Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus – indications, dosage, contraindications, side effects

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus is a drug used in the treatment of fever in the course of colds, flu, childhood diseases and low and moderate pain. The drug is a non-opioid preparation with analgesic and antipyretic properties. The preparation is an over-the-counter oral suspension.

Calpol, Calpol 6 Plus (McNeil)

ACTION

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus is a non-opioid drug with analgesic and antipyretic properties.

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus – indications and dosage

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus is a recommended drug:

1. in a fever during colds and flu,
2. in childhood diseases,
3. in headaches,
4. in pain during teething,
5. in pain in muscles, bones and joints,
6. in toothache after surgical and dental procedures.

Dosage of the preparation

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus are in the form of a suspension to be taken orally. Patients with renal insufficiency should extend the dosing interval, while patients undergoing hemodialysis should consider taking supplementary doses. Do not dilute the suspension. Shake well before use.

1. Orally. In adults and children after 6 years of age, it is recommended to use Calpol 6 Plus, in children up to 6 years of age – Calpol.
2. Adults and adolescents after the age of 12 0,5-1 g not more often than every 4 hours, up to a maximum of 4 g / day.
3. Kids. 10-15 mg / kg bw (3-12 months of age 60-120 mg, 1-6 years of age 120-240 mg, 6-12 years of age 250-500 mg) no more frequently than every 4 hours, up to 4 times a day.

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus and contraindications

Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the preparation is a contraindication to taking Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus.

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus – warnings

1. Patients using Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus, in order to avoid overdose, should check that other drugs they use do not contain paracetamol.
2. You can take the drug for a maximum of 3 days without consulting your doctor.
3. Patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and with hepatic or renal insufficiency should exercise caution when taking the drug.
4. Patients with renal insufficiency should extend the interval between doses of the drug.
5. Patients undergoing hemodialysis should consider taking booster doses to maintain therapeutic plasma paracetamol levels (hemodialysis may reduce plasma paracetamol concentrations).
6. Alcohol should be avoided while taking paracetamol as it may cause liver toxicity. This risk exists especially in people who are hungry and drink alcohol regularly.
7. Concomitant use of antidepressants or sedatives with the drug increases the risk of side effects of paracetamol.
8. Elderly people should consult a doctor before taking the drug.
9. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult a doctor before using the preparation.
10. Patients with intolerance to certain sugars should consult a doctor before taking this medicine because the drug contains amaltitol and sorbitol.
11. Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus can cause allergic reactions because they contain methyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate and carimazin

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus with other drugs

1. Paracetamol is absorbed more quickly by drugs that promote gastric emptying, while it is absorbed more slowly by drugs that delay gastric emptying.
2. The use of the preparation with drugs increasing hepatic metabolism, i.e. Certain sleeping or antiepileptic drugs, e.g. phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, as well as rifampicin (a medicine used to treat tuberculosis) can damage the liver, even if you take the recommended doses of paracetamol.
3. Concomitant alcohol consumption may lead to liver failure due to necrosis of the liver cells.
4. Taking the drug with zidovudine increases the toxic effects of zidovudine on the bone marrow.
5. The drug increases the effect of anticoagulants (e.g. coumarin derivatives, heparin) and at the same time increases the risk of bleeding.
6. Simultaneous intake with MAO inhibitors causes high temperature and excitement.
7. The paracetamol contained in this medicine may interfere with the results of some laboratory tests performed with redox methods (e.g. determination of glucose levels).
8. Concomitant use of paracetamol may increase the concentration of chloramphenicol in the blood plasma.
9. Concomitant administration of paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increases the risk of renal side effects.
10. There is a risk of kidney damage with paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid or other salicylates.

Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus and side effects

Taking Calpol and Calpol 6 Plus may cause the following side effects:

1. nausea,
2. vomiting,
3. symptoms of liver damage; granulocytopenia (decrease in the number of a type of white blood cells – granulocytes – in the blood)
4. agranulocytosis (lack of granulocytes in the blood),
5. thrombocytopenia (reduction in the number of blood platelets),
6. renal colic
7. renal papillary necrosis,
8. acute renal failure.
9. hypersensitivity reactions: skin redness, rash, angioedema, dyspnoea, asthma attack, drop in blood pressure until symptoms of shock.