Uses:
This medication is used to treat constipation. It This medication is used to treat constipation. It increases the bulk in your stool, an effect that helps to cause increases the bulk in your stool, an effect that helps to cause movement of the intestines. It also works by increasing the movement of the intestines. It also works by increasing the amount of water in the stool, making the stool softer and easier amount of water in the stool, making the stool softer and easier to pass. to pass. Psyllium, one type of bulk-forming laxative, has also been Psyllium, one type of bulk-forming laxative, has also been used along with a proper diet to treat high cholesterol. used along with a proper diet to treat high cholesterol.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up. the dose to catch up.
How To Use
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. If you are self-treating, follow all directions on the doctor. If you are self-treating, follow all directions on the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. To prevent choking information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. To prevent choking from this medication, take it with a full glass of water or other from this medication, take it with a full glass of water or other liquid (8 ounces/240 milliliters). If you are taking the wafers, liquid (8 ounces/240 milliliters). If you are taking the wafers, chew them thoroughly before swallowing. chew them thoroughly before swallowing. For powder forms of this medication, measure each dose For powder forms of this medication, measure each dose according to the directions on the product label. Mix in a full according to the directions on the product label. Mix in a full glass of water or other liquid (8 ounces/240 milliliters), stir glass of water or other liquid (8 ounces/240 milliliters), stir completely, and drink immediately. You may add more liquid to the completely, and drink immediately. You may add more liquid to the mixture if it becomes too thick. When preparing the medication, mixture if it becomes too thick. When preparing the medication, be careful not to breathe in the powder since it may rarely cause be careful not to breathe in the powder since it may rarely cause an allergic reaction. an allergic reaction. Dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response Dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than directed. often than directed. This product may decrease the absorption of other medications This product may decrease the absorption of other medications you may be taking. Take this product at least 2 hours from your you may be taking. Take this product at least 2 hours from your other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions. information or if you have any questions. It may take 1 to 3 days before this medication starts working. It may take 1 to 3 days before this medication starts working. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not take this medication for more than 7 days unless directed by your take this medication for more than 7 days unless directed by your doctor. doctor. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens, or if Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens, or if bleeding from the rectum occurs. If you think you may have a bleeding from the rectum occurs. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention. serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.
Drug Interactions
See also How To Use section. See also How To Use section. The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring. by close monitoring. To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor's dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor's approval. approval. Keep a list of all the products you use. Share the list with Keep a list of all the products you use. Share the list with your doctor and pharmacist to reduce your risk for serious your doctor and pharmacist to reduce your risk for serious medication problems. medication problems.
Notes
Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments. Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments. Lifestyle changes that may prevent or relieve constipation Lifestyle changes that may prevent or relieve constipation include exercising, drinking enough water, and eating a proper include exercising, drinking enough water, and eating a proper diet with fiber-rich foods such as bran, fresh fruits/vegetables. diet with fiber-rich foods such as bran, fresh fruits/vegetables. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you. might benefit you.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. can call a provincial poison control center.
Precautions
Before taking this bulk-forming laxative, tell your Before taking this bulk-forming laxative, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic it; or if you have any doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: stomach/intestinal blockage, your medical history, especially of: stomach/intestinal blockage, difficulty swallowing, appendicitis or symptoms of appendicitis difficulty swallowing, appendicitis or symptoms of appendicitis (such as nausea/vomiting, sudden or unexplained stomach/abdominal (such as nausea/vomiting, sudden or unexplained stomach/abdominal pain), a sudden change in bowel habits that lasts for longer than pain), a sudden change in bowel habits that lasts for longer than 2 weeks, bleeding from the rectum. 2 weeks, bleeding from the rectum. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Some products may contain sugar and/or aspartame. Caution is Some products may contain sugar and/or aspartame. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, phenylketonuria (PKU), or any other advised if you have diabetes, phenylketonuria (PKU), or any other condition that requires you to limit/avoid these substances in condition that requires you to limit/avoid these substances in your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely. safely. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this medication. medication. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Storage
Different brands of this medication have different Different brands of this medication have different storage needs. Check the product package for instructions on how storage needs. Check the product package for instructions on how to store your brand, or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medications to store your brand, or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medications away from children and pets. away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product. safely discard your product.
Side Effects
Gas or stomach cramping may occur. If any of these Gas or stomach cramping may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. promptly. If your doctor has directed you to use this product, remember If your doctor has directed you to use this product, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. not have serious side effects. This product must be taken with at least a full glass of water This product must be taken with at least a full glass of water or other liquid (8 ounces/240 milliliters) so that it will not or other liquid (8 ounces/240 milliliters) so that it will not swell in the throat, causing choking. Seek immediate medical swell in the throat, causing choking. Seek immediate medical attention if after taking this product you have symptoms of attention if after taking this product you have symptoms of choking such as: chest pain, vomiting, difficulty choking such as: chest pain, vomiting, difficulty swallowing/breathing. swallowing/breathing. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. pharmacist. In the US - In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. 1-866-234-2345.
Other Uses
This section contains uses of this drug that are not This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. has been so prescribed by your health care professional. This drug may also be used to help relieve the symptoms of This drug may also be used to help relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. irritable bowel syndrome.
This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.
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