EUCHESSINA CM*18CHEW TABS DIV

Euchessina C.M. 3.5 mg chewable tablets
Euchessina C.M. 750 mg/100 ml oral drops, solution
Sodium picosulfate

What it is and what it is used for
Euchessina C.M. contains sodium picosulfate, which belongs to the class of contact laxatives that stimulate bowel movements.
Euchessina C.M. is used for the short-term treatment of occasional constipation.

Consult your doctor if you do not feel better or feel worse after a few days.

What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not take Euchessina C.M.
- if you are allergic to sodium picosulfate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- if you suffer from acute or unexplained severe abdominal pain, such as appendicitis and severe stomach pain associated with nausea and vomiting
- if you suffer from obstruction or narrowing of the intestine (intestinal stenosis) or bile ducts
- if you suffer from gallstones
- if you suffer from a blockage of the intestinal muscles (paralytic ileus)
- if you suffer from acute inflammation of the stomach and intestine
- if you suffer from rectal bleeding of unknown origin
- if you suffer from severe dehydration
- if you suffer from nausea or vomiting
- if you suffer from liver problems (hepatic insufficiency)
- if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, see section Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Euchessina C.M. should not be given to children under 3 years of age.

Warnings and precautions
Laxative abuse (frequent or prolonged use, or with excessive doses) can cause persistent diarrhoea with consequent loss of water, mineral salts (especially potassium) and other essential nutrients. In the most severe cases, dehydration or hypokalaemia (decreased potassium in the blood) may occur, which can lead to cardiac or neuromuscular dysfunction, especially in cases of concomitant treatment with cardiac glycosides, diuretics or corticosteroids.
Laxative abuse, especially contact laxatives (stimulant laxatives), can cause dependence (and therefore the possible need to progressively increase the dosage), chronic constipation and loss of normal intestinal function (intestinal atony).
The treatment of chronic or recurrent constipation always requires medical intervention for diagnosis, prescription of medicines and monitoring during therapy. Consult your doctor if the need for a laxative arises from a sudden change in previous bowel habits (frequency and characteristics of bowel movements) that has lasted for more than two weeks or if the use of a laxative does not produce effects.
Cases of dizziness and/or syncope have been reported after taking Euchessina C.M. Available data on these cases suggest that the events may be related to defecation syncope (or syncope attributable to straining during defecation), or to a vasovagal response to abdominal pain related to constipation, and not necessarily to the intake of sodium picosulfate itself.

The medicine is not contraindicated for people suffering from coeliac disease.

Health education notes
First of all, it should be noted that, in most cases, a balanced diet rich in water and fibre (bran, vegetables and fruit) can permanently solve the problem of constipation.
The use of stimulant laxatives is not an acceptable alternative to improving eating habits, which should be done by following your doctor's advice.
Many people think they suffer from constipation if they do not have a bowel movement every day. This is an incorrect belief, as this situation is completely normal for a large number of individuals.
Instead, consider that constipation occurs when bowel movements are reduced compared to one's personal habits and are associated with the passage of hard stools.
If episodes of constipation occur repeatedly, consult your doctor.

Children and adolescents
Do not administer Euchessina C.M. to children aged between 3 and 12 years without first consulting a doctor.
Do not administer Euchessina C.M. to children under 3 years of age.

Adults
If you are elderly or in poor health, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Euchessina C.M. can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The following side effects have been reported:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): diarrhoea.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): abdominal cramps, abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): vomiting, nausea, dizziness*.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data): hypersensitivity, angioedema and skin reactions, syncope*.

*Dizziness and syncope phenomena occurring after sodium picosulfate intake appear to be attributable to a reflex response (consequent, for example, to abdominal pain or stool evacuation).

Occasionally: isolated cramping pain or abdominal colic, more frequent in cases of severe constipation.

These side effects are generally temporary.

Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.