Befree Tablet

Indications

• Short-term relief of constipation
• Clearing the bowel before a colonoscopy, X-ray or bowel surgery (usually in a combination product with Magnesium Oxide and Citric Acid)

How It Works

Sodium picosulfate is a stimulant laxative. Bacteria in the large bowel change it into its active form, which makes the bowel muscles move and draws water into the bowel, so stools become softer and easier to pass. It usually works within 6 to 12 hours, so a bedtime dose acts by the morning.

Dosage and Administration

• Adults and children over 10 years: 5 to 10 mg once a day at bedtime.
• Children 4 to 10 years: 2.5 to 5 mg at bedtime, only if a doctor advises. Under 4 years: only as prescribed.
• Bowel preparation: follow the hospital's instructions exactly, including the timing and the amount of clear fluids to drink.

Use for short periods only. Drink plenty of water and eat fibre-rich food.

Interactions

• Diuretics (water tablets) and steroids: together with laxatives they raise the risk of low potassium, which is more dangerous for people taking Digoxin.
• Antibiotics may reduce the effect.
• Bowel preparation can stop other medicines taken by mouth around the same time, including the contraceptive pill, from being absorbed properly.

Contraindications

• Blocked or perforated bowel, or suspected appendicitis
• Severe tummy pain of unknown cause, or nausea and vomiting with tummy pain
• Active inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) flare
• Severe dehydration
• Allergy to sodium picosulfate

Side Effects

Common: tummy cramps or discomfort, diarrhoea, nausea and wind. Long-term or heavy use can cause low potassium and dehydration.

Get urgent medical help if there is severe tummy pain, bleeding from the back passage, signs of dehydration (dizziness, very dry mouth, passing very little urine), confusion or a fit.

Pregnancy and Lactation

In pregnancy, diet, fluids and fibre should be tried first; sodium picosulfate should be used only if a doctor advises. It is not expected to pass into breast milk in meaningful amounts, so short-term use while breastfeeding is generally considered acceptable with medical advice.

Precautions and Warnings

• Do not use every day for long periods without medical advice.
• See a doctor if constipation lasts more than a week, or comes with weight loss, blood in the stool or a change in bowel habit.
• Older people and people with kidney or heart disease should take bowel preparation only under medical supervision.

Overdose

Too much can cause severe diarrhoea, cramps, and loss of fluid and salts. Drink plenty of fluids and seek medical help, especially for children, older people or if dizziness or confusion occurs.

Therapeutic Class

Stimulant laxative.

Storage

Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children.