Paracetamol, codeine phosphate hemihydrate, doxylamine succinate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Mersyndol Forte. 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 or pharmacist has weighed the risks of you taking Mersyndol Forte against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Mersyndol Forte is used for
Mersyndol Forte has pain relieving, fever reducing and calmative effects.
Mersyndol Forte is used for the relief of severe pain that does not respond to milder pain relieving drugs. This may include toothache or pain from injury or surgery and headache pain. In addition the calmative properties of Mersyndol Forte may be especially useful in the treatment of tension headache, migraine and period pain.
It is suitable for people who cannot take aspirin for pain relief.
Mersyndol Forte is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Mersyndol Forte is not recommended for use in children under the age of 12 years.
Before you take Mersyndol Forte
When you must not take it
Do not take Mersyndol Forte if you have an allergy to paracetamol, codeine phosphate hemihydrate, doxylamine succinate or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Do not take this medicine if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
Acute breathing difficulties such as bronchitis, unstable asthma or emphysema
Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency (an enzyme deficiency)
Ultra-rapid metaboliser of CYP 2D6
Known intolerance to medicines used to treat or prevent pain
Diarrhoea caused by antibiotics or poisoning
Liver failure
Do not take Mersyndol Forte if you have a history of drug dependence, including alcohol dependence.
Do not take Mersyndol Forte if you have experienced systemic allergy (generalised rash or shortness of breath) to morphine or oxycodone.
Do not take Mersyndol Forte if you are aged below 18 years of age and have had your tonsils or adenoids removed to treat sleep apnoea.
Mersyndol Forte is not recommended for children under 12 years.
Do not take Mersyndol Forte during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Do not take Mersyndol Forte during labour, especially if the baby is premature.
This medicine contains codeine, which may produce withdrawal effects in the newborn baby.
Do not take Mersyndol Forte if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Mersyndol Forte passes into breast milk and there is a possibility your baby may be affected.
Do not take Mersyndol Forte after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not take Mersyndol Forte if the packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering, or if it doesn't look quite right.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Mersyndol Forte, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:
any other medicines
aspirin or any other NSAID medicine
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
Liver problems
Kidney problems
Heart or lung problems
Difficulty breathing, wheezing, chronic cough, asthma, or other chronic breathing conditions
Chronic alcohol use including recent cessation of alcohol intake
Opioid dependence
Low glutathione reserves
Gilbert's syndrome
Recent stomach, intestine or urinary tract surgery
Gall bladder problems or your gall bladder has been removed
Multiple sclerosis
Obstructive and inflammatory bowel disease or other bowel problems
Prostate problems
Underactive thyroid
Adrenocortical insufficiency (eg Addison's disease)
Head injury
Fits or seizures
Brain tumours
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Your pharmacist or doctor will discuss the benefits and possible risks of taking the medicine during pregnancy.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Mersyndol Forte.
Taking other medicines
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.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, which contain paracetamol, codeine or doxylamine.
Some medicines can interfere with Mersyndol Forte including:
Any medicine causing sleepiness or drowsiness
Benzodiazepines (medicines used as sedatives or to treat anxiety)
Medicines containing alcohol (ethanol), e.g. some cough syrups
Cough suppressants or antitussives
Medicines used to treat alcohol and/or opioid dependence (e.g naltrexone or buprenorphine)
Medicines used to treat depression
Some types of antihistamines
Warfarin, a medicine used for blood clots
Medicines used to treat diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting
Propantheline, a drug used to treat stomach ulcers
Medicines used to treat epilepsy or fits
Other pain relief medication
Medicines used to treat high blood pressure
Cholestyramine (medicine used to treat bile problems and/or high cholesterol)
Chelating resin
Chloramphenicol, an antibiotic used to treat ear and eye infections
Medicines used to help you relax, sleep or relieve anxiety, such as barbiturates and sedatives
Phenothiazines and antipsychotic agents, medicines used to treat mental disorders
Flucloxacillin, zidovudine or rifampicin, drugs used to treat infections
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking Mersyndol Forte.
How to take Mersyndol Forte
How much to take
The usual adult dose is one or two tablets every 4 to 6 hours as needed for relief. Do not exceed 8 tablets in a 24 hour period.
Mersyndol Forte is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
Their directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How to take it
Swallow the prescribed dose of Mersyndol Forte whole with a glass of water. It can be taken with or without food.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Mersyndol Forte. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
While you are using Mersyndol Forte
Things you must do
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Mersyndol Forte.
Things you must not do
Do not give Mersyndol Forte to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take Mersyndol Forte to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Mersyndol Forte affects you.
Mersyndol Forte may cause drowsiness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Mersyndol Forte before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy. If drowsiness occurs do not drive or operate machinery.
Avoid alcohol while you are taking Mersyndol Forte.
Mersyndol Forte may be dangerous if you take large amounts over a long period of time.
Do not take high doses of the medicine for long periods of time unless your doctor tells you to.
This medicine contains codeine, which may be habit forming.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Mersyndol Forte.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
Skin rash
Constipation
Nausea and vomiting
Drowsiness
Sweating
These are the more common side effects of Mersyndol Forte. They are usually mild.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
Shortness of breath
Mouth ulcers, fever and sore throat
Bleeding, bruising more easily
Unusual or extreme mood swings
Dizziness, light-headedness
Flushing of the face
Painful red areas with blisters and peeling layers of skin which may be accompanied by fever and/or chills
Severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals
Hepatitis (symptoms include loss of appetite, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes, light coloured bowel motions, dark coloured urine)
The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. These side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
Wheezing or difficulty breathing
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
Rash, itching or hives on the skin
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
After using Mersyndol Forte
Storage
Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the pack they will not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store Mersyndol Forte or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it 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.
Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking Mersyndol Forte or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Mersyndol Forte is a round, white tablet with M on one side and MERSYNDOL FORTE with a break line on the other side. Mersyndol Forte is available in a blister pack of 20 tablets.
Ingredients
Paracetamol 450mg
Codeine phosphate hemihydrate 30mg
Doxylamine succinate 5mg
Sodium starch glycollate
Talc - purified
Magnesium stearate
Mersyndol Forte does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
