Mintec Peppermint Oil Capsules – 84

Mintec Peppermint Oil Capsules – 84 Mintec Peppermint Oil Capsules are for the relief of discomfort, pain and distension associated with IBS. Each enteric coated capsule contains 0.2ml Peppermint Oil BP. Dosage: 1 or 2 Mintec capsules three times a day before meals, or as directed by your doctor. Swallow whole, do not chew the capsules. Not recommended for children. Main use Active ingredient Manufacturer Irritable bowel syndrome Peppermint oil Shire Pharmaceuticals How do Mintec Peppermint Oil Capsules work? Mintec capsules contain peppermint oil as their active ingredient. The capsules have a special coating, called an enteric coat, that delays the opening of the capsules until after they have passed through the stomach and start of the small intestine. Once the capsule reaches the lower small intestine and start of the large intestine it slowly releases the peppermint oil as it passes through the bowel. The peppermint oil acts directly on the smooth muscle in the bowel wall, causing it to relax. By relaxing the gut, painful spasms and pressure in the bowel are reduced. One capsule should be taken three times a day. The capsules should not be taken immediately after eating. If the pain and discomfort is more severe the dose can be increased to a maximum of two capsules three times a day. What is Mintec used for? Relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Warning! If you think you have IBS this should be diagnosed by a doctor before you start taking IBS treatments such as this one. If this is the first time you have experienced your symptoms you should consult your doctor. If any of the following conditions apply to you, you should consult a doctor before taking this medicine: you are aged 40 years or over and it is some time since your last IBS attack, or your symptoms have changed you have passed blood in your stools you feel sick or have vomited you have lost your appetite or lost weight you look pale or feel tired you have severe constipation you have a fever you have recently travelled abroad you are, or think you could be pregnant, or are planning a pregnancy you have any abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge you have difficulty or pain on passing urine. Mintec capsules should be swallowed whole and not broken or chewed. They should not be taken immediately after food. If you suffer from heartburn this medicine may make it worse. If this is the case you should stop taking this medicine. Consult your doctor if your symptoms have not improved or have got worse after two weeks of taking this medicine. Not to be used in Children under 15 years of age. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine. There is no information available about the safety of this medicine during pregnancy. It should only be used during pregnancy if your doctor thinks the potential benefits outweigh any potential risks to the developing baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk in significant amounts, but this is thought to be unlikely. Seek medical advice from your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding. Label warnings This medication is to be swallowed whole, not chewed. Do not take indigestion remedies at the same time of day as this medication. Side effects Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect. Heartburn Irritation around the anus Allergic reaction to menthol (rare). The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug’s manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist. How can Mintec affect other medicines? This medicine is not known to affect other medicines. However, you should not take indigestion remedies at the same time of day as this medicine, as they could make the Mintec less effective.