Beechams Cold & Flu Sachets, Pain & Congestion Relief Medicine, Breathe Clear Hot Honey & Lemon Menthol Flavour Powder, 10 Count

Product Information

Many medicines contain a combination of ingredients that help relieve the different symptoms you might get with a cold or the flu. When choosing a product, look for ingredients that will help with the particular symptoms you have. If you're taking medicines for high blood pressure you shouldn't take Beechams cold & flu, because the decongestant may make your blood pressure medicine less effective.

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.If your symptoms persist despite taking this medicine ask your pharmacist for advice. Don't take it continuously for more than seven days without seeing your doctor or pharmacist. Beechams cold & flu sachets contain two active ingredients, the painkiller paracetamol (600mg) and a decongestant called phenylephrine hydrochloride (10mg). The powder in the sachets is dissolved in hot water to make a hot drink. A wealth of other cold and flu remedies are available to buy without a prescription. Many of these also contain paracetamol and phenylephrine in their ingredients. Paracetamol and phenylephrine are also available separately.

Phenylephrine overdosage is likely to result in effects similar to those listed under adverse reactions. Additional symptoms may include hypertension and possibly reflux bradycardia. In severe cases confusion, hallucinations, seizures and arrythmias may occur. However the amount required to produce serious phenylephrine toxicity would be greater than required to cause paracetamol-related toxicity. Liver damage is possible in adults who have taken 10g or more of paracetamol. Ingestion of 5g or more of paracetamol may lead to liver damage if the patient has risk factors (see below). Dosage: Adults, the elderly and children aged 16 years and over: Two capsules every four hours as required. Maximum 8 capsules (4 doses) in any 24 hour period. Do not take continuously for more than 5 days without medical advice. Do not take with other flu, cold or decongestant products. Do not take with any other paracetamol-containing products.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 24 hours from ingestion should be discussed with the NPIS or a liver unit. Side effects: See SPC for full details. Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, skin rashes, angioedema and SJS. Bronchospasm, hepatic dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, nervousness, irritability, restlessness, excitability, headache, dizziness, insomnia, increased blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, mydriasis, acute angle glaucoma, tachycardia, palpitations, dysuria and urinary retention.