

Please tell your clinician or doctor if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medication. This includes over-the-counter treatments and herbal remedies.

The following interactions have been observed with CosmoCol:

• Some medicines, such as anti-epileptics, may not work as effectively when used alongside CosmoCol
• If you need to thicken fluids in order to swallow them safely, CosmoCol may counteract the effect of the thickener
• If you take any other oral medications, you should not use them for one hour before or after taking CosmoCol

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Although CosmoCol sachets can be taken during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding, it's recommended that you speak to your clinician or doctor before starting treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions About CosmoCol