1. Name Of The Medicinal Product
Calpol Infant Suspension Sachets
2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition
Calpol Infant Suspension Sachets contains 120mg Paracetamol in each 5ml.
Excipients: sucrose (contains 2.2 g of sucrose in each 5 ml), sorbitol liquid (E420), methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E214), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) and carmoisine (E122). See section 4.4 for further information.
For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3. Pharmaceutical Form
Oral Suspension
A pink strawberry flavoured suspension
4. Clinical Particulars
4.1 Therapeutic Indications
Calpol Infant Suspension Sachets is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate pain and as an antipyretic. It can be used in many conditions including headache, toothache, earache, teething, sore throat, colds & influenza, aches and pains and post-immunisation fever.
4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration
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Children aged 3 months – 6 years:
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It is important to massage the sachet before use.
The Elderly:
In the elderly, the rate and extent of paracetamol absorption is normal but plasma half-life is longer and paracetamol clearance is lower than in young adults.
4.3 Contraindications
Calpol Infant Suspension Sachets is contra-indicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to paracetamol, or any of the other constituents.
4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use
Care is advised in the administration of paracetamol to patients with severe renal or severe hepatic impairment.
The hazards of overdose are greater in those with non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease.
Due to the presence of sucrose and sorbitol, patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.
Ethyl (E214), Propyl (E216) and Methyl (E218) parahydroxybenzoate may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
Carmoisine (E122) may cause allergic reactions.
The label contains the following statements:
Contains paracetamol.
Do not give this medicine with any other paracetamol containing products.
For oral use only
Never give more medicine than shown in the table.
Do not overfill the spoon.
Always use the spoon supplied with the pack.
Do not give to babies less than 2 months of age.
For infants 2-3 months no more than 2 doses should be given.
Do not give more than 4 doses in any 24 hour period.
Leave at least 4 hours between doses.
Do not give this medicine to your child for more than 3 days without speaking to your doctor or pharmacist
As with all medicines, if your child is currently taking any other medicine consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this product.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not store above 25°C. Keep sachets in the outer carton
Massage contents of sachet before opening.
Do not exceed the stated dose.
If symptoms persist consult your doctor.
Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose, even if the child seems well. (label)
Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose, even if the child seems well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage. (leaflet)
4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction
The speed of absorption of paracetamol may be increased by metoclopramide or domperidone and absorption reduced by colestyramine.
The anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarins may be enhanced by prolonged regular use of paracetamol with increased risk of bleeding; occasional doses have no significant effect.
Chronic alcohol intake can increase the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol overdose and may have contributed to the acute pancreatitis reported in one patient who had taken an overdose of paracetamol. Acute alcohol intake may diminish an individual's ability to metabolise large doses of paracetamol, the plasma half-life of which can be prolonged.
The use of drugs that induce hepatic microsomal enzymes, such as anticonvulsants and oral contraceptives, may increase the extent of metabolism of paracetamol, resulting in reduced plasma concentrations of the drug and a faster elimination rate.
4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation
Epidemiological studies in human pregnancy have shown no ill effects due to paracetamol used in the recommended dosage, but patients should follow the advice of their doctor regarding its use.
Paracetamol is excreted in breast milk but not in a clinically significant amount. Available published data do not contraindicate breast-feeding.
4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines
None known.
4.8 Undesirable Effects
Adverse effects of paracetamol are rare. Very rarely hypersensitivity and anaphylatic reactions including skin rash may occur. There have been reports of blood dyscrasias including thrombocytopenia and agranulocystosis but these were not necessarily causality related to paracetamol.
Most reports of adverse reactions to paracetamol relate to overdosage with the drug.
Chronic hepatic necrosis has been reported in a patient who took daily therapeutic doses of paracetamol for about a year and liver damage has been reported after daily ingestion of excessive amounts for shorter periods. A review of a group of patients with chronic active hepatitis failed to reveal differences in the abnormalities of liver function in those who were long-term users of paracetamol nor was the control of the disease improved after paracetamol withdrawal.
Nephrotoxicity following therapeutic doses of paracetamol is uncommon, but papillary necrosis has been reported after prolonged administration.
4.9 Overdose
Liver damage is possible in adults who have taken 10g or more of paracetamol. Ingestion of 5g or more of paracetamol may lead to liver damage if the patient has risk factors (see below).
Risk Factors:
If the patient
a) Is on long term treatment with carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, St John's Wort or other drugs that induce liver enzymes.
Or
b) Regularly consumes ethanol in excess of recommended amounts
Or
c) Is likely to be glutathione deplete e.g. eating disorders, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection, starvation, cachexia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of paracetamol overdosage in the first 24 hours are pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. Liver damage may become apparent 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur. In severe poisoning, hepatic failure may progress to encephalopathy, haemorrhage, hypoglycaemia, cerebral oedema, and death. Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis, strongly suggested by loin pain, haematuria and proteinuria, may develop even in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrhythmias and pancreatitis have been reported.
