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Polycarbophil
What is polycarbophil?
Polycarbophil is a bulk-forming laxative that increases the amount of water in your stools to help make them softer and easier to pass.
Polycarbophil is used to treat constipation and to help maintain regular bowel movements.
Polycarbophil may also be used in some cases to treat diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome.
Polycarbophil may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Precautions
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to polycarbophil or to mineral oil, sodium laurel sulfate, or povidone (such as Betadine).
Before using polycarbophil, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
- trouble swallowing;
- a blockage in your intestines;
- stomach pain with nausea or vomiting;
- a history of bleeding from your rectum; or
- a sudden change in your bowel habits that has lasted for 2 weeks or longer.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to take polycarbophil, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.
Ask your doctor before taking polycarbophil if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Some forms of polycarbophil may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this medication if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).
Do not give this medicine to a young child without the advice of a doctor.
Avoid taking polycarbophil within 2 hours before or after you take any other medications. A laxative can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines.
Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
An overdose of polycarbophil is not likely to produce life-threatening side effects.
Since polycarbophil is usually taken as needed, you will not be on a long-term dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication daily for up to 7 days, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Side-effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using polycarbophil and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- vomiting;
- choking on the tablet;
- trouble swallowing;
- chest pain; or
- rectal bleeding.
Less serious side effects may include:
- mild stomach pain;
- bloating; or
- gas.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
Interactions
There may be other drugs that can interact with polycarbophil. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04