Beechams Cold & Flu Tablets, Pain & Congestion Relief Medicine with Paracetamol, 16 tablets

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Standard painkillers can go a long way to alleviate the worst of common cold symptoms, including easing headaches and muscle pain and bringing down a temperature. Don't take Beechams flu plus caplets if you're taking any of the following medicines, because the combination may increase your blood pressure: Paracetamol is thought to relieve pain by reducing the production of prostaglandins in the brain and spinal cord. It works to bring down a fever by affecting an area of the brain that regulates our body temperature (the hypothalamic heat-regulating center). This stops you feeling hot or shivery. Overdose of caffeine may result in epigastric pain, vomiting, diurese, tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia, CNS stimulation (insomnia, restlessness, excitement, agitation, jitteriness, tremors and convulsions).

It must be noted that for clinically significant symptoms of caffeine overdose to occur with this product, the amount ingested would be associated with serious paracetamol-related liver toxicity. Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose- galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.

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Contains paracetamol. Do not take with other flu, cold or decongestant products. Do not take anything else containing paracetamol while taking this medicine. Do not take more medicine than the label tells you to. If you do not get better, talk to your doctor. Seek immediate medical advice if you take too much of this medicine even if you feel well. Since this medicine contains caffeine, you should avoid drinking lots of caffeine-containing drinks, eg tea, coffee, cola, while you are taking it. Excessive caffeine consumption can cause insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, headaches and palpitations. Concomitant use of phenylephrine hydrochloride may cause an increased risk of ergotism (see Warnings and Precautions). Treatment with activated charcoal should be considered if the overdose has been taken within 1 hour. Plasma paracetamol concentration should be measured at 4 hours or later after ingestion (earlier concentrations are unreliable). Treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be used up to 24 hours after ingestion of paracetamol, however, the maximum protective effect is obtained up to 8 hours post-ingestion. The effectiveness of the antidote declines sharply after this time. If required the patient should be given intravenous N-acetylcysteine, in line with the established dosage schedule. If vomiting is not a problem, oral methionine may be a suitable alternative for remote areas, outside hospital. Management of patients who present with serious hepatic dysfunction beyond 24h from ingestion should be discussed with the NPIS or a liver unit. Acute pancreatitis has been observed, usually with hepatic dysfunction and liver toxicity. No specific antidote is available, but supportive measures such as beta adrenoceptor antagonists to reverse the cardiotoxic effects may be used.

Do not take with any other paracetamol containing products or with any other flu, cold or decongestant products. Allergic reactions such as a rash or itching. Stop using this medicine and get medical advice if you think you've had an allergic reaction to it. The body produces prostaglandins in response to injury and certain diseases. One of the effects of prostaglandins is to sensitise nerve endings, causing pain (presumably to prevent us from causing further harm to the area). As paracetamol reduces the production of these nerve sensitising prostaglandins it is thought it may increase our pain threshold, so that although the cause of the pain remains, we can feel it less.It's fine to take Beechams flu plus caplets with plain ibuprofen or aspirin (assuming these are appropriate for you). However, don't take them with co-codamol, co-dydramol or Tramacet because these contain paracetamol. Find out more about which painkiller to choose for different types of aches and pains in our full painkillers guide Women who are pregnant. (Phenylephrine has blood vessel constricting effects that could restrict blood supply to the placenta, or cause problems for women with a history of pre-eclampsia. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on how to treat cold and flu symptoms during pregnancy.) Phenylephrine can oppose the effects of medicines to treat high blood pressure (antihypertensives). If you are taking medicines for high blood pressure you should not take this medicine. The capsules should be swallowed whole with a drink. They can be taken either with or without food.

Evidence for cough syrups, however, is thin on the ground. They might offer some comfort at the time you take them, simply by coating the throat, but they'll have little to no effect on the natural course of the infection. If you're taking medicines for high blood pressure you shouldn't take Beechams flu plus caplets, because the decongestant may make your blood pressure medicine less effective. This medicinal product contains 131 mg sodium per dose. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet. The anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarins may be enhanced by prolonged regular daily use of paracetamol with an increased risk of bleeding; occasional doses have no significant effect. Excessive intake of caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea and some canned drinks) should be avoided while taking this product.What to know about getting a flu jab - who's eligible for a free one, and where's cheapest otherwise Patients should be advised not to take other paracetamol-containing or other cold, flu or decongestant products concurrently. Medical advice should be sought if symptoms worsen, persist for more than 7 days, or are accompanied by high fever, skin rash or persistent headache.

Beechams flu plus caplets contain three active ingredients, paracetamol (500mg), phenylephrine (5mg) and caffeine (25mg). Pre-clinical safety data on these active ingredients in the literature have not revealed any pertinent and conclusive findings which are of relevance to the recommended dosage and use of the product and which have not already been mentioned elsewhere in this Summary. Adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over should take two capsules every four to six hours as needed. Do not take more than six doses (12 capsules) in 24 hours. It's also worth bearing in mind that some standard-strength combination remedies, such as Lemsip sachets, only contain 650mg paracetamol, which is less than the recommended 1,000mg dosage for adults. Max strength formulations usually have the full amount.Treatment with activated charcoal should be considered if the overdose has been taken within 1 hour. Plasma paracetamol concentration should be measured at 4 hours or later after ingestion (earlier concentrations are unreliable). Treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be used up to 24 hours after ingestion of paracetamol, however, the maximum protective effect is obtained up to 8 hours post-ingestion. The effectiveness of the antidote declines sharply after this time. If required the patient should be given intravenous N- acetylcysteine, in line with the established dosage schedule. If vomiting is not a problem, oral methionine may be a suitable alternative for remote areas, outside hospital. Management of patients who present with serious hepatic dysfunction beyond 24h from ingestion should be discussed with the NPIS or a liver unit. The antidiabetic medicines exenatide, lixisenatide and liraglutide may slow down the absorption of paracetamol into the bloodstream, so it might take longer to work if you're using one of these medicines to treat your diabetes. Ask your pharmacist for more advice. Contains paracetamol. Patients should be advised not to take other paracetamol-containing products concurrently. The concomitant use with other products containing paracetamol may lead to an overdose. Paracetamol overdose may cause liver failure which may require liver transplant or lead to death. Concomitant use of other decongestants or cold and flu medicines should be avoided.