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Movicol®

This section provides a summary of the drug information for Movicol®. It is still important that you carefully read the full patient information leaflet before you start to take any medication. If you require any further information or have any questions about Movicol®, or other aspects of your constipation treatment, you should discuss these with your doctor or other healthcare professional. 

Always check with your healthcare professional before altering any of your medications and always ask your pharmacist first if you are considering taking over-the counter medications as they can interfere with your Parkinson’s medications and may have unwanted side effects.  Remember to tell your doctor too if you take over-the counter drugs that can be bought without a prescription.

Movicol®


Movicol® is currently available in the following European countries:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany

  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands *
  • Norway

  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • UK

* registered as Movicolon®

In addition Movicol® is currently available in:

  • Algeria
  • Australia
  • Baharain
  • China
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon

  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • New Zealand
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia

  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tunisia
  • UAE
  • Vietnam

Norgine

Information courtesy of Norgine

Last reviewed October 2005

Availability - Formulation

Movicol® is available as a free flowing white powder for oral administration, in solution. Each 13.8g sachet of powder contains the following ingredients:

  • Macrogol (polyethylene Glycol) 3350 13.125g
  • Sodium Chloride 350.7mg
  • Sodium Bicarbonate 178.5mg
  • Potassium Chloride 46.6mg


Movicol-Half® is a 6.9g sachet and is formulated with half the above quantities of ingredients.

How does Movicol® work?

A solution of Movicol® delivers water to the large bowel, increasing the bulk of the stool, which triggers the muscles of the bowel to contract and produce a bowel movement. The water in Movicol® solution is not absorbed into the body so it can also soften and lubricate the stools to promote comfortable bowel movements.

Indications 

Movicol® is indicated for the treatment of chronic constipation and also works in very bad constipation (called faecal impaction). Movicol® helps you have a comfortable bowel movement even if you have been constipated for a long time.

Before you take Movicol®

Do not take Movicol® if your doctor has told you that you have:

  • An obstruction in your intestine (gut)

  • A perforated gut wall

  • Severe inflammatory bowel disease, like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or toxic megacolon

  • Ileus

  • An allergy to any of the ingredients


If you are pregnant or breast feeding, talk to your doctor before you take Movicol®.

Possible undesirable effects of Movicol®

These are the most commonly reported undesirable effects with Movicol®. It does not necessarily mean that you will experience some or all of them.

Sometimes people have stomach ache or rumbles, or an allergic reaction, or feel bloated or sick. You may have mild diarrhoea especially when starting to take Movicol®. If any of the above are troublesome or last more than a few days, or if you experience any other undesirable effect that is not listed, tell your pharmacist or doctor.

If you feel weak, breathless, very thirsty, with a headache, or get puffy ankles stop taking Movicol® and tell your doctor immediately.

The dose of Movicol®

Chronic constipation

The dose of is Movicol® 1 sachet. Take this 1-3 times daily in divided doses, according to the severity of your constipation. Since you have Parkinson’s disease which can cause constipation your doctor may recommend that you take Movicol® long term especially if you are also taking medicines that cause constipation. Usually for long-term treatment the dose can be adjusted down to either one or two sachets daily.

Dose of Movicol®

Faecal impaction

The dose is 8 sachets a day taken within 6 hours. If you have a heart condition do not take more than two sachets in any one hour. You may need to take this dose for up to 3 days.

How to take Movicol®

How to make Movicol® solution

If you are taking Movicol® for faecal impaction, it may be easier to dissolve 4 sachets in about 1 pint (500ml) of water.

If you take too much Movicol® and get bad diarrhoea, stop taking until it clears, then start again at a lower dose.

How to store Movicol®

Store your at room temperature (do not store above 25°C). Do not use Movicol® after the expiry date on the label. Once you have made up Movicol® in water, if you cannot drink it straight away put in fridge (2-8°C) and keep it covered. Throw away any solution not used within a six-hour period.

Product Information Downloads

The information on this page is a general summary of the Movicol® medication product.

Please click on the links below to download more detailed information on the specific Movicol® medication, its handling and use. Links go to the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) website.

Patient Information Leaflets (PIL)


Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)

Please note that SPCs are designed for healthcare professionals.


Useful links and references

To learn more about Norgine

Further reading: Clinical trials with Movicol

  1. Macrogol 3350/Electrolyte Improves Constipation in Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple System Atrophy

    Movement Disorders Vol 16 No 6 2001 Eichhorn T, Oertel W

  2. Efficacy and tolerability of PEG 3350 plus electrolytes (Movicol®) in chronic constipation associated with Parkinson’s disease

    European Journal of Geriatrics Vol 6 (2004) No. 3 Gruss H, Ulm G