MAALOX*40 CHEWABLE TABLETS 400MG+400MG

MAALOX 400 mg + 400 mg chewable tablets
Magnesium hydroxide + Aluminium oxide, hydrate

What it is and what it is used for
This medicine contains two active ingredients: magnesium hydroxide and aluminium oxide, hydrate. These belong to a group of medicines called 'antacids': MAALOX works by decreasing the amount of acid in your stomach.

This medicine is used to treat the following symptoms:
- occasional heartburn;
- occasional excessive stomach acidity.

Consult your doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse.

What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not use MAALOX
- if you are allergic to the active ingredients or any of the other components of this medicine (listed in paragraph 6); signs of an allergic reaction are skin rashes, swelling of the lips, tongue, face and throat, breathing problems;
- if you suffer from porphyria (a rare hereditary blood metabolism disorder);
- if you have severe kidney problems;
- if your body is severely wasted (cachexia);
- in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking MAALOX:
- if you have intestinal problems or constipation, if you have non-severe kidney problems or if you are elderly because this medicine could worsen intestinal problems;
- if you are on a low-phosphorus diet, if you have low blood phosphate levels (hypophosphatemia) or in case of long-term treatment. This medicine reduces blood phosphate levels and can cause bone problems.

Children and adolescents
This medicine should not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
In young children, the use of magnesium hydroxide can cause hypermagnesemia, particularly if they have kidney damage or dehydration.

Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Stop taking MAALOX and contact your doctor or the nearest hospital immediately if you experience: difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, hands and feet, eyes, lips and/or tongue, skin rashes, itching, hives and dizziness, as these can be symptoms of severe allergic reactions (angioedema and anaphylactic reaction).

The following side effects may occur with the use of this medicine:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- constipation or diarrhoea (see paragraph 2 Warnings and precautions).

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
- hypermagnesemia, including observations after prolonged administration to patients with kidney damage.

Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
- excessive reaction of the body to foreign substances (hypersensitivity reaction, also severe), more or less itchy skin rash characterised by the appearance of swellings on the skin (hives), itching;
- alteration of aluminium and phosphate levels in the blood which can cause bone problems (see paragraph 2 Warnings and precautions);
- abdominal pain.

Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, including those 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.