Management
Immediate treatment is essential in the management of paracetamol overdose. Despite a lack of significant early symptoms, patients should be referred to hospital urgently for immediate medical attention. Symptoms may be limited to nausea or vomiting and may not reflect the severity of overdose or the risk of organ damage. Management should be in accordance with established treatment guidelines, see BNF overdose section.
Treatment with activated charcoal should be considered if the overdose has been taken within 1 hour. Plasma paracetamol concentration should be measured at 4 hours or later after ingestion (earlier concentrations are unreliable). Treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be used up to 24 hours after ingestion of paracetamol, however the maximum protective effect is obtained up to 8 hours post-ingestion. The effectiveness of the antidote declines sharply after this time. If required the patient should be given intravenous N-acetylcysteine, in line with the established dosage schedule. If vomiting is not a problem, oral methionine may be a suitable alternative for remote areas, outside hospital. Management of patients who present with serious hepatic dysfunction beyond 24h from ingestion should be discussed with the NPIS or a liver unit.
5. Pharmacological Properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties
Paracetamol has analgesic and antipyretic effects that do not differ significantly from those of aspirin. However it has only weak anti-inflammatory effects. It is only a weak inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis although there is some evidence to suggest it may be more effective against enzymes in the central nervous system than in the periphery. This may in part account for its activity profile.
ATC code: NO2BE01, other analgesics and antipyretics.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties
Paracetamol is rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with peak plasma concentrations occurring 0.5-2 hours after dosing. The plasma half-life is approximately 2 hours after therapeutic doses in adults but is increased in neonates to about 5 hours. It is widely distributed through the body. Metabolism is principally by the hepatic microsomal enzymes and urinary excretion accounts for over 90% of the dose within 1 day. Virtually no paracetamol is excreted unchanged, the bulk being conjugated with glucoronic acid (60%), sulphuric acid (35%) or cysteine (3%). Children have less capacity for glucuronidation of the drug than adults.
5.3 Preclinical Safety Data
Mutagenicity
There are no studies relating to the mutagenic potential of Calpol Infant Suspension Sachets.
In vivo mutagenicity tests of paracetamol in mammals are limited and show conflicting results. Therefore, there is insufficient information to determine whether paracetamol poses a mutagenic risk to man.
Paracetamol has been found to be non-mutagenic in bacterial mutagenicity assays, although a clear clastogenic effect has been observed in mammalian cells in vitro following exposure to paracetamol (3 and 10 mM for 2h).
Carcinogenicity
There are no studies to the carcinogenic potential of Calpol Infant Suspension Sachets.
There is inadequate evidence to determine the carcinogenic potential of paracetamol in humans. A positive association between the use of paracetamol and cancer of the ureter (but not of other sites in the urinary tract) was observed in a case-control study in which approximate lifetime consumption of paracetamol (whether acute or chronic) was estimated. However, other similar studies have failed to demonstrate a statistically significant association between paracetamol and cancer of the urinary tract, or paracetamol and renal cell carcinoma.
There is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of paracetamol in experimental animals. Liver cell tumours can be detected in rats following chronic feeding of 500 mg/kg/day paracetamol.
Teratogenicity
There is no information relating to the teratogenic potential of Calpol Infant Suspension Sachets. In humans, paracetamol crosses the placenta and attains concentrations in the foetal circulation similar to those in the maternal circulation. Intermittent maternal ingestion of therapeutic doses of paracetamol are not associated with teratogenic effects in humans.
Paracetamol has been found to be foetotoxic to cultured rat embryo.
Fertility
There is no information relating to the effects of Calpol Infant Suspension Sachets on fertility. A significant decrease in testicular weight was observed when male Sprague-Dawley rats were given daily high doses of paracetamol (500 mg/kg/body weight/day) orally for 70 days.
6. Pharmaceutical Particulars
6.1 List Of Excipients
Sucrose
Sorbitol Liquid (Non Crystallising) (E420)
Glycerol
Xanthan Gum
Dispersible Cellulose
Polysorbate 80
Acesulfame Potassium
Propyl Parahydroxybenzoate (E216)
Ethyl Parahydroxybenzoate (E214)
Strawberry Flavour 500018E
Methyl Parahydroxybenzoate (E218)
Carmoisine (E122)
Purified Water
6.2 Incompatibilities
None known
6.3 Shelf Life
36 months
6.4 Special Precautions For Storage
Do not store above 25°C. Keep sachets in the outer carton.
6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container
12 and 20 units of 5ml paper/foil/surlyn sachets.
Not all pack sizes are marketed.
A spoon with a 5 ml and 2.5 ml measure is supplied with the pack.
6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling
No special requirements.
7. Marketing Authorisation Holder
McNeil Products Limited
Foundation Park
Roxborough Way
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 3UG
United Kingdom
8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)
PL 15513/0154
9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation
26/02/2007 / 25/02/2009
10. Date Of Revision Of The Text
6th June 2011
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