Compresse di metilcellulosa

About methylcellulose

Methylcellulose is a lassativo used to regulate bowel function - it can help manage constipation or diarrhoea.

Costipazione is a common problem. It means either going to the toilet less often than usual to empty your bowels, or passing hard or painful stools. Constipation can be caused by a number of things. Not eating enough fibre or not drinking enough fluid can cause constipation. Some conditions (such as pregnancy) can cause constipation, as can a lack of exercise or movement (such as being ill in bed) and some medicines. When taken with a glassful of water, methylcellulose tablets absorb the water and swell to a soft gel consistency in your bowel. This increases the bulk of your stools and eases constipation by encouraging your bowels to move the stools through your digestive system.

Methylcellulose tablets can also be helpful to manage diarrea. When the tablets are swallowed with only a sip of water, they absorb water from the bowel. This helps prevent the loss of fluid from diarrhoea and changes the consistency of the stools making them more formed. This action helps to regulate the passage of food through the digestive systems in people with certain bowel disorders, such as sindrome dell'intestino irritabile, malattia diverticolare, and colite ulcerosa, and after some types of bowel surgery.

Before taking methylcellulose

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking methylcellulose it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Methylcellulose is not considered harmful to babies, but it is important that your doctor knows about this.

• Se hai difficoltà a deglutire.

• Se sei così stitico da pensare di avere un blocco.

• If you have been told you have a bowel infection.

• Se stai assumendo altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione medica, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.

How to take methylcellulose

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about methylcellulose and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience.

• Take methylcellulose tablets exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to take a dose of 3-6 tablets, twice a day. Your doctor will tell you what dose is right for you. Break up the tablets in your mouth before you swallow them. You should not take a dose just before bedtime.

• If you are taking methylcellulose for constipation, it is important for you to drink plenty of water at the same time as you take the methylcellulose tablets. Count out the correct number of tablets for your dose and swallow these with a large glassful (about 300 ml) of water.

• If you are taking methylcellulose for diarrhoea, swallow the correct number of tablets for each dose with just a sip of water. Avoid drinking anything else during the half hour before you take the tablets and during the half hour after you have taken the tablets.

• Se dimentichi di prendere una dose, non preoccuparti, prendi semplicemente la dose successiva quando è il momento. Non prendere due dosi insieme per compensare una dose dimenticata.

Ottenere il massimo dal tuo trattamento

The following information applies if you are taking methylcellulose tablets for stipsi:

• Sometimes it may take a few days before you feel the full benefit from a bulk-forming laxative such as methylcellulose. However, if after several days you do not feel that your symptoms are improving, or if they get any worse, you should speak with your doctor again.

• Cerca di seguire una dieta equilibrata che contenga alimenti ricchi di fibre come pane e cereali integrali, frutta e verdura, riso integrale e pasta integrale. Se non sei abituato a una dieta ricca di fibre, potrebbe essere meglio aumentare gradualmente la quantità di fibre che consumi.

• Mantenere il corpo attivo ti aiuterà a mantenere in movimento il sistema digestivo, quindi cerca di fare esercizio fisico regolare ogni giorno.

• Potresti voler includere alcuni alimenti che contengono sorbitolo nella tua dieta. Il sorbitolo è uno zucchero che si trova naturalmente. Non viene digerito molto bene e attira acqua nell'intestino, il che ha l'effetto di ammorbidire le feci. I frutti (e i loro succhi) che hanno un alto contenuto di sorbitolo includono mele, albicocche, uva spina, uva (e uvetta), pesche, pere, prugne, prugne secche, lamponi e fragole.

• You can read more about how to prevent or treat constipation in the separate leaflets called Costipazione (for adults) and Costipazione nei Bambini.

Can methylcellulose cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the ones which can occur with methylcellulose. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Se si verificano altri sintomi che ritieni possano essere dovuti alle compresse, parla con il tuo medico o farmacista per ulteriori consigli.

How to store methylcellulose

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.

Informazioni importanti su tutti i medicinali